Native American Day

Native American heritage has a rich stronghold in U.S. history, and 26th September 2014 marks the day in which Native American history and culture is celebrated.

Held on the fourth Friday of September in California and a handful of other US States (although dates may vary), the celebrations include singers and traditional dancers amongst many other activities, arts and food, which are all to create awareness of the culture, heritage and traditions of our country's indigenous people.

Since the end of the 15th century, the migration of Europeans to the Americas led to centuries of conflict and adjustment between Old and New World societies, and by the 20th century things weren't much better - with early portrayals of Native Americans in radio, movies and television roles being performed by European Americans dressed in mock traditional attire.

Old time radio shows celebrated America's old west, with tales of heroes and gunfighters, bandits and marshals (or rangers), lawmen, scouts, the captivating, exotic beauty of the native women and much more. So many of the shows offered only stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans, and actual acting roles were limited.

However, there are many stories and legends which have been immortalized in old time radio, such as the pursuit and capture of Geronimo, the Apache wars, the tragic massacre at Wounded Knee, Pocahontas (whose story has been romanticized over the years), the Battle of Little Big Horn, and one of the most famous novels of all time, The Last of the Mohicans.

There are whole series which are based around the American old west, such as Gunsmoke, Red Ryder, The Lone Ranger, and Frontier Town. I've started to put a collection of shows together on the following page, but if there's any that you think I've missed, please do let me know by posting a comment below, so that I can add them.

Old Time Radio - Native Americans

Our history is so important, and although people's opinions will always be fiercely divided, we should never forget.

Happy listening my friends,