Native American Stereotype (Scalping) - R U Suprised?

Question

So, I've been thinking of a way to use this Q&A to break stereotypes because I read SO many of them on here.
I am thinking that everyday I will post a new stereotype and see how many people are suprised to read that it is not true.

Here's the third one:

Stereotype: Native people commonly practiced scalping. Europeans picked it up in retaliation to Native practices.

Truth: The reverse is true. Native people learned scalping from colonizers and picked it up in response to colonizers land theft, rape, and torture.

Some History:
This is one the most abundant stereotypes. In fact if you search for information on scalping it is unlikely you will find accurate information. There are two reasons this false information is so widespread.
1: It is a brutal act. No one wants to believe that it originated from the oh - so civilized colonizers. That would mean it is in their own history for several people.

2: Most colonization information is obtained from the diaries of cololnizers. This information is highly biased. In fact, we now know, that a great bit of this information was completely fabricated by colonizers. They supported any information that would paint Native people as an uncivilized savage.

Some say that Natives were scalping each other before colonization. However, there is little evidence to back this up besides the diaries of colonizers. There is, however, abundant information that allows us to know that European ancestors did practice scalping. If, for some odd reason, you wish to believe the accounts of colonizers, you can still only believe that scalping occured by only a small percentage of Native tribes and only in "wartime".
Regardless, it is well known that Europeans encouraged scalping. They would pay for Native scalps. More for men, less for women, and even less for children (yes they scalped children).

Native people in turn used this practice as retalitation. Which of course doesn't make it acceptable. But it is important to know why it occured.

So why the stereotype? As long as Native people are portrayed as savages one can justify the stealing of lands, genocide, torture, and rape.

But those who wish to be educated look at where information is coming from. The colonizers diaries are not a good form of unbiased proof.

To respond to a post: And Yes Natives were peaceful. Well, until colonizers came and stole their land, raped their women and children, tortured them for existing, kidnappped thier children and punished them for being native, cut out their tounges for speaking their language, etc..

Someone asks where did I learn this:
I am a Native woman so it is one of the commonly talked about stereotypes in the community.
I have also learned it in a college course on Native studies.
If you really dig deep and look into it you find the information I gave true, but it is hard digging through all the false reports etc..

Although I do respect your opinion as a Native person and as a historian I have to say that I cannot believe you in full. You say that pilgrims had nothing to do with it.
Maybe you are taking this out of context but settlers did pay for Native scalps, what do you say about this? So, they did have something to do with scalping. You can believe the history of the colonizers but I do not have to do so. And you are obviousally being very demeaning. I am not all worked up. I am giving a different viewpoint on history, one I and many others know to be true.

Northville, the above response is for you and so is this one.

I have read some of your other answers and after doing so I am not sure how well you subscribe to Native tradtion... this makes me question your response even more. Perhaps you take joy in supporting colonizers version of events?

Oh, Oh. And if Native people did do something similiar to scalping for religious purposes then that is not scalping as we are talking about it, that is a part of a death ritual.

Answer 1

I do find that surprising, and interesting. I would love to know where you read/heard that....my heritage is Mohawk Indian, and I appreciate there being some positive press once in a while!

Answer 2

WOW!! It's been quite a while since I had so much fun reading. To give you a little history about myself, I am 3rd generation of the Akwasasne people of the Mohawk Tribe of the Iroquois Nation. My Masters degree is in History with emphasis on Native American Culture. My schooling took place at SUNY Potsdam, the University of Albany and The University of Alaska at Anchorage.
The bit about placing the blame of the practice of scalping was a lot of fun to read. It's well known that in the medieval days of Europe all kinds of inhuman acts were practiced, which included raping, pillaging, torturing and yes, they took some scalps too. But let’s do a reality check and understand that several American Tribes, notably the Sioux of the Dakotas, the Apache of the New Mexico area and the Navajo tribe of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas area were tearing scalps off LONG before those White folks crossed the plains and mingled. If you actually spoke with some Native Americans that know the history of their tribe you will find that they are not all worked up about scalping like you obviously are. It was a COMMON PRACTICE among quarreling tribes (note the lack of the use of the word WAR) when they quarreled with each other to take scalps. WHY you ask??? Because our forefathers believed that when the scalp was taken from the head, the spirit could not escape to the Spirit World AKA: Happy Hunting Grounds, so that they did not have to worry about encountering the same warriors in the afterlife.
I've got to tell you that the Pilgrims had nothing whatsoever to do with this. These practices were happening on the west coast while the Europeans were on the EAST COAST. Yes, I know, the Spaniards were there many years before the Europeans made it across the great divide. It wasn’t their barbarous acts that caused scalping either.
The Anthropological history, given by word of mouth and eventually written down in pictographs on hides shows this history to be true. Read what you like...believe whatever politically correct mumbo jumbo that you like...IT'S NOT TRUE!!!
My Great-Great Grandfather ran the trails of the Adirondacks and Southern Canada and took scalps not so many years ago. But it was done of his own conscience and because of his own beliefs.
...I prescribe to TRUTHS, not traditions, myths or straight up lies. Lucky thing...I am a direct decendent of one of the Englishmen that crossed the great big ocean in the late 1670's, so I have a healthy dose of that side of the story too. After having summered on three seperate Reservations in the southwest U.S. and hearing up close and personal, the traditions and history of the People, its easier to not fall into the trap of "woe is me, I'm a poor abused Indian and the big bad white people got my granpappy drunk, stole his land and made off with his sqaw." All of those things DID happen. BUT, those sqaw/land stealing white folk did NOT pass off scalping to us savages. If you want to be angry about our lot in life and wave the flag of the repressed and decieved, feel free to do so. But when you say things that are NOWHERE NEAR the truth....even if it's because you are ill informed...it STILL makes us all look like goofballs and whiners. Just note the answer concerning Crazy Horse and the casinos.

Answer 3

Very interesting. They sure didn't teach us that in early American literature class but they sure made us read the many Native American captive stories.

Answer 4

Actually anyone who has studied early American history knows most of this information. Heck I learned it my 1st year of college 34 years ago.Also, my ex-wife was part Native American and she had learned this also.

Answer 5

not all native Americans were peaceful, the eastern Algonquins and the lakota Sioux were as aggressive as the white settlers

Answer 6

No I am not surprised......everything bad in the world is the fault of white European Americans.

Answer 7

I wish you had mentioned, beheading. EURO's who came here beheaded many of my ancestors. It is funny how now upon command beheading happend in Iraq. Sounds EURO to me.

Answer 8

Knowing this doesn't make me want to drink more of their whiskey while gambling in their casinos...

Answer 9

listen Crazyhorse, this is well documented. It did happen. Enjoy your casinos.