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“These stories are repeated all over the country,” said Rayna Green, director of the American Indian Program for the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution.
Green will give a talk titled “Pocahontas, Sacagawea and Eskimo Barbie: The Myth America Pageant Revisited” at 7:30 p.m. today at Winona State University’s Science Laboratory Center Auditorium. Her visit is part of the Lyceum Series.
Green says she hopes to help dispel some of the myths dealing with American Indians and why they’ve been perpetuated.
“Most of these stories existed in the oral tradition,” Green said. “People didn’t invent these stories with some sort of ulterior motive. They’re telling them because the story reflects things they need out of their culture.”
For example, Green says, the idea of Indian princesses is false. The myth may have come from confusion over how American Indian women were treated. Green says they were not treated like property — rather, they could own property, something European women were unable to do. They also had power in the distribution of goods and also had great influence in who they married. Green says the idea of Indian princesses helped explain why young women had such power.
“Some of these stories capture the imagination of people and they run with it because it works with them,” Green said. “It’s totally under the psychological covers.”
Green is part American Indian and part Norwegian. She’s been researching the myths and facts of American Indian history for more than 30 years.
“It’s crazy fun to get people to look at the essentially nutty things we all think are true,” Green said.
She says that there have been changes in how American Indians are portrayed in Hollywood, with much credit going to more American Indians as directors and producers. Still, Green says there’s a never-ending supply of myths to dispel.
“As long as people continue to have these kinds of obsessions, it means I have work to do,” Green said.
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Pocahontas, Sacagawea and Eskimo Barbie: The Myth America Pageant Revisited,” presented by Rayna Green
WHEN AND WHERE: Reception from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. today in Winona State University’s East Hall of Kryzsko Commons, lecture at 7:30 p.m. today in the Science Laboratory Center Auditorium
COST: Free
FOR MORE INFO: Call Cindy Killion at (507) 457-5098 or ckillion@winona.edu
