# Hollywood, Pretendians, and Cultural Appropriation: Ep 23 of Crash Course Native American History

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tg2mCKP6tY
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/7Tg2mCKP6tY
Generated: 2025-11-25T17:48:37.365+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Hollywood's historical depiction of Native Americans relies heavily on damaging tropes like the savage warrior, the magical healer, and the Indian princess, which Hollywood perpetuated through early cinema, exemplified by films like "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and "Stagecoach" (1939), leading to the rise of "Pretendians" who falsely claim Native identity for personal gain, a practice that cultural appropriation continues by stripping sacred items of their meaning, though positive changes are evident today with increased authentic Native representation in media like "Reservation Dogs" and the advocacy of figures like Lily Gladstone and Chuck Hoskin Jr.

**Key Points:**
- Hollywood Westerns perpetuated harmful Native American tropes, such as the savage warrior, magical healer, and Indian princess, dating back to early cinema like "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and "Stagecoach" (1939).
- The long history of misrepresentation fueled the rise of "Pretendians"—non-Native people falsely claiming Native identity—who benefit from preferential treatment in academia and politics, as seen in the case of Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti).
- Cultural appropriation is described as dominant culture members exploiting symbols, art, and ideas from historically disenfranchised cultures in a disrespectful or stereotypical way.
- The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 made it illegal to offer or display for sale any good falsely suggesting it is Indian-produced without actual Native American creation.
- Native voices are increasingly being heard in media, demonstrated by the creative work of Indigenous writers, directors, and actors in shows like "Reservation Dogs" (2021) and films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" (2023) starring Lily Gladstone.
- Lily Gladstone emphasized that Native identity is about community and responsibility, not just the right to claim a connection.
- The video previews the next episode, which will focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and ancestral ecological practices.

![Screenshot at 00:46: The host stands in front of a wall displaying framed images, pointing to a poster for "Buffalo Bill's Wild West," illustrating the historical media that perpetuated stereotypes of Native Americans as savage warriors.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-00-46.png)

**Context:** This episode of Crash Course Native American History examines the historical and ongoing negative impact of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans, often relying on simplistic and inaccurate stereotypes, which historically led to both cultural appropriation and the phenomenon of 'Pretendians.' The host introduces specific examples from classic and modern media, contrasting them with the growing presence of authentic Indigenous voices in contemporary film and television.

## Detailed Analysis

The video critiques the trope of Native Americans in Westerns, tracing it back to early cinema like "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and the Oscar-nominated "Stagecoach" (1939), which constantly featured Native people as threats or noble savages. These portrayals, often involving non-Native actors in redface (like Iron Eyes Cody, born Espera Oscar de Corti, an Italian immigrant who falsely claimed Cherokee and Cree ancestry), led to the concept of the "Pretendian." Pretendians falsely claim Native identity to gain preferential treatment for scholarships and jobs, an issue addressed by the Cherokee Nation Secretary of State, Chuck Hoskin Jr., who stated that using DNA tests to claim tribal connection is inappropriate. The video defines cultural appropriation as dominant culture members exploiting sacred symbols, art, or ideas from historically disenfranchised cultures in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical, noting that items like war bonnets and dreamcatchers are often misused. The negative cycle continues when non-Native creators profit from these stereotypes, as seen with Iron Eyes Cody being paid more than actual Native actors. However, the host notes positive change, highlighting contemporary Native creators like director Sydney Freeland and actor Lily Gladstone, whose work on projects like "Reservation Dogs" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" offers authentic narratives. Gladstone is quoted emphasizing that identity is about community responsibility, not just the right to claim heritage. The video concludes by teasing the next episode on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

### Hollywood Tropes and Early Cinema

- "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and "Stagecoach" (1939) established tropes like savage warriors and noble savages
- These films often featured non-Native actors in redface, such as Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti)
- Native actors frequently received less pay for roles that stereotyped their identity.

### The Problem of Pretendians

- Pretendians falsely claim Native identity for benefits, exemplified by Iron Eyes Cody who claimed Cherokee and Cree heritage while being Italian immigrant descent
- The Cherokee Nation Secretary of State, Chuck Hoskin Jr., stated that DNA tests should not be used to claim tribal connection.

### Cultural Appropriation Defined

- Defined as dominant culture members adopting symbols, art, and ideas from historically disenfranchised cultures in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way
- This includes appropriating sacred items like war bonnets and dreamcatchers, reducing rich traditions to mere costumes.

### Positive Representation Today

- Contemporary creators like Sydney Freeland and actors like Lily Gladstone and Mo Brings Plenty are creating authentic narratives
- Lily Gladstone noted that identity is about community and responsibility, not just individual right to claim heritage.

### Future Content

- The next episode will focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and ancestral ecological practices.

![Screenshot at 00:02: A clip from "The Cowboy and the Indians" \(1949\) showing two cowboys standing next to their horses in a desert setting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-00-02.png)
![Screenshot at 00:10: A movie poster for "Buffalo Bill's Wild West. And Congress of Rough Riders of the World," showing a chaotic battle scene between cowboys and Native Americans.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-00-10.png)
![Screenshot at 00:43: The title card for the segment: "THE Hall of Myths AND Misconceptions."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-00-43.png)
![Screenshot at 03:29: An animated reveal showing the true identity of Iron Eyes Cody \(Esper Oscar de Corti\), an Italian immigrant, dissolving the Native persona he projected.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-03-29.png)
![Screenshot at 04:44: A close-up of Elizabeth Warren's Texas State Bar registration card showing 'Race: American Indian / National Origin' checked off.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7Tg2mCKP6tY/00-04-44.png)