Abstract Discusses theme of alienation in two novels. The characters of John Smith in Sherman Alexie's INDIAN KILLER, and Abel in N. Scott Momoday's HOUSE MADE OF DAWN. Various levels of alienation experienced by the characters (from family, from self, from society). Problem of maintaining cultural ties in an oppressed subculture. Setting & plot of novels.
From the Paper "The characters of John Smith in Sherman Alexie's Indian Killer and Abel in N. Scott Momaday's House Made of Dawn are each alienated from their society, an alienation that actually takes place on several levels--alienation from family, alienation from Indian society, alienation from the larger society of America, and even alienation from the human race. The process of alienation for begins in childhood for John Smith and becomes acute for Abel when he returns from army service in World War II. In both cases, the difficulty of maintaining cultural ties in a subculture that is dominated and oppressed by the white majority.
In Alexie's murder story, a serial killer is operating in Seattle and leaving behind scalped corpses decorated with owl feathers. This leads to a good deal of anti.Indian rhetoric ..."
Abstract Discusses four books that illustrate the sacred and secular as one. Mary Crow Dog's "LAKOTA WOMAN," N. Scott Momaday's "HOUSE OF DAWN," Ricardo Pozas' "JUAN THE CHAMULA," Thomas Sanchez's "RABBIT BOSS." The sacred as an integral part of the environment of Native Ameicans. Role of ancient religion to health and identity.
From the Paper "The four books, Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman, N. Scott Momaday's House of Dawn, Ricardo Pozas' Juan The Chamula and Thomas Sanchez's Rabbit Boss illuminate the fact that the sacred and secular are inextricably interwoven together in Native American culture. Unlike modern contemporary society that compartmentalizes the sacred and secular as mutually exclusive entities in life, the Native Americans view the sacred as a vital part of their environment, their existence and their identity. When the White people encroach upon the Native Americans' lives by decimating their sacred sites and forbidding them to engage in their sacred activities, the Native Americans' sense of identity begins to disintegrate. In their books, Crow Dog, Momaday and Sanchez aptly capture the tragedy of Native Americans who are stripped of their religious beliefs and thus ..."
Abstract Discusses the emotional meanings created in the 1992 film by director Michael Mann. Visual means employed. Central relationship between Hawkeye and Cora. Analysis of shots and their visual and narrative impact. Discusses the progression of the plot by detailing varioius shots and how they reveal the tensions and emotional content of the film.
From the Paper "Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans is a carefully designed film in which all the visual means at the director's disposal are skillfully employed to create the emotional meanings of the work. These meanings occur at several different levels and are structured so that by the end of the film the central relationship--the love between Hawkeye And Cora Munro--achieves an importance that goes beyond their personal lives. By the end the two stand for the future that the bravest and strongest individuals will be able to carve out of the land and, sadly, for the way these settlers will displace the Native Americans. The film emphasizes the size of the wilderness around the people who act out their story and the degrees of comfort that people feel in the wild, the tamed, and the partially subdued parts of the country. Despite the speed with which the film moves through the ..."
This paper discusses the growth of the gaming industry in America since the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988 and how marketing research aids the growth of the potential gaming market.
Abstract The writer focuses on marketing and research as tools to help casino owners choose geographic venues. The paper describes how an owner must know the draw or appeal of the individual property well enough to optimize profits though marketing to the segment of the traveling (tourism) public. The writer then outlines how this can provide the greatest return for the investment and the effort expended in the process.
From the Paper "The point of casino marketing is to bring in customers whose primary desire is to gamble in the casino; these customers produce more revenue in a shorter period of time than other types of customers. Casino operators have traditionally recognized the need to segment the potential gaming market along geographic, socio-economic and psychological lines. (Dandurand and Sciullo, 1977). Typically, however, those responsible for doing so have backgrounds in the general hospitality, management or accounting areas, and need to focus on the differences between marketing to visitors who are or might be interested in casino entertainment and those who would not be so inclined is of vital interest in maximizing the return on the efforts. (Gullo and Verbon, 1982)."
Tags: casino, gaming, investment, profit, industry
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."
