Oyate

Web Site Review

c. 1990 – 2007

http://www. oyate.org/

Oyate (People) is a nonprofit organization with an all Indian board that sponsors evaluative and educational work. This Native organization evaluates books and curriculums with Indian themes. They present “Teaching Respect for Native Peoples” workshops. Another responsibility is that they manage a small resource center and reference library. These people distribute books and material for all ages with Native people as writers and illustrators.

The Web Site designers are Abejo, Palma, Prado, Ryan and Szoke. Rudolph got it done with additional funding help from Slelten.

Under the link, “Broken Flute” two book reviews were listed. One was “A Broken Flute (2005) Seale and Slapin and the other one was “Through Indian Eye” (1987) Slapin and Seale. The first book won the 2006 American Book Award while the second book in 1999 won the Skipping Stones Honor Award.

A “Broken Flute” is a brutally honest bibiliography review on childrens and teenage books from the 1900’s through 2004 through the Native American perspective.

“Through Indian Eyes” is a collection of article reviews of the often subtle, stereotypes and mythology that abound about Native American in children’s books.

After a third grade class play on the book, “The Courage of Sarah Noble”; a Native American girl, Raven Hoaglen was teased and bullied unmercifully. This happened because the book said, “Indian people were savages and murderers and chop your head off and eat you alive.” She was made to feel sad and so ashamed that she did not want to attend school any more.

For this reason, I feel that teachers need to be very cognizant of what stereotypes and characteristics are shown by the individuals in fiction and nonfiction stories they have their classes read.

Links available at Oyate are: About Us, Our policy statement, FAQ’S, How you can help, a Broken Flute, Resources, Workshop, Our catalog, Order form and Books to avoid.

Ida M. Rounds