Attitudes towards the Native Indians in Little House on the Prairie.

A variety of positive and negative attitudes are expressed throughout 'Little House on the Prairie' towards the Native Indians by the main characters, Pa, Ma, and Laura. Throughout the novel, Native Indians are seen as savages and unwanted within the more modern society that is being created by settlers heading West. The removal of Indians due to settlers cultivating the land leads to potential war and internal disagreements for both tribes and settlers.

In the eighteenth chapter, 'The Tall Indian' it is clear that Ma's views of Native Indians are extremely negative compared to Pa and Laura's judgement of them. By speaking on behalf of Jack, the dog, as to hating Indians and that she 'didn't blame him' suggests that she is forcing her opinion onto not only the other people around her such as her daughters but also on an animal who cannot talk for himself. Ma continues this outlook, declaring that Indians are 'so thick around here' when looking out across the fields and by seeing them, she expresses that she deems them uncivilised and unkempt compared to herself and her style of living. In addition to this, Ma's abrupt statement of 'Let Indians keep themselves to themselves and we will do the same.' reinforces that Ma does not agree with Native Indians being near her home and that they are and will not be a part of her society and lifestyle. Mrs Scott agrees with Ma when discussing the rights of land and whether the Wilders are in Indian Territory or not, saying that 'Treaties or no treaties, the land belongs to folks that'll farm it. That's only common sense and justice." Therefore, regardless of where settlers live, the Native Indians are deemed uncultured and useless to the settler's society and that they do not use the land in a sufficient way.  

So what or whom exactly has led to the pessimism that Ma expresses towards the Native Indians?

In Riley's 'Challenges of Plains Living', she analyses how many women settlers 'absorbed dramatic and often inflated stories' surrounding Native Indians during the move towards the West and that for many they [Native Indians] were to be feared due to their demeanour and brutal lifestyle. This is supported by the description of the Native Americans throughout Little House on the Prairie as they are written as if they are aliens or sub-human of some form due to repetitive description of their 'black eyes' and 'scowling and mean' features while appearing dirty compared to Laura's family. Therefore, it is possible that Ma's experiences of Native Indians have been negative since she first gained an understanding of them and their impact on her life due to listening to stories and conversations from others of their experiences with the Native Indians.

On the other hand, Pa's view significantly overshadows Ma's outlook on Native Indians as he influences Laura, his daughter's judgement and outlook towards the Native Indians. Pa views the Native Indians as peaceful and friendly in comparison to Ma. Pa continues even to defend them when Jack goes to attack the Native Indians and agrees that 'it's his path' as it was an Indian trail long before they themselves arrived. Pa expresses respect for the Natives and admires them to a certain extent as he engages with their lifestyle and living and does similar himself but with a settlers outlook on living standards. Pa prefers to live in the open where wild animals roam free and live unafraid of settlers similar to the lifestyle of Native Indians. Further on in the novel, Pa suggests that Ma could 'wash clothes in the creek' like the Indian women do but she refuses as she does not agree and is unaccustomed to this way of living. So did Pa experience earlier on in life a peaceful encounter with the Native Indians that leads to his approving attitude towards Native Indians?

Following on from this, Pa's view does change according to events that occur and believes that in contrast to Mr Scott's view of 'The only good Indian is a dead Indian' there are good Indians such as Soldat du Chene who prevents the local tribes from attacking them due to them settling near to one of their trails.  

In addition to Pa's attitude towards the Native Indians, Laura has made her judgement of the Indians quickly throughout the novel. Her desires of seeing an Indian throughout the novel, and her continuous questioning to Ma and Pa shows her deep interest in Indians. By understanding that these people were 'wild men with red skins' and not like herself she is keen to understand the differences between the two people. The frustration she shows when Ma disapproves of all her questions before bedtime about what happens to Indians when settlers arrives shows an underlining detachment between mother and daughter due to holding different interests. Why does Ma not wish to talk openly about Native Indians? What does Ma fear that Laura does not? For Laura, the Native Indians seem interesting and exciting and she struggles to understand why the government wish to move the further West when she is living near Indian Territory and they are not a threat to her. Laura even demands that Pa takes an Indian baby from the tribe and gives it to her but remains unsuccessful. Her wish to be an Indian is expressed in the novel but why does Laura wish to be a Native Indian? As Ma continuously disapproves Laura, she still seeks for an undefined answer about the Native Indians. 

Sources: Riley, G., Women's Responses to the Challenges of Plains Living, (1989), 175.
Wilder, L.I., Little House on the Prairie, (Harper, 1941), Ch 18.