Abstract Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was one of the many Spanish explorers to set foot in the New World in the early sixteenth century. This paper discusses the film "Cabeza de Vaca", directed by Nicolas Echevarria, which tells de Vaca's story. The paper argues that while the film is well done, it makes grossly incorrect stereotypes of the Native Americans and their treatment of the Spaniards. It shows that the portrayal of the Native Americans in this way is in direct contrast to de Vaca's original writings in which he praised the way the locals treated his exploration party.
From the Paper "Governor P?nfilo de Narvaez was also a Spanish explorer, and it was on June 17th, 1527 that he set sail from Sanlucar de Barrameda. The king of Spain had commissioned him "to conquer and govern the provinces that lie between the river of Las Palmas and the tip of Florida" (Pupo-Walker 5). Accompanying Narvaez and his five ships were three to six hundred Spanish people, of which included Cabeza de Vaca. Cabeza de Vaca ?was made treasurer of the expedition by a royal warrant dated 15 February, 1527? (Bishop 25).
The exact details of the voyage are rather confusing. Most historians agree that the expedition stopped several times along the coast of Cuba, gathering supplies as well as losing many men. It then seems that before leaving a port in Cuba, several of the ships sank, drastically dwindling not only the amount of supplies, but also the amount of Spaniards. The voyage then continued their mission to the southern tip of Florida."
Abstract This paper discusses the Miami Indians, the existence of whom were recorded by French explorers and missionaries as far back as the early seventeenth century. In particular it examines how The Miami Indians in Ohio were defeated by white encroachment on their lands and the government policies of western expansion. It analyzes how their influence in Ohio was significant although not as profound as that of Tecumseh and the Shawnees. It looks at how their major contributions were in agriculture and preparing decorative skins. It evaluates how although the Miami Indians were traditionally a society of warriors, they were unable to successfully combat the overwhelming strength and policies of U.S. Government forces and ended up defeated and diminished as was the history of all Native Americans.
From the Paper "The Miami were known as the tattooed or naked Indians. They were lighter in color and shorter than other Illinois tribe. In spite of the severe weather of the Great Lakes region, they wore skins, leggings, and moccasins during the winter. During the summer, they wore only breechcloth and moccasins, which exposed intricate tattooing on their skin. Men wore unornamented skins most of the time. Fringed, beaded, and quilled clothing were worn for festive occasions. Women usually were lightly tattooed on the cheeks or chin. White men could never duplicate the skill of preparing skins, making the Miamis skins much more desirable. As trading continued, the Miami women used brooches and glass beads to add prestige to their clothing. They developed techniques to get striking effects such as skillful applique and nickel-silver decoration (Murdoch, 21). But even the finest of these skins was discarded by Miamis whenever they could secure European cloth (Anson, 20)."
Tags: tecumseh, shawnees, agriculture, skins, government
Abstract This paper takes as its focus the culture of the Native Americans of Southern New England and also why it was so terribly disrupted by European settlement. Another way of looking at this last issue is to say that this paper examines what made this region attractive to the Europeans who would superimpose their culture on the area. Finally, the paper examines how the final outcome of European settlement in this area was the result of the traditional native settlement patterns and the ways in which these interacted with the specific goals of the Europeans.
From the Paper "Southern New England was the home to a complex civilization when some of the first European settlers to the New World came to the area that is southern and eastern Massachusetts, the eastern part of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and most of Connecticut. Although there were regional differences throughout this area caused by differences in the environment as well as by the inevitable differentiation of people into subcultures, this region was unified by what can be viewed into a single cultural group. That culture -? along with the lives of individual American Indians -? would be in large measure destroyed during the 17th century as their culture came into conflict with that of the Europeans."
An analysis of of the legal implications of the Stocker Wannabi Tribe's project to construct and operate a Las Vegas style gambling casino on their land.
Abstract This paper looks at whether the Stocker Wannabi Tribe will ultimately be able to move forward with its project to construct and operate a Las Vegas style gambling casino on its reservation in Mio will ultimately be decided by the federal courts. By examining the legal stance of the casino and other similar cases, it attempts to put forward strong public policy reasons which justify rejection of the project.
From the Paper "The Supreme Court made it clear in California v. Cabaron Band of Mission Indians, 480 U.S. 202 (1987), that gaming on the reservations of recognized Indian tribes cannot be prohibited by a state "unless the state interests at stake are sufficient to justify the exercise of state authority." The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), 25 U.S.C. 2700 et seq., provided the states with a share in the regulation of Las Vegas types games but limited state power in the area of Class II games which were defined to include card games such as blackjack which were in fact in legal operation in Michigan prior to 1988. The proposed casino insofar as its games were limited to Class II games would survive state challenge, but, of course, many other forms of gambling are contemplated at Miso."
Abstract This paper analyzes the four stories assigned for analysis in Gerald Vizenor's anthology "Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology". ( "Return to White Earth" by John Rogers, ?A Good Chance,? by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, "The Little People" by Maria Campbell and ?Someday Soon,? by Paula Gunn Allen). The author discusses their common themes, adaptability and the finding of identity. The writer illustrates how the four stories represent a wide variety of writings about a wide variety of Indian peoples, help the reader understand the history of the Native American experience, and to some degree, today's reality of that changed experience.
