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Donald Trump and Federal Indian Policy: ‘They Don’t Look Like Indians to Me’
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Bryan Newland • July 28, 2016
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In 1993, Donald Trump appeared before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources to offer testimony on Indian gaming. 1993 Donald Trump bears a striking resemblance to Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, in terms of demeanor and language – Trump’s oral testimony is consistent with the language he has used throughout his campaign for President.
Most of Trump’s testimony focused on Indian gaming itself, and his perception that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act granted tribes an unfair advantage over his own gaming enterprises.
But, it was another part of Trump’s testimony that caught my attention. He questioned the legitimacy of Indian tribes based upon the physical appearance of their members. Here is an exchange he had with Rep. Miller of California:
Mr. Miller. Is this you discussing Indian blood: “We are going to judge people by whether they have Indian blood,” whether they are qualified to run a gaming casino or not?
Mr. Trump. That probably is me, absolutely, because I’ll tell you what, if you look—if you look at some of the reservations that you have approved—you, sir, in your great wisdom, have approved— will tell you right now, they don’t look like Indians to me, and they don’t look like Indians. Now maybe we say politically correct or not politically correct. They don’t look like Indians to me, and they don’t look like Indians to Indians, and a lot of people are laughing at it, and you are telling how tough it is, how rough it is, to get approved. Well, you go up to Connecticut, and you look. Now, they don’t look like Indians to me, sir. [...]

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/politics/donald-trump-and-federal-indian-policy-they-dont-look-like-indians-to-me/

I agree with Lindsey’s post with her discussion on Trump’s belief that Indians are only Indians if they meet the preconceived stereotype of how they look and act that he has in his head. As we learned from The School Days of An Indian Girl by Zikala-Sa, and from what I already knew, residential schools were created to take the Native American children and change their Indigenous beliefs to Christianity and make them act and look like the white, westernized world. Native American’s were forced to forget their culture and to adapt a Western lifestyle, but that does not change the fact that they are still Indigenous people. Trump’s argument is truly ridiculous, and just because someone adapts to the world around them and changes the language they speak or the way they dress, that does not change who they were born to be. It is the same as arguing that since my Great-Grandparents moved from Poland to Canada, started adapting to life here and speaking English, they are no longer Polish..and no one would ever say that. Trump’s ignorance just emphasizes the stereotypes that still exist on Native Americans today, just because they “Don’t look like Indians,” does not mean they are not Indians; you can adapt different cultures without losing your own.

I also agree with my fellow classmates. Trump's statement saying that "They did not look like Indians" is a prime example of the crisis that our modern day society is dealing with. Just because someone does not look a certain way does not mean they are not that race or culture. In media culture Native Indians are portrayed as having red skin, having long black hair, and usually being drunk; these stereotypes are based on cultural biases that mainstream media feeds into peoples minds. Personally Trump's statement (while ignorant) does not surprise me because people are not educated when it comes to the Native culture and I personally know people that believe such stereotypes are correct. I was recently reading an article in which a Native women was upset because a Halloween store was brought into the spot light due to a child's costume of an Indian. The "costumizing" of the Indian is cultural appropriation because this cultural and sacred aspect of the Indian culture was being sold as if it were nothing more than a costume. This example of cultural appropriation emphasizes how people like Trump believe that Indianess is solely based on appearance. Being Indian does not mean that you have feathers in your hair in your hair, or have a bottle in your hand but is rather based on the experiences that one has overcome. Trump's inability to understand the Indian culture and heritage demonstrates the problem that is present with people's perceptions on cultures and teaches us that in order to understand a culture, one must research and discuss such issues with those who are willing to listen.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/indigenous-costume-spirit-halloween-stereotypes-offensive-1.3801830

The image one most often thinks of when thinking of Indians is that which Trump seems to have been referring to in his speech, an image of a warrior on horseback dressed in animal hide and feathers with a bow and arrow. That is not a real image. Native Americans today are just as advanced as anyone else, but we still have this vision stuck in our heads that has been enforced by the media and Hollywood. Thomas King talks about this fact in Green Grass Running Water. The fact of the outdated portrayal of Native sis brought forth in a conversation between the characters of Eli a Native and Clifford Sifton who accuses Eli of not being a “real Indian” as he drives a car and watches TV affirming the outdated and stereotyped image of Indians that is brought forth in King’s story of Portland a Native actor who is made to wear a fake nose as he himself doesn’t look Indian enough. King illustrates this issue in an absurd yet believable way. The image of an Indian in most people’s minds is a Hollywood constructed stereotype that would lead many people to like Trump say that modern Indian’s “don’t look like Indians to me.”

I think this discussion between Trump and Miller emphasizes the stereotypical image of the "Indian" and the perception that they should look and act a certain way in order to be considered "authentic". The problem with these interpretations is that the physical image of a person should never define their identity. A Native person does not have to fit the stereotypical portrayal of "Indians" as showcased in the old Western movies or even as shown in the Disney film, Pocahontas. These portrayals are unwelcome by the Native communities and are seen as a disrespect to their culture and identity. I think this is also clear in Gerald Vizenor's novel Chair of Tears, where he addresses the issues with trying to create a physical image of what a Native should look like. Many of the Native people of the novel are eager to participate in the "Skin Dunk" to make themselves appear darker in tone. The fact that these people feel the need to alter their appearance in order to gain a higher level of respect from the community really addresses the issues with creating a physical stigma against Native people. Trump has a clouded mind-frame on what is physically acceptable for a person to consider themselves Native. His role as a leader needs to be taken more seriously. He has a strong influence on the public and has frequently misused and abused his position while reverting back to racist comments that many leaders before him have worked extensively to absolve.