Breaking Native American and Alaska Native Stereotypes (English)

More than four decades ago, a now-famous PSA featured a man called Iron Eyes Cody paddling up a polluted river and extolling respect for the environment. Cody, who claimed Native ancestry, was later revealed to be Italian-American. However, for many Americans, the commercial created a stereotype of Native Americans as the “first environmentalists.” Media informed by these tropes often mischaracterize Indigenous connections to land. This panel explores how we can tell more honest environmental stories featuring Native peoples.

Panelists:
- Edilma Prada Céspedes, founder and director, Agenda Propia
- Tristan Ahtone, editor-in-chief, Texas Observer
- Alice Qannik Glenn, host and producer, Coffee & Quaq
- Amanda Tachine, assistant professor in education leadership and innovation, Arizona State University
- Leilani Rania Ganser (moderator), Pulitzer Center grants and impact coordinator

This session was recorded on April 23, 2021, as part of the Pulitzer Center’s annual conference, Environment (Re)Defined. All conference session recordings will be available on our Webinars On-Demand page.