Abstract The "American" public has always had an interest in the lives of Native Americans. During the early 1800, this curiosity blossomed in a fascination. The paper shows that unfortunately, most Americans were content to relegate all Native Americans into this caricature of the "noble savage", dehumanizing them, and few settlers sought to understand the culture of the Natives whose land they were occupying. Fortunately two nineteenth century artists, Edward Sheriff Curtis and George Catlin did not share the same view. This paper discusses how these men dedicated their lives to the study and preservation of Native American tribal culture for posterity by creating imagery based on the Native American people. Although their methodology, content, and style were dissimilar, (Curtis used the camera and Catlin worked with oil paint), their goal was the same, to capture and record the essence of America's indigenous people through art.
From the Paper "Countless numbers around the globe have benefited from the information gathered during the 1800's by Edward S. Curtis and George Catlin.
Without these records many of the customs and heritage that we know of as "Native American" might be lost today.
It is easy to be critical of Catlin's paintings when judging it against the realism of Curtis' photographs, but the goals of the two men were the same. The sincerity, accuracy, and honesty of the collections that were compiled by the ethnographists transcend their work from the category of mere art to the palate of life."
Abstract This paper provides a detailed history of Native American families and the way they functioned. It traces these units from before the Americas were settled by the Europeans and their adaption to reservation life. The paper also examines the revival of Native American culture and family appreciation in modern America.
From the Paper "Native American girls are taught all they need to know to be a good Indian wife. They were taught to make clay pots, weave baskets, mend clothes, and scrape skins, set snare traps, cook and other chores. Some tribal women even constructed the homes and furniture for the homes. Young girls had much more responsibility in learning than young boys. Young girls reached adulthood when they experienced their first menstrual period. She was whisked off by the older tribal women to a isolated hut to spend at least four days. Many tribes performed rituals when a girl reached womanhood. Some were painful and isolation was common, but public celebrations would follow the rituals."
Abstract Examines the indigenous culture in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Horticulture activities. Their food supply, housing, socials units, cultural & political practices. King Philip's War of 1675 as reaction to white colonial settlements and threat to traditional Native American economic and cultural activities. Issue of land and displacement of natives by whites.
From the Paper "Introduction
The first peoples of Southern New England was essentially unified by a single cultural group. The lives of these American Indians would be radically altered during the 17th century as their culture came into conflict with that of the Europeans. This paper examines that original culture of the area, then looks at what made this region attractive to the Europeans who displaced the natives and then explores how the final outcome of European incursions into 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. While the displacement (and often murder) of Native Americans by European and later white Americans tends to be treated as if it were all a single phenomenon, in fact the displacement of natives by whites varied from place to place and..."
Abstract Discusses how the first European settlement of Southern New England disrupted the Native American culture of the region. Differing structures and social systems of Indian & European cultures. King Philip's War (1675-1676). The issue of land ownership, and scarcity of good, arable land leading to friction and eventual violence.
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.
This paper takes as its focus the culture of the Native Americans of Southern New England and also why it was so terribly..."
Abstract Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a fully documented account of the genocide of the American Indian in the late 1800's ending at the Battle of Wounded Knee. The paper shows how Brown brings to light a story of torture and atrocity not well known in American history. It examines Brown's use of personal portraits and detail to force the reader to face the evils of this chapter in America's past.
From the Paper "Brown makes prodigious use of the various types of information obtained before writing the novel. His ultimate goal to find the truth is evident in the expansive research contained in his bibliography. It is clear that Brown was looking for informative answers to questions that haunted him about the War at Wounded Knee. He therefore knew that his consistency would lead him to some ultimate accuracy. In order to obtain purposeful evidence of Brown chose alternate forms of investigation including footnotes and bibliography from Congressional Records and U.S. Army treaties and life history texts of President Abraham Lincoln and General Phillip "the only good Indian is a dead Indian" Sheridan. He also sought-out different perspectives of the time which lead him to songs of the day, letters written by children and personal accounts from both sides."
Abstract The paper gives a history of the discovery of peyote, or mescal, and the way in which it was adopted by Native Americans as a method for reaching spiritual heights. The writer also outlines the reaction of mainstream religions and the United States government to the use of this drug. The paper compares the reaction in the U.S. to that of the Mexican authorities.
