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21st century race gender class and ethnicity issues for Native American Indians

......Northern Exposure
In the early 1990s, Northern Exposure was a very popular and rather unique show, providing comedy not in the standard sitcom-with-laugh track format, but through more dramatic and realistic explorations of an isolated town full of odd individuals in Alaska. In many ways, the representation of Native Americans in this show is far more realistic and authentic than in many other television programs, starting with the fact that actual Native actors were cast in Native roles. One regular role on the show is especially useful for exposing the various types of stereotypes that this show still perpetuates, despite its good intentions
This character is a younger female, who serves as an assistant to the town doctora young man from New York that is only here out of obligation. Her seeming unawareness of Western medicinal techniques and certain other cultural elements is used to mark her difference, as is her slow and deadpan delivery. These things contribute to make this character appear less than intelligent, which is perpetuating a strong negative stereotype that was heavily popularized and widely believed in the nineteenth century. This character is actually shown to be quite wise in a very simple and direct manner,