The Influence of

Abstract

This study examines the comic book “Super Indian” and the responses it elicits from Native youth between the ages of 9-15. The study includes ten self-identified Native American participants from Anadarko, Oklahoma, who represent various tribal Nations and were recruited through Anadarko Indian Education. The research utilizes an Indigenous research methodology and implemented the use of talking circles in order to collect the responses of the participants. The purpose of the research is to explore ways in which positive representations influence Native youth in addition to exposing the participants to a side of Native American literature that is often overlooked—graphic novels. The study finds that the positive representation of “Super Indian” empowered the participants and encouraged them to contribute to future positive Native American stories, images, and representations. It also shows that positive representations produce positive effects as well as strengthen the need to combat pre-existing negative representations with Native-created positive representations.