Native American group given rights to 1970s 'Crying Indian' ad

A Native American defense statement has been fixed ownership of nan 1970s "Crying Indian" PSA, an iconic advertisement that has been accused of perpetuating stereotypes.

The National Congress of American Indians was fixed ownership by Keep America Beautiful, nan nonprofit that commissioned nan advertisement to pass against pollution.

The 1971 advertisement showed a man successful Native American attire grimly looking astatine litter and pollution. The actor, Iron Eyes Cody, shed a azygous tear arsenic nan camera zoomed successful connected his look – a popular civilization moment that has been parodied successful "South Park" and "The Simpsons".

But nan ad, which was primitively a hit, has been considered arguable complete nan years. Native American activists judge it is problematic for promoting nan "noble savage" archetype.

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Iron Eyes Cody, nan ''Crying Indian'' whose tearful look successful 1970s TV commercials became a powerful awesome of nan anti-littering campaign, is pictured successful this 1986 photo.  (AP Photo/File)

"There’s nary agency for that sad alleged Indian feline sitting successful a canoe, crying," professor Jennifer J. Folsom told Associated Press. "I deliberation it has done harm to nationalist cognition and support for existent Native group doing things to protect nan onshore and protect nan environment."

The character successful nan ad, Iron Eyes Cody, claimed to person Cherokee practice done his father, but it was revealed aft his decease that he was chiefly Italian-American. 

Cody was typecast to play Native Americans successful complete 80 films and spent complete 25 years promoting the anti-litter campaign. 

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President Carter dons an Indian headdress arsenic he chats pinch Iron Eyes Cody, nan "concerned Indian," during a ceremonial astatine nan White House successful 1978. (Bettman via Getty Images)

"Keep America Beautiful wanted to beryllium observant and deliberate astir really we transitioned this iconic advertisement/public work announcement to due owners," spokesperson Noah Ullman said. "We said to respective Indigenous peoples’ organizations and were pleased to place nan National Congress of American Indians arsenic a imaginable caretaker."

The National Congress of American Indians said they look guardant to "putting this advertisement to bed," describing it arsenic "inappropriate."

Garth, Alabama: Keep American Beautiful Spokesman Iron Eyes Cody, (right), inspects nan hardwood trees connected Yancy Clemons' 700 acre "Treasure Forest" successful northeastern Alabama's Paint Rock Valley successful 1984. (Bettman via Getty Images)

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"NCAI is proud to presume nan domiciled of monitoring nan usage of this advertisement and guarantee it is only utilized for humanities context; this advertisement was inappropriate past and remains inappropriate today," NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. said. "NCAI looks guardant to putting this advertisement to furniture for good."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.