Reviewer: Sharon Brunner
Phil Bellfy’s “Merciless Savages (NOT): A how to guide to help you write and talk respectfully about American Indians” provides a culturally appropriate approach for addressing the Indigenous population. He applied humor and honest critical references in this book. The Declaration of Independence referred to the Indigenous People as “Merciless Savages” which demonstrated derogatory language and harmful stereotypes. Bellfy provided a thorough glossary of tainted, out-of-date, and offensive terms such as “Indian givers” and “squaw.” He explained the origins of the terms, the harmful repercussions, and the preferred alternatives. According to Bellfy one of the proper terms for the Indigenous was American Indians. Merciless Savages (NOT)… contested pejorative terms and offered an ethnically suitable understanding of how to converse courteously about American Indians.
A couple of the themes in Bellfy’s book were the use of specific tribal names and how derogatory names represented domination. I am a member of the Sault Ste. The Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians needs to be recognized as such instead of referring to me as Chippewa. Bellfy addressed the term half-breed and how offensive it was when people were asked, “What’s your blood quantum?” Caucasian people do not have to identify a blood quantum. Derogatory names gave license to the dominating powers to treat the Indigenous population as if they were undeserving of respect. Bellfy mentioned how a current corrupt politician referred to a senator as Pocahontas instead of calling her by her given name. She has a right to have her own opinion and deserves to be respected. The people who use derogatory names appeared to seek power and demonstrated that they did not have any respect for American Indians.
I l learned so much from this book. I did not know the word Eskimo had such a disparaging meaning, “Eaters of Raw Meat.” I had no idea. The true meaning of Thanksgiving was derived from slaughter of the Pequot village. The day of celebration was the result of the massacre of the Indigenous after they provided gifts of food to the European settlers. I also learned how the term “Indian Giver” came into being. The British settlers refused to give reciprocal gifts of equal value to the Indigenous people. The Native people were greatly offended and demanded their gifts returned. The British refusal to follow the French/Native protocol led to Pontiac’s Rebellion. After the rebellion the British decided to follow the French protocol concerning reciprocity. Bellfy covered many points of interest in his book.
The movie that came to mind when reading this book was the 1998 “Smoke Signals” movie in which Victor resented his father’s alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. The movie provided a humorous antidote to cultural differences and the plight many American Indian families face. The book that came to mind was Bellfy’s book ‘Indians and Other Misnomers: A Cross Reference Dictionary of the People, Persons, and Places of Native North America” which provided a helpful reference concerning Tribes and/or First Nations of the Great Lakes.
I recommend Merciless Savages (NOT): A how to guide to help you write and talk respectfully about American Indians for its humorous antidotes concerning culturally appropriate methods when addressing the Indigenous population, because of its comprehensive glossary of ill-used, outdated and distasteful terms, for its urging of specificity instead of general terms, and for its outward challenge to develop an understanding of real-life social aspects of the Indigenous People. For example, the word “Injuns” should not be used at all costs. Bellfy addressed the term “Taming of the West” which meant the elimination of the free Indian and referred to the massacre of the innocent. Bellfy suggested to replace the segregation of races by saying “white race” and “red race” to only saying the human race to stop the division of people into categories. Bellfy provided an extensive glossary of derogatory terms that must be eliminated in order to demonstrate the utmost respect of the Indigenous population and which can reduce discrimination and stereotyping.
Title: Merciless Savages (NOT): A how to guide to help you write and talk respectfully about American Indians
Author: Phil Bellfy
