This paper reviews the treatment of the American Indian, or Native American, in revisionist Western films: Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves" (1990) and Michael Apted's "Thunderheart" (1992).
Abstract This paper discusses revisionist Westerns Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves" (1990), a film sensitivity to cultural differences and to the importance of Native American culture and Thunderheart (Michael Apted, 1992), which enters a more modern Indian community. The author points out that Costner still made major errors in depicting the history and culture of the Lakota Sioux tribe portrayed in the film. The paper continues that "Thunderheart" tried hard to elevate the Native American but a stereotype emerged in this film that the Native American is in some way a mystic more in touch with supernatural and spiritual forces than the non-Native population would be.
From the Paper "The film did more than revive old stereotypes in new forms, though, and it fails in terms of its accuracy on a number of counts. One problem faced was to recreate the language of the Lakota dialect spoken by the Sioux tribes in the 1860s. The film producers hired Doris Leader Charge, a 60-year-old teacher at South Dakota's Sinte Gleska College and one of only a few thousand Sioux still fluent in Lakota. Leader Charge translated the script and served as a dialogue coach during production. She also played a small part in the film. However, as Seals points out, the men in the film generally speak Lakota in the feminine form, a result of having the script translated by a woman who did not make allowances for the differences. Seals states that a number of Indian leaders were angry about this error and found it maddening in a film that claimed to be authentic. Seals does note, though, that the film managed authenticity in other ways, such as the way the ruling elders' council was handled. The film was correct in its use of the Pipe, which is the sacred Canupa of White Buffalo Calf Maiden, who founded the buffalo culture nineteen generations ago. The Pipe Keeper and others asked that the film not depict the smoking of the pipe, but it does so just the same."
Abstract This paper discusses the public apology made by Kevin Gover, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, to Native Americans for the harsh mistreatment they received at the hands of the U.S. Government. The paper looks at the many aspects of this mistreatment addressed by the apology, and suggests that, although late in coming, a public apology may open the door to reparations for American Indians.
From the Paper "In his speech, Gover made note of the Dawes Severalty Act, passed in 1887. This act was just one in a long line of examples of the early settlers? inability to understand the ways of the Native Americans. The act was created by whites who believed they were helping weak Native Americans by turning them into farmers and land owners. While this act uprooted the Native Americans from their homes and placed them in reservations, the American government alleged that they were helping, rather than hurting the Native Americans simply because of their belief in the superiority of America and of its culture."
Abstract This paper examines Dorris's many contributions, focusing on establishing Native American Studies as an academic area of study, his popular novels and short stories on Native Americans and his opus on fetal alcohol syndrome, a book that examined a personal issue which cut across ethnicities and cultures.
From the Paper "Dorris was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 30, 1945. He was the only child of Mary Bessy Burkhardt Dorris, who was of Swiss and Irish descent, and of Jim Dorris, who was of French, English and Modoc Indian heritage. He grew up in Kentucky and later spent time with his father's family in Tacoma, Washington and in various Indian reservations in the Pacific Northwest. In 1981, Dorris married Louise Erdrich, a former student who was also an author and also part Indian. Their large family included three adopted children and three biological children (Chavkin and Chavkin, xxii-xxiii). Though their marriage seemed to be the perfect literary partnership, Erdrich and Dorris's marriage was far from idyllic. During the last months of his life, the couple had separated and Dorris was exhibiting signs of severe depression."
Abstract The paper discusses the author Frances Manuel's tribal origins, and the way that anthropologist Deborah Neff wrote the book from Manuel's spoken words, and so sometimes these words appear as poetry, trying to capture the way Manuel actually spoke them. The oral history portrays the conflicts experienced by Manuel as she tried to reconcile her native Indian world with contemporary American life in Tucson, Arizona.
From the Paper "It is quite obvious that the book owes much of its clarity and detail to the relationship that grew between Deborah Neff and Frances Manuel. Neff notes they were more alike than different (Manuel and Neff xxxviii), and it is quite clear Manuel not only trusted Neff with the story of her life, but she felt comfortable with her, comfortable enough to relate her stories into an ever present tape recorder. The two women were friends before they began working on this project and that of course would account for the camaraderie that is clearly present throughout the book. These two women enjoyed each other's company, and respected each other, which gave them the freedom and ability to share their stories, and collaborate to share them with the world."
Abstract This paper reviews Caroline's Kirkland's "A New Home"Who"ll Follow?" and James Fenimore Cooper's "The Pioneers". Both are novels from the nineteenth century that examine the life of the American frontier. This paper shows how the authors achieve their goals by examining the similarities and the differences between the two novels. The predominant theme each author uses is realism, focusing on elements that would create within us a sense of understanding about that era in time.
From the Paper "In addition, similar descriptions of circumstances reveal to us the type of life one might expect in Cooper's The Pioneers. Issues of concern and disputes relevant to that time are discussed in a way that help us understand how the settlers communicated with the natives. For instance, the deer that has been shot becomes a point of attention when an argument arises because no one can say to whom the deer belongs. Cooper demonstrates the ability of two different people being able to communicate with each other."
Abstract This paper examines how "Hernando de Soto and the Indians of Florida" by Jerald T. Milanich and Charles Hudson which chronicles the expedition of the titular Spanish explorer through which what was to de Soto's eyes a New World and to the Native inhabitants a homeland. It analyzes how the New World that promised to enrich de Soto and his nation of Spain ultimately proved the cause of his demise and how de Soto's expedition, more importantly, caused the demise of the Native way of life of those whom de Soto engaged in combat and in contact with. It looks at how the authors Milanich and Hudson attempt to present a more three-dimensional, non-European counter and compliment to de Soto's work through the use of archaeological evidence.
