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The Top 7… Native American stereotypes

We look at digital depictions of North America's First Peoples

Words: on November 24, 2008
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27 comments

  • Elementium - November 22, 2011 7:48 a.m.

    I'll take some typical stereotypes just too see some native americans in the mainstream games.. To me the issue in general is that.. no one really cares about them.. I'd put it out there that they suffered more than anyone and yet all the sensitivity goes towards nearly every other race of people.. Case-In-Point You don't see a football team called "The Black skins" "The White skins" or anything like that.. but no one says "eh maybe calling our team red skins is offensive?" "nah".

  • goodtimegary - December 1, 2008 5:16 p.m.

    did you know you could earn free xbox 360/wii/ps3 ponts ang tgames by filling out surveys...go here http://www.rewards1.com/index.php?referrer_id=448414

  • TheWebSwinger - November 27, 2008 8:23 p.m.

    No Native American from Custer's Revenge?? No Tak and the Power of Juju kid?? Still,a great article. The Rhino Charge part made me lawl.

  • infestedandy - November 25, 2008 11:48 p.m.

    Truly! Vulcan Raven and Blackthorne didn't make the list? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

  • wharcraff - November 25, 2008 11:22 p.m.

    that should be Blackthorne. heh sorry

  • wharcraff - November 25, 2008 11:18 p.m.

    Well nice top 7. I hope you'll find enough for the usual honorable mentions for T-dar. I'm not sure if his is Indian but check out if Darkthorne makes the list?

  • darkknight25 - November 25, 2008 11 p.m.

    being a christian, i think the piss christ thing is a little messed up but it is pretty hilarious at the same time so yeah

  • thereaper52 - November 25, 2008 10:39 p.m.

    What the hell man. what about vulcan raven!!

  • MacGyver1138 - November 25, 2008 9:17 p.m.

    This is a pretty good article, and it makes a point. However, I personally think that Native Americans probably have the least offensive stereotypes in games of all stereotyped characters. I'm not saying that the stereotypes are correct, but at least the stereotypes depicted are somewhat positive. Native Americans are shown as warriors, connected to nature, mystical, etc. It is very narrow-minded, but it could be worse--they could always be depicted as evil (Germans, Russians, anyone from the Middle East), "Gangsta" (Black people), or sex objects (women). Prey is a good example of good narration in a game. It had a protagonist who was human, and that I identified with. I actually found myself wanting to save Jen and kill the aliens for a reason.

  • GamesRadarTylerWilde - November 25, 2008 8:16 a.m.

    Why would you doubt that? Also, for those who aren't aware, this is Piss Christ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ I wrote a very long essay about it in an art theory class. You probably don't want to read it. Even I don't.

  • misfit119 - November 25, 2008 5:42 a.m.

    Woot for Fear Factory references. And I have a hard time feeling bad specifically for the Native Americans. Yes they suffered horribly but then again so did the African Americans. Look how far they've gotten in the time they've been actually considered people or rather have barely. They're still either comic relief or the tough talking token black guy in games. Walking sterotypes anyone?. Movies and video games for that matter. At least Prey does show that there's some progress being made in this regard. I can't honestly think of a non-thug or non-stereotype black character or even black main character.

  • screath - November 25, 2008 12:47 a.m.

    There are a few characters that should have made the list. Let's not forget Mumbo Jumbo from Banjo-Kazooie, Humba Wumba from Banjo-Tooie, and Custer from Custer's Revenge.

  • kingpin202 - November 24, 2008 11:01 p.m.

    Native American's use to appear in so many games and I just don't see it anymore! =( The American Government should give more game characters the native american race, it's only fair, we did take all the native american game characters away. lol.

  • wildboy57 - November 24, 2008 10:32 p.m.

    being native American i love seeing them in games its just a shame all are hardcore stereotypes you get no regular people who happen to be native American finally first for one of these

  • ReaperOfDarkness - November 27, 2008 12:31 a.m.

    Why is sex object a native american stereotype? Last time i checked women of all ethnicities, orientations, height or anything else you can imagine can easily be used as sex objects. You dont need to be a "native" american to be a sex object. As a matter of fact how many white people do you see on games that arent stereotypes?

  • Defguru7777 - November 26, 2008 3:14 a.m.

    I have not played any of these games.

  • wharcraff - November 25, 2008 11:23 p.m.

    that should be Blackthorne.heh sorry

  • JudgeDeath - November 25, 2008 3:20 p.m.

    Hah! I remember Gun! That was a gret game. And I also remember Dakrwatch, which was... a... game...

  • KHfan - November 25, 2008 10:46 a.m.

    lol @ the turok picture

  • Moschetto - November 25, 2008 7:04 a.m.

    "The result is often as offensive to Native Americans as Piss Christ is to Christians." Yeah, I'm sure.

Showing 1-20 of 27 comments

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