Canadian Indians have long been represented by stereotypes presented by non-native writers. Only recently have Indians begun to create their own literature and re-examine historic sources of native speech and tales. This paper traces early European views of the bloodthirsty native and the noble savage, but contrasts them with recorded comments of Indians on the white man, his love of money and his bearded face. It demonstrates that another stereotype of the native American was created by egalitarians in the mid-twentieth century: the Indian as victimized; dispossessed; and cultureless. Although literature about natives by non-natives is often sympathetic and perceptive, writers have a tendency to portray every aspect of the lives of native people as problematic. Strengths of the culture may be ignored or unrecognized. Native literature emphasizes communal living and a sense of place; quests lead home to the elders. The style is often influenced by oral narratives. This paper examines several examples of contemporary native literature that speak from the native point of view. It concludes that young natives should not be reading what it is to be native by James Fenimore Cooper, but from the numerous natives writing today. (DHP)