![](https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/08/25/harlanmckosato.jpg)
Harlan McKosato. Photo from Facebook
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been disparaging indigenous people for decades and radio show host Harlan McKosato wants him to know we don't all look the same:
“They don’t look like Indians to me, and they don’t look like Indians to (other) Indians.” This was a statement by Donald Trump at a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill concerning Indian gaming. He went on to say, “I think I might have more Indian blood than a lot of the so-called Indians that are trying to open up the reservations,” he said in a radio interview with Don Imus. He was referring to tribal people in Connecticut who were cutting into his own casino profits. First of all, Trump looks more like a giant Oompa Loompa than anything else. I haven’t seen any orange-skinned Indians in all my days. But I have seen really dark-skinned ones and really light-skinned ones. Which brings up the question, “What does a 21st Century Indian look like, or what are we supposed to look like?” I’m sure many non-Indians have an image in their minds of a traditional Indian Warrior with brown skin, long dark hair, dark eyes, muscled up, clean shaven and very handsome – kinda like me (aaaye) – sort of like the Indian Warriors they see on the cover of those Indian romance novels at the grocery store. But that stereotype was never reality. Native people come in all shapes and sizes; and these days all skin tones. What the people who hold on to this image don’t realize is that being Native American is not what you look like. It is a cultural identity, but it also has political implications.Read More:
Harlan McKosato: What Does an Indian Look Like? (Indian Country Toady 10/25)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Donald
Trump embraces big energy projects like Dakota Access Pipeline (10/24) John Leguizamo: Who was 'mistreating indigenous people' first? (10/21)
Utah group aims to elevate Native issues in an unusual election (10/20)
Editorial: Republicans in South Dakota embrace Monster Trump (10/19)
Delphine Red Shirt: Women face dangers in this world every day (10/18)
Mark Trahant: A Democratic House isn't a long shot thanks to Donald Trump (10/17)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump continues to grope for more votes (10/17)
Lynn Armitage: Why this Native woman supports Donald Trump (10/17)
Mark Trahant: Native Republican won't abandon Donald Trump (10/14)
Republicans in South Dakota change their tune on Donald Trump (10/13)
APTN ties Donald Trump's 1993 smear to rebuff by California tribe (10/12)
Tribal leaders and advocates slam Donald Trump as NCAI opens annual convention (10/11)
Sen. John McCain doesn't want more 'liberal' justices on Supreme Court (10/11)
Top GOP lawmaker abandons Donald Trump ahead of election (10/11)
Native Republicans in Congress silent as party abandons Trump (10/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump is disqualified from the presidency (10/10)
Robin Annette LaDue: The ugly truth of Republican Donald Trump (10/10)
Ivan Star Comes Out: Donald Trump brings racism out into the open (10/06)
School district on reservation in Montana condemns racist pro-Trump tshirts (10/03)
Ryan Winn: Donald Trump owes an apology to the first Americans (09/12)
Steve Russell: Getting into the White House is still political science (09/02)
Donald Trump picks Navajo man for agriculture advisory committee (08/22)
Indian Country advocate heads up Hillary Clinton's transition team (8/17)
Republican vice presidential pick Mike Pence hosts town hall at Sandia Pueblo (08/16)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump will hurt Indian Country on purpose (08/16)
Tribes left out of Republican effort to transfer public land to states (8/16)
Mark Trahant: Are there even any Republicans in Indian Country? (08/15)
Opinion: The media ignores another 'off the reservation' comment (08/15)
Charles Trimble: Tough women like Hillary Clinton deserve a chance (08/11)
End of an era nears with final White House Tribal Nations Conference (08/09)
End of an era nears with final White House Tribal Nations Conference (08/09)
Charles Trimble: Tribal nations must join together for Hillary Clinton (08/02)
Editorial: Donald Trump would force Black Hills settlement on tribes (08/02)
John McCain denounces Donald Trump but won't withdraw support (08/01)
Bryan Newland: Donald Trump's radical view of federal Indian law (07/29)
Tim Giago: Questioning the motto of GOP candidate Donald Trump (07/26)
Doug George-Kanentiio: Donald Trump and his campaign of hatred (07/25)
Mark Charles: The entire nation's problem with Donald Trump (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump promises a world with no treaties (07/22)
Donald Trump closes Republican convention that left out Indian Country (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump's Republican convention is one big failure (07/21)
Tribal lobbyist not buying Donald Trump's message of change (07/21)
Donald Trump officially named Republican presidential nominee (07/20)
Republicans unveil platform and project inclusion at convention (7/19)
Mark Trahant: Trump Republicans carry the banner for more coal (7/18)
Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen takes on Donald Trump with 'Make America Native Again' (07/12)
Democrats embrace tribal sovereignty in platform for convention (07/08)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation slams Donald Trump for 'bigoted' attacks (07/07)
Mark Trahant: Republican candidates play hide the stick with Donald Trump on the ticket (07/06)
Ramapough Lunaape Nation blames Donald Trump for lack of federal status (07/05)
Mainstream media tunes into Trump's attacks on Indian gaming (7/4)
Donald Trump approved Indian gaming attack ads in New York (6/30)
Donald Trump rehashes 'Pocahontas' slur as Elizabeth Warren hits road for Hillary Clinton (06/28)
Donald Trump fares poorly against Hillary Clinton in national poll (06/27)
Leaders of three tribes meet Donald Trump during Arizona stop (06/20)
Navajo Republicans divided on Donald Trump's 'Pocahontas' slur (06/17)
Republicans slam Trump's 'racist' comments but still support him (06/08)
Sen. Barrasso to chair platform committee for GOP convention (05/25)
Donald Trump claims 'Jack Abrahamoff scandal' proves he was right about tribes (05/23)
Donald Trump's long and strained relationship with Indian gaming (05/19)
Donald Trump releases list of potential Supreme Court nominees (05/18)
Mark Trahant: Indian Republican Tom Cole backs Donald Trump (05/18)
Sen. Warren stands up to Donald Trump despite his 'Indian' insults (05/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump brings good news to Native candidates (05/09)
Cowlitz Tribe hosted Donald Trump to discuss his interest in casino (05/09)
Donald Trump advisor filed lawsuit to stop transfer of dam to tribe (04/20)
Donald Trump tried to bully his way into New York tribe's casino bid (04/18)
Backer of Republican Donald Trump described Indians as 'filthy' (04/12)
Donald Trump again derides Sen. Elizabeth Warren as 'the Indian' (03/22)
Donald Trump once claimed IGRA and tribal casinos were illegal (01/29)
Cowlitz Tribe turned down Donald Trump for gaming partnership (10/05)
Donald Trump not shy with invoking race when it comes to tribes (07/31)