Psychologists sometimes speak of native (inborn) intelligence, but this test is something quite different: a chance for you to test how much you know about Native American history and contemporary life.
Why are the Washington Redskins, Jeep Cherokee, and Red Man Chewing Tobacco popular names when the Washington Brownskins, Jeep Chicano, and Black Man chewing tobacco would be considered offensive? Why is the Cleveland Indians baseball logo, Chief Wahoo, acceptable when other racial caricatures, such as Little Black Sambo and the Frito Bandito, are not?
The answer, in part, is that anti-Indian prejudice does not receive as much attention as do other forms of racism. To counter this lack of attention, the following 10-item test will probe your knowledge of Native American issues.

Question One:  The Holocaust of World War II was not only one of the most tragic events of the 20th century, but of modern history in general. Close to 6 million Jews (nearly two-thirds of all European Jews) and many other people perished. By comparison, approximately how many Indians in the Americas died within a century of Christopher Columbus' arrival?

1. Nearly 5 million -- roughly half the existing population
2. Nearly 10 million -- roughly half the existing population
3. Nearly 10 million -- roughly 95% of the existing population
4. Nearly 100 million -- roughly 95% of the existing population

Question Two:  Which of the following statements did Christopher Columbus make to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain when writing about native people in the Americas?

a.        "They would make fine servants .... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."

b.       "We can send from here, in the name of the Holy Trinity, all the slaves and brazil-wood which could be sold .... one Indian is worth three Negroes."

c.        Both of the above

d.       None of the above

Question Three:   The practice of scalping:

a.        Dates back to ancient Greece

b.       Was introduced in America by the Dutch

c.        Was done occasionally by U.S. soldiers in World War II

d.       All of the above

e.        None of the above

Question Four:  How does the U.S. Declaration of Independence refer to American Indians?

a.        As "merciless Indian Savages"

b.       As "the Native inhabitants of this land"

c.        It does not mention the existence of American Indians

d.       None of the above

Question Five:  In its policy of "removal," the U.S. government forced American Indians to leave their ancestral lands. For example, in a march that began in 1838 and was later called the Trail of Tears, 17,000 Cherokees were moved west under conditions so severe that 4,000 people died.
In a speech to Congress, how did President Martin Van Buren (in office at the time) describe Indian removal?

a.       "The entire removal of the Cherokee Nation .... has been principally under the conduct of their own chiefs, and they have emigrated without any apparent reluctance."

b.      "[The government's] dealings with the Indian tribes have been just and friendly throughout …. all these tribes are friendly in their feelings toward the United States."

c.       "Since the spring of 1837 more than 40,000 Indians have been removed to their new homes [and] all accounts concur in representing the result of this measure as eminently beneficial to that people."

d.      All of the above

e.       None of the above

Question Six:  The remaining questions concern modern-day American Indians.
According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, what proportion of American Indian youths attempt suicide by the end of high school?

a.        One in fifty

b.       One in twenty

c.        One in ten girls and one in twenty boys

d.       One in five girls and one in eight boys

e.        None of the above

Question Seven:   Of all the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States, which one lives in the most residentially segregated environment?

a.         African Americans

b.         Hispanic Americans

c.         Asian Americans

d.         Native Americans

e.         None of the above

Question Eight:   Which statement is true of American Indian citizenship?

a.        Most Indians are citizens of their own nations, not the United States.

b.       Upon application, Indians are eligible for U.S. citizenship after age 18.

c.        Indians born in the U.S. automatically receive U.S. citizenship.

d.       None of the above

Question Nine: Which of the following statistics is NOT true of American Indians living on reservations?

a.        More than 15% of their homes lack electricity

b.       Roughly 20% of their homes lack indoor plumbing

c.        Roughly 25% of their homes have no telephone

d.       More than 30% of residents live below the poverty line

e.        More than 40% of residents are unemployed

Question Ten:  According to a spokesperson for the Cleveland Indians baseball team, the main reason for continuing to use the Chief Wahoo logo is:   

a.        Overwhelming fan support

b.       It honors the history of Native Americans

c.        A change would cost the team too much money

d.       None of the above

Reference:

Plous, S. (2007).  Test your Native IQ.  Retrieved March 21, 2007, from:  http://www.understandingprejudice.org/nativeiq/.