Culture Cultivates Proud Individuals and Aids

the Onondaga Nation through Inhumane Treatment

from the United States

Prepared by: Brooke RuggieroDecember 8th, 2014

1.) What importance does culture play in our nation?2.) How have government intervention and regulations impacted natural social practices? 3.) how can we change and improve the social world to make it a more just place for all people?

Guiding Social Theoretical Questions

Chapter 1: What is ‘Humane’Background

United States SystemsIndian Law

Inhumane Treatment of the Onondaga Nation

Human Rights (a widely adopted definition)

“The science of human rights is defined as a particular branch of the social science,

the object of which is to study human relations in the light of human dignity while determining those rights and faculties which are necessary

as a whole for the full development of each human being's personality.”

–Rene Cassin

World War II: Violations of Human Rights on a Massive Scale

Corpse of Starved Infant, Warsaw Ghetto Australian and Dutch Prisoners of War at Tarsau in Thailand, 1943

OAS-IACHROrganization of American States

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is the institutional embodiment of an ideal. Its establishment in 1959 as an expression of the

commitment of the American states ‘to a system of freedom for the individual and of social justice based on respect for fundamental human

rights’ translated the ideal into action.”

–definition by OAS

Indian Law & Taking Land1784, 1789, 1794: Treaties made between the Onondaga Nation and

U.S. Federal Government1788-1822: Illegal takings of Onondaga Lands1831: America’s Indians are defined as both separate nations and part of the United States1924: Citizenship Act- granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans who had not already acquired it1953: Congress endorses a House Concurrent Resolution- ALL rights pertaining to American citizenship must be granted to Indians

“It would be wise to bring them to adopt, gradually, our forms... I would use neither Belts nor Strings [of wampum] in any communications. Instead, all

messages or communications should be signed and sealed or both... I would never suffer the word ‘Nation’ or ‘Six Nations’ or ‘Confederates’ or ‘Council Fire at Onondaga’ or any other form which would revive or seem to confirm their former ideas of independence. . . Treat them as though they were your

citizens–therefore–subject to your authority. . . The style by which the Indians are to be addressed is of moment also. They are used to be called Brethren, Sachems and Warriors of the Six Nations. I hope it will never be repeated...

They should rather be taught [that] . . . they have become wretched and destroyed themselves, and that public opinion of their importance had

long since ceased.“ –James Duane

Inhumane Treatment of the Onondaga

Chapter 2: What is ‘Culture’Background

United States CultureOnondaga CultureLand and Culture

Defining Culture

1.) learned beliefs, values, rules, norms, symbols, and traditions that are common to a group of people2.) shared qualities that makes a group unique and different from other groups3.) passed down to different generations.

Levels of Culture

American Culture

• American Exceptionalism• Nationalism• Pride in National Culture

• Multiculturalism• Pride in Ethnic/Group

Culture

Onondaga Culture

• Ceremonies• Food• Dance• Dress• Sports• Language• Homes

Nature-Culture Divide

Nature • Bio-physical entity• The “sciences” • Self-serving entity

Culture • Social entity• The “humanities”• Artifacts of existence-

human superiority over land

Westernization of Onondaga Lands

1.) Chemical Pollution of Onondaga Lake2.) Salt Mining in Tully Valley3.) Channelization of Onondaga Creek4.) Damage to the Other Tributaries of Onondaga Lake5.) Hydraulic Fracturing

Chapter 3: Importance of Preserving Culture

Culture Aids the Onondaga Nation through Inhumane Treatment

Preserving Culture

“‘Natural social practices’ would appear to mean the cultural ceremonial practices of the Haudenosaunee and Onondaga,

which celebrate the steps in the annual cycle that supports all life. Onondaga is in the harvest ceremony now, and their Mid-Winter, strawberry, green corn, etc. ceremonies are repeated every year… There was nothing ‘natural’ about the theft of

Onondaga land by NY State, which was in knowing violation of federal treaties, the constitution and law. The theft of the land, the removal of the people and the continued attempts at forced assimilation were part of a consistent pattern of violations of

international human rights.” –Joseph Heath

1.) Cultural Cooperation is Equality Oriented2.) Culture is Tightly Connected with Identity3.) Culture Helps Make Policies that are Serious about Human Rights4.) Culture Helps with Development Goals5.) Cultural Cooperation puts an Emphasis on Multicultural Dialogue6.) Culture Aids with Peace and Reconciliation in Politics

Preserving Culture

Methodical Approach to ResearchWhy the Onondaga Nation?

2 hour and 25 minute drive from home in Saratoga Springs to the Onondaga Nation in Nedro, New York.

2 hour and 18 minutedrive from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy to the Onondaga Nation in Nedro, New York.

Methodical Approach to ResearchReaching Out to the Nation

Homepage of the Onondaga Nation's Website showing the Drop Down Menu of Land Rights

Regular Tweets from the Onondaga Nation- Available

Directly on their Website

Methodical Approach to ResearchA Survey on American Culture

Facebook Page Blasting Survey on American Culture

• Created on Survey Monkey• Shared via Facebook and E-mail• Multiple Choice Questions• Limits the inherent

confusion of American culture

• Ensured trends

THANK YOU!