According to Wendall Powless, a Native American performer and lecturer, the common tune used so often in movies and television has nothing to do with any Native American tribe.

Powless is committed to dispelling such stereotypes and is doing so by being part of Native Pride Productions with Larry Yazzie, an international lecturer, educator, performer and fancy dancer.

Yazzie and Powless are on a 28-week tour including a recent trip to Immaculate Conception School where they took time to extinguish stereotypes, educate and have a bit of fun while they were at it.

“Has anyone ever heard a Native American song before?” Powless asked the IC students and faculty Oct. 8.

“No,” the crowd of children answered back.

Powless said he would sing the group a Native American lullaby. So with complete silence, Powless began to sing without words, then he transitioned into a chorus of “I am not Alan Jackson. I am not Miley Cyrus. I am not Hannah Montana. I am just an Indian guy.”

The lullaby brought laughter to the entire crowd.

Since he had the audience’s full attention, he had the opportunity to break further stereotypes including the famous war cry which includes smacking a flat hand against one’s mouth.

“If you see an Indian, don’t do that,” Powless cautioned. Powless added this war cry also has been perpetuated by Hollywood but is not a real war cry, which he then demonstrated.

Powless added a common part of Native American warfare is bells which are worn on the ankles during battle. The bells told the enemy they were coming, Powless explained.

Powless wore some other traditional regalia including a headdress.

The children tried to guess the materials of Powless’ headdress. After several guesses of turkey feathers and other types of fowl feathers, Powless said his headdress is made of porcupine quills and two eagle feathers. He added the rest of his ensemble is made of deer skins.

Powless also entertained questions from the audience.

“Why did the Indians fight the cowboys?” one child asked.

After a moment of thought, Powless said, “We were here first.” Powless explained other religions and cultures were being forced upon the Native Americans at that particular time in history.

“Nowadays we have fun with everything,” Powless said lightening the mood.

Powless also fielded a question about the number of eagle feathers on his headdress.

When Powless was a young boy he had hawk feathers but as he got older he received two eagle feathers. The number of eagle feathers was determined by “how you act” with two being a good number, Powless explained.

Teacher John Greenawalt asked if there are any special holidays which Native Americans celebrate.

Powless explained many tribes celebrate changes in seasons.

Finally, a humorous question arose from a small boy in the front row.

“How can you blow up a balloon?” the boy asked most likely worried about the porcupine quills popping the balloon.

Powless thought for a moment and advised the child go to his local Walmart for balloon inflation.

The visit also included Native American dancing with both students and teachers getting in on the act. Yazzie and Powless incorporated hip-hop dance moves into the Native American dances for fun.

The visit also included Native American dancing with both students and teachers getting in on the act. Yazzie and Powless incorporated hip-hop dance moves into the Native American dances for fun.

Yazzie started performing 20 years ago and has performed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 1999 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg , Russia , and the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Yazzie said he saw a need to “educate and break those stereotypes.”

“We are a proud people. We are still here today,” Yazzie added.

The Native Pride Dancers also will be performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. the week before Thanksgiving. For information search Myspace under Native Pride Dancers.