A common myth is that Native Americans automatically receive free college education. In reality, educational opportunities for Native Americans vary widely, and access to free or subsidized education depends on many variables, not just racial or tribal affiliation.

In the boarding school era, Native Americans were in fact subjected to a “free education” in a genocidal attempt to “kill the Indian, save the man”. These government funded schools operated from the late 1800s through to the 1980s. During the great depression and other periods of economic hardship, bitterness among non-Natives about the resources and meals provided to Native American children led to the widespread establishment of this myth. But Native American children were forced to attend these schools, where living standards were often quite poor, and parents or communities who refused could be punished with starvation and withholding of treaty guaranteed provisions. These free “schools” brutally removed Native American children from their families, had widespread systematic issues with physical and sexual abuse, and are seen as one of the most harmful and traumatic events Natives have faced in living memory. Casually perpetuating this myth is both extremely uninformed and harmful.

Another common misconception is that anyone with a long family history in the United States can find Native American heritage if they delve deep enough into their family tree. However, determining Indigenous identity is a complex process involving cultural sovereignty, and specific criteria set by individual tribes. Respect for tribal sovereignty and recognition of the distinct histories and cultures of each tribe are crucial when discussing Native American ancestry.

This myth is deeply harmful because it dismisses the legitimacy of those with “distant” Native ancestry by asserting that anyone would be Native by that criteria, and that is patently false. While there are thousands of claims of a distant ancestor who married an Indian princess, in reality there were very few cases of colonial era intermarriage between Natives and immigrants. The vast majority of people who believe their distant ancestors married a Native have no evidence to support that claim, and should never equivocate undocumented ancestry claims and family lore to those few documented cases, especially not in an attempt to dismiss the legitimacy of someone else’s documented Indigenous ancestry. Ultimately, it is tribal nations and communities that determine who is or is not Native American. In some tribes, there is no statute of limitations on Indigeneity, and in other tribes proximity to your Native ancestors is considered a critical determinant of enrollment. It is inappropriate to insert oneself into that narrative by stating that they are “just as Native” as an enrolled member based on the idea that early US history had frequent intermarriages.

Another harmful stereotype revolves around the belief that specific physical features such as “high cheekbones” or black hair can indicate Native American ancestry. Physical appearance alone cannot determine who is or is not Native American, as Native Americans, like any other racial group, display diverse physical characteristics that can be shared among non-Native populations and being Native American is not just a racial designation. Only tribal nations can arbitrate their communities, and time and time again people who appear to look stereotypically Native American are found to have no Native ancestry whatsoever, whilst active members of legitimate tribes are accused of dishonesty simply because they do not look “Native enough” to some people.

Native American nations issue citizenship, and in the same way that the United States provides citizenship to many different races, tribal nations have the right to do the same. The Cherokee nation, for example, provides citizenship based on the Cherokee Dawes Roll, a legal document which acknowledges their nationhood and citizenry. The participants in that contract and their descendants are eligible for enrollment as citizens regardless of their current racial identity. It is a tribe’s right alone to make the decision on who is or is not a member of their community. It is inappropriate for those outside these communities to speculate on whether or not someone is genuinely Native based on their physical appearance, or to make comments on someone else’s genetic makeup to try and delegitimize their cultural identity. It is also inappropriate to purport to be Native American based solely on your physical appearance or the physical appearance of an ancestor.

Another common myth or assumption is that Native Americans all share certain values or experiences. The reality is there are 574 federally recognized tribes, each and every one of them has a unique perspective. While there may be common threads of experience or discrimination across various tribes, you can never assume a person’s views or position on a topic based on their ethnicity. Like any other group, Native Americans vary drastically in their political and social opinions, even on issues which may seem to be obvious to those outside of Native communities.

Many people are surprised to find that some Native communities are quite conservative. Some tribes engage with and invest in fossil fuels. Some Native Americans have been vocal in their support of specific Native mascots that they identify with and appreciate. It is never appropriate for someone outside the Indigenous community to comment on someone’s identity in relationship to their views on controversial topics. Native Americans should not be held to a specific standard with regard to social or environmental issues based on stereotypes of how a “real” Native American should think, feel, or behave.

While the myth that Native American tribes seek recognition solely to establish casinos is often used to delay or deny recognition efforts, it has little basis in fact. First and foremost, of the 574 federally recognized tribes, only 250 operate gaming facilities, and less than half of the total revenue from gaming activities in the United States comes from tribally owned operations. Furthermore, only federally recognized tribes can engage in gaming activities and they can only do so with a written agreement from the states they intend to operate in. Granting a tribe state recognition would not allow them to open a casino, and many Native American tribes have chosen not to participate in gaming activities based on their own cultural values.

Assuming that the aim of every tribe is to open a casino is a racist trope that completely disregards any other motivations for seeking recognition, such as cultural and linguistic survival, or the right to legally call cultural heirlooms Native-made. Recognition is what allows a tribe to qualify for federal grants, including low income energy assistance for elders, language classes, and housing assistance. Recognition is also one way that the government can honor the resilience and survival of Native communities after centuries of erasure. It provides healing, security, and opportunity far beyond the establishment of a casino.