Abstract This paper describes the history, background and lifestyle of the Cheyenne Indians, their decimation by the American army, their relocation onto Indian reservations and their gradual revival after only 100 survivors remained.
From the Paper "Originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers in the land that is now central Minnesota, however, during the late 17th century, the Cheyenne were driven out of the area by the Sioux and Ojibwa tribes. Gradually they migrated westward and settled in the area that is now North Dakota, but were forced to move south when the Ojibwa destroyed their settlement in 1770. When the Cheyenne reached the Black Hills of South Dakota, they changed from farming and hunting and living in permanent villages to a nomadic life following the Buffalo herds. When the horse was introduced to this part of the country around 1750, the Cheyenne became one of the major tribes of the Western Plains and by 1830, they had divided into two main groups, the Northern Cheyenne and the Southern Cheyenne. The Northern band lived along the North Platte, Powder, and Yellowstone rivers in present-day South Dakota and Wyoming, and ranged into Montana and Nebraska, while the Southern band lived along the upper Arkansas River in what is now Colorado and Kansas, ranging into neighboring states."
Abstract This seven-page undergraduate paper presents a complete review of the Cheyenne Indian Culture with respect to the prehistoric times and that of the modern times. Details about the language, political and social organizations are also described.
Abstract This paper shows how Thomas Berger's novel, "Little Big Man", forces the reader to reconsider accepted versions of the history of the West and to see the Cheyenne Indians as more than barbarians. The west was not simply a place for adventure and myth, but a violent place filled with loss on all sides.
From the Paper "Thomas Berger's Little Big Man is a connection between fictional narratives and historical writing in which he gives images of the Cheyenne's lifestyles, beliefs, and practices. Berger revisits the world of the American West, calling into question many of the popular ideas of the West. Little Big Man pairs the development of the West with the life of the narrator, Jack Crabb, the 111-year-old survivor of Custer's Last Stand. Crabb's life and encounters with various characters allow for an insight into the culture of the Cheyenne. Berger shows the reader both sides of the Cheyennes in his portrayal of them as being warriors and compassionate people."
Abstract This paper describes the historical genocide and displacement of the Native Americans through Dee Brown's book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". It traces the history of the Dakotas and Sioux Tribe during and after the conquest of the West by the American military.
From the Paper "Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is a fully documented account of the genocide and displacement by the United States government and military of an entire race of people, human beings, natives of the land that spanned from sea to shining sea. This unthinkable inhumane act was done in the name of Manifest Destiny, a name Congress gave to this movement. Brown documents battles and defeats of the Navaho, Nez Perces, Cheyenne, Apache, Utes, the Sioux and other tribes against a relentless and dishonorable government."
An insight into the facts and myths of the "Wild West" as seen in "The Way to the West" by Elliott West and "The American West: The Modern Vision" by Patricia Janis Broder.
1,677 words (approx. 6.7 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 54.95
Abstract This paper gives an historical insight into the history of what has become known as the "Wild West" by the review of two books, "The Way to the West" by Elliott West and "The American West: The Modern Vision" by Patricia Janis Broder. It examines how both authors present us with an explanation of the incursions of the white settlers into what was then the West and the process through which the West became a place where people could live out their dreams. It examines the shift from traditional hunting and gathering strategies of the American Indians to the agrarian nature of the settlers and the economics of making a living in the West. Both books also look at the myths about the West that have grown out of the facts.
From the Paper "It has become fashionable in recent years to scoff at the myth of the West and to replace this myth with history. This is in large measure what West has set out to do. He is intent on telling a real story about a real place, and in particular in telling an environmental story about the fragility of the Plains, with their uncertain and limited rainfall. Looking at a part of the country that was once the West ? Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming ? West looks very carefully at the historical record of the place, at what lured families from the East, what made them stay or move on, what made them succeed or fail."
From the Paper "This paper will examine the law of some of the Plains Indians and will use the laws of the Cheyenne and Comanche tribes as case studies. The case studies selected for this paper will illustrate the political and legal systems of the Cheyenne and Comanche tribes. This paper will also compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the legal systems of these two tribes.
A review of several case histories of the Cheyenne and Comanche tribes reveals that, although the Cheyennes have a more sophisticated culture than the Comanches and the economic base of the two societies is similar, the Cheyenne culture reflects a higher level of institutionalization (Hoebel, 1969, p. 6). The most notable difference between the legal systems of the two societies is that the Comanches do not recognize their behavior ..."
This paper discusses "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown, the detailed documented account of the Wounded Knee Massacre of December 29, 1890 and the events leading up to it.
Abstract This paper explains that Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" begins in 1860 with the Long Walk of the Navajos and ends thirty years later at the Wounded Knee massacre. The author reports that the book documents the battles and defeats of Native Americans, human beings, who included the Navajo, Nez Perces, Cheyenne, Apache, Utes, the Sioux and many other tribes, who fought against a dishonest and relentless government. The paper concludes that, within just twenty-one years of experiencing contact with the white people, the Great Sioux Nation lost over ninety percent of its land.
From the Paper "The Great Sioux Nation, which once comprised almost a quarter of the land mass of the United States, signed the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868, a treaty that established the Great Sioux Reservation and brought a halt to the Red Cloud War of 1866-1868. Under the treaty's terms, the U.S. military was ordered to keep all unauthorized non-Indian people out of Dakota Territory. Yet in 1874, Colonel George A. Custer, commander of the 7th cavalry, violated the treaty. Custer entered the Black Hills region on a fabricated geological expedition; however, the true purpose was to find a site for establishing a new military post. When gold was discovered, prospectors swarmed into the Lakota lands and by 1874, white settlers out numbered and out armed the Sioux people."
This paper discusses Helen Hunt Jackson's novel "Ramona" and research text "A Century of Dishonor" about the plight of Native-Americans in North America.
Abstract This paper explains that Helen Hunt Jackson's books describe the way the United States government stole their cultures from the Native-Americans, robbing them of the lands, language, religion and honor. The author points out that, in "A Century of Dishonor", Jackson discusses seven different tribes of North America, the Delaware, the Cheyenne, the Nez Perc, the Sioux, the Ponca, the Winnebago and the Cherokee, which are summarized in this paper. The paper relates that, in Jackson's romance novel "Ramona", which is the story of a young Spanish woman who defies the customs of her people and falls in love with a Native-American, the animosity of European decent people towards Native-Americans is presented in heart breaking fashion.
From the Paper "The Delaware lands stretched from the Hudson to the Potomac Rivers. The Delaware are an interesting tribe who, like the Moslems, recognize the fact that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Delaware played both sides against each other in an attempt to maintain control over the lands. "In the French and Indian war of 1755 many of them fought on the side of the French against the English." The British of course were attempting to displace the Delaware and other Native-American tribes. They also were trying to gain control over French territories in the North. The majority of Delaware later sided with the British in the beginning of the Revolutionary War against the future United States."
Tags: tribes, ethnic, romance, culture, government
