Abstract This paper looks at Native American Women and focuses on the changes in life that the Europeans brought to Native American women, and the struggles that began. It further discusses the stereotypes that forever influenced these women's lives and relates how these misconceptions still affect Native American women of today.
From the Paper "The perceptions that have historically been applied to Native American women have often been that they have always been subservient beings, abused by their husbands, who have no choice in their personal destinies (Hoxie). Throughout time various individuals have contended that Native American women were mere shadows in the existence of tribal men, and that slavery was not uncommon for them because it was an element of the world that they were born into. Yet, the research will demonstrate that these philosophies about Native American women were subjective analysis of females that were unknown to those providing critique. It will further show that beneath these suppositions existed the lives of people that historically made tremendous contributions to their cultures, and who currently are the greatest strength that continue the traditions in the Native American tribes. "
Abstract This paper looks at the cultural, moral and historical importance of place names in Western Apache society, based on the studies by Keith Basso in his book "Wisdom Sits in Places". The paper discusses the morality tales inherent in each named location and the significance of the land on the morality of the people, and the ways in which the society maintains order and accountability.
From the Paper "In his book Wisdom Sits in Places, Keith Basso examines the role of Apache placename stories in the community of Cibecue, Arizona. Place names and the stories directly associated with them are extremely important to Apache culture in a number of ways. Not only do they contain the entire history of the Apache people, the phases of their traveling to the land, settling in, and the important events that took place later, but their primary function is to serve as reminders of appropriate behavior and the morality of the culture to anyone who may be breaking those codes of conduct (Basso 50). The placenames form a historical and geographical narrative as well as a moral code couched in the metaphors of hunting, wounding and healing. In a historical context, placename stories are handed down from generation to generation, fixing the events of a story inextricably from the location where the story took place."
Abstract This paper analyzes John Demos' work entitled "An Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America". It is a response of sorts to John Williams publication of A Redeemed Captive, written in the early 18th century. The paper discusses the writing style, as well as the effect the author's use of dates and statistics has on the reader's enjoyment of the book.
From the Paper "John Demos' The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story From Early America is a narrative history regarding captivity by Indians in 18th century New England. As thus, it is written in a fictional manner, with the historical facts being processed as they likely were through the central characters. The writing style makes the book an appealing read, as the statistics, dates and facts are interspersed with a lively account of the situation at hand. In Chapter One, Demos begins by relating the Deerfield, Massachusetts Massacre, which occurred in February of 1704. Accounting first for the motives that spurred this incident, Demos then focuses on the Williams family, most of whom are taken captive to Canada by their French and Indian enemies."
Abstract This paper discusses how when When American pioneers crossed the Mississippi River more than a century-and-a-half ago and began to settle in the Southern Plains, they encountered the Comanches, who dominated this region in the mid-nineteenth-century because they were one of the first Native American tribes to acquire horses from the Spanish and one of the few to breed them to any extent. The paper further discusses that because Comanche horsemen had become so highly skilled, they set the pattern of equestrian nomadism that was so characteristic of the Plains Indians in the nineteenth century, and made possible the pervasive buffalo culture of most Native American tribes.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of Wounded Knee in American history. Specifically the paper discusses whether the conflict was a battle, as it was first known, or a massacre as it is now being called. The Battle of Wounded Knee was the last major battle between Native-Americans and whites. According to the paper, it was a tragic time in American history, and a lasting reminder of how the Indians lost their way of life, their dignity, and their homes, all due to white aggression and displacement.
From the Paper "The Battle of Wounded Knee took place on December 29, 1890 near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. A large group of Sioux Natives had gathered by the Creek, and the U.S. Army wanted to break up the gathering, because they felt the group was engaging in the religious dance called the Ghost Dance, which they felt was dangerous because it created unrest among the Natives. The soldiers began to separate the women and children from the men, and during this separation, someone fired a shot. It is not known who fired it. One historian writes, "In the chaos that followed, soldiers gunned down and stabbed Sioux men, women, and children. Some who did not die instantly crawled away only to freeze to death in the coming blizzard" (Johnson). "
Abstract This paper describes explicitly, based on Edward F. Anderson's book "Peyote: The Divine Cactus", a Navajo religious ceremony which uses peyote to communicate with God. The author points out that peyote had an influence on other tribes for over 400 years but did not impact the Navajo until the late 18th century. The paper relates that, although the peyote ceremony is one of the emblematic signs of Native American religion, opponents of peyote are apprehensive towards these ceremonies and have made efforts to control the use of peyote among Native Americans.