From the Paper "The four stories assigned for analysis in Gerald Vizenor's anthology (Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology) are each, to begin with, quite different, in terms of the point of view and the tone the authors have set. "Return to White Earth" is a very pure and charming story of the homecoming and coming of age of a Chippewa boy, returning to his native northern Minnesota following a stay at a boarding school in South Dakota. This story, by John Rogers, is as much an education in how Chippewa Indians lived, hunted, worked, interacted, and survived, as it is a story merely about characters and events. Beautifully written, and loaded with similes about the natural world and why Native Americans respect that world, this story is an up-tempo, pleasurable experience to read."
Abstract This paper outlines the issues related to incest as a social taboo with reference to the Jewish, Native American and Malagasy cultures. The paper attempts to identify what is wrong with the practice of incest. The paper points out that incest does not have one common level between different cultures and the practice while considered illegal and immoral in some places, may be perfectly acceptable in others.
Contents:
Definition of Incest
Modern Prohibition
Jews
Native Americans
Malagasy
Advantages and Disadvantages
American Culture Compared
Conclusion
From the Paper "Modern day society in western culture prohibits marriages within the inner group where the parents are considered to belong to the same genes night trigger genetic defects in their children. Most societies condemn incest or marriage within the same circle especially children from the same parents or brothers and sisters etc. This incest taboo is considered to be too close and might result in genetic deformity. There are few cultures in the world today that condone incest taboo the reason being that modern theories consider the psychological and the sociological effects of such unions are too great to be ignored."
Abstract Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a deeply researched account of the destruction of the American Indian in the late 1800s, ending at the Battle of Wounded Knee. "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", opens a door into our past. As with any book of this sort, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" has a few shortcomings.
Abstract This paper analyzes the controversy over DNA testing. The author uses the very recent case of Kennewick Man, the 9,300 year old remains, to discuss some of the issues involved. While science can learn a great deal from studying such remains, Native Americans are opposed to such testing because they feel it violates their beliefs. They do not like the idea of scientists studying and classifying remains, as they feel such studies are often racially motivated and damages their chances of reclaiming artifacts under the North American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. While the Kennewick Man case ended up in court, DNA testing proceeded and failed to uncover any conclusive results, resulting in the return of the artifacts to five Native American tribes. Cases such as Kennewick Man and a similar aborigine case in Australia have no easy answers; however, non-destructive testing may allow for less invasive treatment of human remains. In any case, the decision to test remains should be left to Native American descendants, not government committee.
Tags: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / BIO-ETHICS, native american remains
Abstract In the 1990s, the South Dakota community of Wounded Knee remains a tiny village of less than 100 persons, but its name commands a most symbolic and also sinister connotation in the history or relations between the United States and its aboriginal peoples. In this paper's discussion of the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, it is emphasized how what might seem an obscure event in the history of interaction between European-Americans and the American Indians was to become a powerful symbolic event of significance to the present day. The very mention of Wounded Knee brings to mind numerous issues of great emotive and political meanings.
Abstract Mary Rowlandson's description of her experiences being held captive by Indians during the Metacom Wars in17th century New England represent the birth of a narrative genre. What characterizes the Rowlandson's narrative as particular is both the vivid detail of her experience and the ways her survival is woven through the Calvinist doctrine's of New England's Puritan religious communities. The narrative itself represents the sheer trauma of Rowlandson's experiences in a language that appeals relentlessly to salvation discourse and it is apparent that her religious passions sustained her to some degree during her three months as a hostage with the Naragansett Indians. It is also difficult to deny the ways the narrative is written after-the-fact and represents a particular reconstruction of the experience. It is in reading the narrative is a context of post-traumatic writing that it becomes possible to understand how Rowlandson's writing constitutes a particular act of recovery.
Abstract Often people have the wrong concept of an American Indian. Children 's conception of Native Americans often is developed from the media. Often Native Americans are sent to school and lose their concept of the Native American as well as the language of their people.
Abstract One of the most important rites in the Lakota religion is the vision quest. This paper goes on to elaborate on this area of the Lakota religion.
Abstract Since the earliest beginnings of their culture, Native American tribes used ceremonial smoking as a traditional means of dignifying many important activities, such as rallying forces for warfare, conducting trade discussions, negotiating for a bride, or settling disputes over land. Treaties were signed over a Pipe, couples were and still are married over one. Making vows or signing a name over a Pipe ensured that the vows or agreement would never be broken, because it had been sanctified by the Creator.
Review of the novel "Black Elk Speaks" from the perspective of Christianity with an emphasis on the influence Christianity has had on the Lakota Sioux.
2,150 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 80.95
Abstract The characters in John Neihardt's "Black Elk Speaks" cross a multitude of literary representations, symbols and metaphors. Although one can say that each of these characters or representations are unique to the Lakota Sioux, and indeed represent what is unique about Native American heritage in general, This paper will focus more on how these representations and characters reflect the Christian influence upon the Lakota Sioux. Throughout "Black Elk Speaks", many Christian parallels may be found and this paper will highlight several of them.
Abstract This paper examines Indian-white relations on the post-revolutionary frontier up to the early 19th century. All social, political, and economic relations are marked by inequality and a dominant-inferior pattern.
