THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE AUTHORS WHO WISH TO SUBMIT MANUSCRIPTS TO THE COUNCIL FOR INDIAN EDUCATION.
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Terms such as squaw and massacre are frequently used inappropriately by authors who do not realize that these words carry strong connotations of prejudice. These expressions, used indiscriminately, not only cause the reader to lose respect for the author, but they tell the reader (mistakenly or not) that the author is prejudiced. The writings of that author are assumed to be highly biased and therefore nothing he says can be trusted. These words should be used only for the purpose of proving bias on the part of a character in the story, not the author. If the readers are Native American, which many of our readers are, they will be particularly aware of these terms, and their connotations.
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The word squaw for example, can be used within a quote to show that the speaker has no respect for women, especially Native American women. If the word says this about the story character who uses the term, the reader will assume that it indicates the same thing about the author who uses it outside of a direct quotation. If you believe that it has no bad connotations, try calling your wife or sweetheart your squaw; or if you are a woman, use the word to describe you best friend. You will only do it once.
In a battle, two groups are fighting and both have an opportunity to defend themselves. Massacre means "the killing of many people indiscriminately and mercilessly," the killing of innocent (usually defenseless) people. The Sand Creek Battle was a massacre, the killing of old men, women, and children, while the young men were away. In the massacre at Wounded Knee , Native Americans had come peacefully and turned in their weapons, even those needed for hunting food, then were mowed down by rifles. However, in the Battle of the Little Bighorn , sometimes mistakenly called the Custer Massacre , Custer was the one who attacked. The Native Americans fought back and defended themselves by killing their attackers. That was a battle. Any word that carries strong feeling can be used in a story, but only when used correctly. Usually an unbiased term is better.
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| Below are some frequently used terms for people which should nearly always be eliminated from writing, followed by alternative words that are usually more appropriate:
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SQUAW: Young lady, mother, xxx's wife, Native American lady, elderly woman.
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BUCK: Young man, hunter, warrior (when at war), Native American man, youth.
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PAPOOSE: Native American baby, baby, small child, infant. Use "Native American baby," "Native American woman," or "Native American man," if the reader does not know you are talking about an Native American and needs to know. If you have already established the group or family as being Native American, then use only "baby," "lady," or "man."
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HOSTILES: Enemies, opposing forces, unfriendly tribes. Hostile forces is any group opposed to those about whom the story is written; it may mean the U.S. army, another tribe, foreign invaders, or a street gang. It is nearly always better to call them by name: the Sioux, the Cubans, the Black Panthers. Neither hostiles nor enemies tells who they are hostile to, but hostiles implies that they are bad people. The term may make your editor hostile.
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PRINCESS: Chief's daughter. There is nothing derogatory about the word princess. It is usually intended as a complimentary term. But it is a European concept, inappropriate in the Native American environment. Some early new England settlers used it because they came from England where people lived by class and rank. The concept of royalty is completely foreign to any Native American people. In most, but not all tribes, a man earned the right to be a chief -- he did not inherit it. To imply that all he had to do to become a chief was be the son of one is insulting to him. There are no upper and lower classes among Native Americans. Many Native Americans are offended by the comparisons implied by the term princess. Therefore, we do not publish any stories using the word. Don't imply European-type royalty. (Of course, it can be used in its proper place -- to refer to European royalty.)
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| PROFANITY: If there is a place for profanity in fiction, it is to show the character of an individual, usually an evil one, and usually in modern times. If you are using profanity to put realism into a story of the old days, perhaps you don't know the old days, especially the old west. The use of profanity by the general population has increased at least fourfold in the last fifty years. It was pretty much the sign of a dirty outcast among our pioneer ancestors. One of my grandfathers was a pony express rider, the other hunted buffalo with the Sioux. Our neighbors were sons and grandsons of rough, tough cattlemen and cowboys. They were tough enough to whip any man who insulted a lady, and no one would ever swear in front of any woman! Certainly, there are cowboys who can't say a sentence without profanity, but there are several times as many who never use it. English is more expressive, with a much larger vocabulary than almost any other language. The person who has to use profanity to express an idea or feeling, is showing his lack of fluency. It should be used in writing ONLY in quotes to show a person's character, and then only in adult books, NEVER in books for children. |
Since we publish mostly for children, the Intertribal Editorial Board of the Council for Indian Education will not approve any book that contains Profanity! |
If you would like a copy of our Manuscript Guidelines,
or our free book catalog, please write the Business Office:
Council for Indian Education
1240 Burlington Avenue
Billings, Montana 59102-4224 |
