Native American Stereotypes — As Seen by Native Americans

News Release | October 17, 2025

Source: Cornell University

Peer-Reviewed Publication: Youth & Society

ITHACA, N.Y. — When middle-school citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were asked to list stereotypes they had heard about themselves or other Native Americans, their answers painted a striking picture of how cultural identity meets outside perception.

Pocahontas. Walt Disney Pictures

The Cornell-led study — among the first to examine stereotypes from the viewpoint of Native youth themselves — found that Cherokee students most often mentioned ideas tied to cultural traditions, financial privilege, and substance abuse. As the students advanced from sixth through eighth grade, their awareness of stereotypes deepened, especially among those attending public schools where Cherokee citizens were a minority.

“Research has shown that stereotypes, even positive ones, are detrimental and can impact teens’ academic motivation, achievement, mental health, and well-being,” said Adam Hoffman, assistant professor of psychology in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology and the study’s lead author. “Knowing what kinds of things these kids are hearing and thinking about themselves and Native Americans is important to start working on dismantling those stereotypes.”

Hoffman and co-authors Beth Kurtz-Costes (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Ash Moomaw (Ball State University), and teachers Bette Fitzgerald and Angela Gunter asked 212 Cherokee middle-schoolers an open-ended question: “Please list the stereotypes that you have heard about Cherokee or Native American people.”

Students generated more than 300 responses, grouped into 19 categories. About 13 percent referenced positive cultural practices such as dancing, basket-making, and wearing traditional clothing. Other replies echoed negative or historical distortions — from being “savage” or unintelligent to mentions of buffalo, scalping, or smallpox.

A locally specific stereotype surfaced around the term “per cap,” referring to per-capita distributions from tribal casino revenues. Students reported hearing statements like “Cherokees get paid to do nothing” or “we are rich because we get per cap.” While such claims are not representative of all Native nations — more than half have no casinos — they reveal how local context shapes perception.

The research also showed how stereotype awareness develops with age: few sixth-graders listed any, while seventh- and eighth-graders provided far more, suggesting middle school is a pivotal time for education and intervention.

“There’s been so much erasure of Native American people historically that we don’t often get to hear their stories and their voices,” Hoffman said. “This research brings Native voices to the table, literally, by asking them about these issues.”

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the study offers one of the first firsthand accounts of how Native youth describe the stereotypes they encounter — and provides valuable insight for educators and parents seeking to build understanding and resilience in Native communities.

For Cherokee 411 readers:The findings resonate across Indian Country, reminding us that even among our youngest citizens, identity formation happens in dialogue with the stories others tell about us. Recognizing and confronting those narratives — in schools, families, and tribal programs — is part of affirming who we are as Cherokee people.