From the Paper "As the orange-red sun slowly sinks in the horizon, members of a peyote cult enter through the door of a hogan (a pentagon shaped hut in which Native Americans live) designed for their ceremony. The door faces the descending sun and is to the opposite of three men (the Road Man, Drummer Man, and Cedar Man) who are sitting in front of a raised crescent moon of earth. This raised crescent serves as an altar which has a peyote button resting on sagebrush. More members arrive and sit around the altar in a circle. When all the ceremonial devices are properly placed, the fire man, who is sitting east to the entrance, gathers hot coals and arranges them in the form of a "V" with the apex facing the Road Man."
Abstract The paper describes the traditional, ideal Apache family. It looks at their close ties to extended family and examines how the leader of a tribe would prevent disharmony in the group. The paper also looks at traditional Apache religion and how hunting was an integral part of the Apache's lifestyle.
From the Paper "The Apache had many distinct branches, some in the south, west or east. However they shared many things in common when it came to their political and social organization. In the ideal Apache family there would be a husband and a wife. It was the husband's job to join the family of his wife. The couple would share their household with their unmarried children and the families of their married daughters. Due to this marriage arrangement, the wife was the member of the family who brought in extended members. Wives played an important role in the tribe's survival."
Abstract This paper discusses the various accounts of the relationship between the Indian girl, Pocahontas and the English Captain, John Smith. It discusses exactly what their relationship was and how they related to each other. The paper looks at John Smith's account of the events and people surrounding Pocahontas and discusses how this compares to the popular Disney version of their relationship.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most romanticized event in history is the meeting and relationship between Indian girl, Pocahontas and English Captain, John Smith. What exactly was their relationship? Disney Productions tells us in their movie titled "Pocahontas" that the relationship between the two people were of that of a romantic type, portraying the two as highly attractive twenty something's, leaping through forests and frolicking in the fields."
Abstract This paper analyzes William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways", which is an account of his journey along the back roads of the United States. The papers relates that Heat Moon's writing style is so compelling that the reviewer feels as if he is riding along in the passenger seat. A central theme of the story is that, even in Heat Moon's search for his ancestral roots, the only thing that is constant is change.
Table of Contents:
The Adventure
Change: A Constant Theme Throughout
From Beginning to End and Past to Present
From the Paper "It seems that the looming issues in Heat Moon's life were a major influence on his decision to set out on this journey. After losing his wife to another man and losing his job, he decided to head out on a search for forgotten parts of America and the American experience by traveling the old back roads through old towns. This is an attempt to see passed the superficial nature of modern American culture by connecting with himself and nature by admiring idyllic, and not so idyllic, landscapes."
Abstract This is an analysis of the short story "Indian Education" by Sherman Alexie. The paper outlines the literary elements of the story, which is a first-person, autobiographical recounting of the life of a Native American boy, on and off the reservation. The paper describes the boy's personal experiences, struggles, and daily encounters with peers, and uncovers the story's hopeful message that one individual can show there is hope in the future. The paper notes that Alexie adds subtle humor to the plot despite the heavy themes of racism and poverty, and that the personal storytelling style keeps the narrative exciting to read.
Outline:
Abstract
Plot
Structure
Characters
Setting
Language
Symbolism
Point of View
Style
Tone
Theme
References
From the Paper "Alexie's tone in this story reflects his past experiences, which shape his attitude towards life. His life was difficult and hard in almost all aspects, which leads to a pessimistic and depressing tone throughout the narrative. Throughout telling this difficult story of race and poverty, Alexie tries to add in subtle humor to lighten the mood of this emotional story. There is sadness in the tone of this story, which can be seen by his use of irony and symbolism. When he is in the eighth grade and speaks very ironically about the white girls throwing up their food. When he speaks symbolically about the kiss, we see sadness when he has to say goodbye to his heritage."