From the Paper "Milanich and Hudson do not take issue with the characterization of de Soto as a man bent on personal enrichment as well conquest, though they do view his reportage of his encounters with interest as well as trepidation. But their new archeological information regarding Native life provides the "other side" that has so long been missing from accounts of de Soto's expedition. Providing this "other side" is particularly important, given that de Soto's relationship with the Native Americans were more often than not, adversarial. Relying solely upon de Soto's accounts as an objective source is not unlike relying solely upon the winning side's words in evaluating a war."
Abstract This paper examines the origin of the Black Seminoles; a unique American population made up of American Indians and runaway black slaves. It describes how the Black Seminoles changed over time and how their culture reflected both African and Seminole elements.
From the Paper "The Black Seminoles began in the early 1800s in the most remote and swamplike parts of Florida, places in the state where runaway black slaves believed that they might be safe from those who were looking to reclaim them as their property. While some blacks did try to escape to the North, this was an especially difficult task for slaves beginning in Florida: The Mason-Dixon line was a very long way off from Florida and many slaves believed that they would be recaptured or killed if they tried to make it all the way to the North. Thus they fled south, into the swamps where the Seminole Indians often took them in."
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes the topic of the functions of myth, as defined by author Joseph Campbell in his book, "The Power of Myth". Specifically, it explains Campbell's four functions of myth and show how they are demonstrated in Native American Hopi culture. The Hopis of Northern Arizona epitomize the four functions of myth in their culture and society. Their society is based on myth, religion and spiritual celebration and they have held on to these myths when many other tribes have turned away from their spiritual and mythical past. The paper shows that the Hopi's myths relate to the earth, the natural world surrounding them and their dependence on this natural world for their survival. They understand the importance of myth in a healthy society and, because of this, they have one of the longest surviving Native American societies in the Southwest desert.
From the Paper "The priests in the ceremony carry the snakes in their mouths as they circle a central plaza in the village where the ceremony is performed. After several groups of priests make their way around the plaza with the snakes, the snakes are gathered up by "snake gatherers," and carried out into the desert below the mesas, where they are released. If the dance is performed correctly, the Hopis believe it will bring rain (O'Kane 196-205). The Snake Dance is an excellent example of myth in its purest form, as it is the physical acting out of only one of the most important and vital Hopi myths. The myth relates directly to the health and well being of the community, and celebrates the wonder of the rain and the snakes and their relationship to the natural (and unnatural) world. It is their belief the snakes can communicate with the spirits who will send the rain, and to make the spirits happy, they must use just the right snakes, and then send them home (their release in the desert) to carry their message."
Abstract This paper presents a brief overview of the book "The Last of the Mohicans" by James Fenimore Cooper. The paper pays special attention to the role of women and how they were treated in those days, as well as their contribution to warfare as compared to present times. "The Last of the Mohicans" takes place in the midst of the French-Indian war. It focuses on one battle in a war that lasted for many years. This was the last and most important conflict over French and British possessions in North America.
From the Paper "This book depicts the battle of Fort William Henry and adds the fictional kidnapping of two sisters Cora and Alice who are also the main female characters of this book. It is an account of two opposing tribes; the Delawares and the Hurons. The Hurons (Magua's tribe) are depicted as an extension of Magua himself. They are ambitious to take down the foresters, thereby avenging the warriors they have lost."
Abstract Colonialism in Canada and the United States has had a significant and detrimental effect on Native peoples and their cultures. By virtue of its very existence, Native literature speaks against colonialism through stories that both demonstrate injustice and point to the possibility of renewing Native identity and restoring vitality to Native culture. Contemporary Native writing is unavoidably connected to the oral tradition. Its power to resist colonialism can be found, therefore, in its capacity to continue the process of passing Native culture, knowledge and identity from generation to generation.
Abstract Focusing on what would eventually become the Stockbridge-Munsee band, this paper provides a historical overview of the tribe from its earliest known existence. The author traces the background of the tribe, with an emphasis on how the Europeans changed the tribe's way of life by commercially exploiting their tribe, forcing western ideas upon them and constantly uprooting them. The author closes the piece by examining their current situation, in which it is argued that the tribe seems to have found a home and has good prospects for the future.
Abstract The Black Hawk War, while only encompassing a brief period of time, has become a landmark in United States history. This is partially due to the large amounts of written materials left from the event, where other wars between settlers and the Native Americans went undocumented, and partially due to the mysterious circumstances of the confrontation. This paper will summarize the events of this war, in order to best demonstrate why the Black Hawk War has had so great an impact on our recent history.
Abstract This paper examines the controversy behind the Nobel Prize winning book," I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala". The author uses a comparison and contrast format to explore the issue.
Abstract This paper is a summary and analysis of the themes and arguments presented by Adelson. The Cree concept of well-being is discussed in all its aspects, and lessons about culturally appropriate health care are discussed.
Abstract This essay will argue that, both in the colonial and in the national (post-Independence) eras, the same social forces responsible for the subjugation of women to men have also used "women" as collective signifiers of social virtue, honour, and even national identity. Indian women have been both active participants in this process as well as leaders of the resistance against such "honours". The conflicting role of Indian women in this process is due largely to the fact that their subjugation is not confined to the field of gender relations. Historically, colonialism and nationalism, family, caste and class have all participated in this process.
