A Letter from the Publisher
Vol. 2, Issue 55 August 26, 2015 1 INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY A Letter from the Publisher Shekóli. There is no dispute: Mainstream American culture of Indian country’s brightest lights and change all those has issues when it comes to Indians. On TV, it is rare to misguided, ingrained perceptions. see a Native character, let alone a sitcom, depicting a con- temporary Indian family. On-air hosts for national variety The most critical reason behind the genesis of the special digi- and news shows have become remarkably diverse in recent tal edition of The Fifty Faces of Indian Country 2015 (which years, with one exception: no Indians. All too often, Na- is attached to this week’s newsletter) has to do with the future tives are presented as relics, or depicted as stereotypes and as much as the present. Simply put, our young people deserve mascots. Looking at arrays of mainstream websites or maga- to learn about the individual and collective achievements of zines, one would think the First Peoples of Turtle Island Natives presented in a visual, dramatic way. Indian kids need have all but vanished. to see people like themselves and role models that they can aspire to be—lawyers, doctors, artists, business leaders, models Thankfully, the reality is that some of the most successful, tal- and musicians. Here, then, is a showcase where Indian strength and ented and visionary people and communities today are Indig- beauty is not overlooked or shunned. By honoring these worthy indi- enous. Middle America just hasn’t realized it yet. While Jacoby viduals, we hope to celebrate our audience, and future stars of 50 Faces Ellsbury, Adam Beach and Rickie Fowler are household names, as well.
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