From the Paper "From 1886 to 1932 the Bureau of Indian Affairs joined traditional Christian missionary societies to thwart Peyotism by all means possible. Federal prohibitions were proposed but failed, so that opponents of Peyotism took their campaign to the states. From 1899 to 1937 legislatures of 14 states outlawed peyote. Peyotists, who incorporated their religion in Oklahoma as the Native American Church in 1918, won the right to use the cactus in religious rituals in a half dozen court cases between 1960 and 1979 in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, and Washington. Federal rules promulgated under drug-abuse laws exempt religious use of peyote. This remains the current legal state of Peyotism today, although legal challenges to it continue (Richter, 1997, p. A7)."
Abstract This paper looks at two different autobiographies written by Sioux activist Mary Crow Dog and African-American writer Richard Wright. This paper shows the many similarities between the oppressive conditions endured by their people and the initiatives they used in the struggle for equality.
From the Paper "The histories of oppressed minorities in the United States have all begun very differently, but throughout the twentieth century they have developed as many similarities as differences. African Americans, for example, were brought to America against their will and forced into slavery where they were encouraged to increase in number because they were considered valuable 'property' essential to the economy of the Southern states. Native Americans, on the other hand, were forced off their own lands, robbed of their traditional means of survival, and systematically murdered any time they occupied lands the European Americans wanted."
Tags: african, american, indian, sioux, equality, racism, america
Abstract This paper explores the life of Wilma Mankiller, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, who the writer believes was one of the most important women of the twentieth century. The paper looks at women's rights and the leaders who helped shaped feminism overtime. Through Mankiller's life, the writer presents the various issues of feminism, women in society, female power and equality with men. The writer believes that while Mankiller was an important leader in the Native American ethnic group, she also proved to be a true feminist leader for all women.
From the Paper "Wilma Mankiller presents a vision of hope to all young minority women who long to be treated according to their character and not their gender. It is her most fervent hope that her election marks the beginning of a new era in Native American and minority women's participation in politics. There is an ancient Oneida prophesy called "the time of the butterfly" that foresees a time when women take the reins of political power in Native American affairs."
Abstract This paper examines how the population of Native American residents in the United States has been plagued by a myriad of problems since their existence. It discusses how the staggering statistics regarding unemployment in the Native American population directly influences four major social issues: crime, poverty, substance abuse and education. It looks at how numerous factors contribute to the lack of employment for residents on reservations, particularly the desire to preserve a strong cultural identity.
Outline
Introduction
Unemployment and Crime
Unemployment and Poverty
Unemployment and Substance Abuse
Unemployment and Education
Current Trends for Native Americans
Conclusion
From the Paper "Poverty on Indian reservations is highly prevalent for a number of reasons, including geographic isolation and economic history (Ambler 9). As a result of a strong love and commitment to reservation land, the majority of Native Americans choose to remain in those surroundings despite their limited economic opportunities. Therefore, in some ways, many Native Americans are bound to a life of poverty and economic disparity. However, another significant contributing factor is the lack of governmental control over reservation activities. This lack of control has led to extremely limited opportunities for economic stability since business and industry other than agriculture is very limited or nonexistent on reservations, with the exception of reservation casinos. High unemployment rates are perhaps the most detrimental factor in poverty statistics, since jobless adults are unable to make ends meet and often fear that their living conditions will result in many permanent consequences."
Abstract This paper addresses the issue of race and its effect on human intelligence and development. It presents the position of Jared Diamond, the author of " Guns, Germs, And Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" who argues against the notion that race plays a role in human development and intelligence and then presents the position stated in "The Bell Curve". This book, by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, assumes an exact opposite position and asserts that whites are inherently more intelligent than blacks and that intelligence is genetically inherited and basically fixed.
From the Paper "So does race play a part in intelligence and human development? Diamond feels that the answer to that question is absolutely not. His theory is that history followed different paths for different races not because of biological factors, but due to social environments. Many historians and scientists feel that Diamond's explanation is wrong and over simplifies the real issues of race, human development and intelligence. But Diamond feels that many historians and scientists, by seeming to be objective and impartial, legitimized racial theories in the eyes of many Americans who were otherwise prone to believe in the equality of all human beings."
