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Serena Charley
Family and Human Services

Shari Huhndorf, Mentor

Stereotypes in Ink: Native Images in the Pacific Northwest

In the national sidelines of editorial and political cartoons, the American Indian has been illustrated in the following contexts: immigration, English-only debates, mascots, native concerns, and the term “squaw.” Comments by the cartoonists are trying to illustrate some point he or she believes is important enough for the general public. This article, however, will be looking at the Native American issues of the Pacific northwest, especially newspapers in the states of Oregon and Washington. I expect to find a limited number of cartoons that may deal with Makah whaling, fishing rights, the drought in Klamath Basin, casinos, and the Kennewick man. I believe most of the cartoons will demonstrate the biases of dominant culture. The rights of the Native American would be overlooked. Further the so-called majority may feel righteous indignation, fearing capital loss and infringement of the “American Dream”.