introduction to indian country
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Introduction to Indian Country. Dr. Zoltan Grossman Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz. Studying Native History/Geography. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Introduction toIntroduction toIndian CountryIndian Country
Dr. Zoltan GrossmanDr. Zoltan GrossmanFaculty member in Geography & Native American Studies,Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies,
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WashingtonThe Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washingtonhttp://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz
Studying Native History/GeographyStudying Native History/Geography
• Not only about racial conflict, but the Not only about racial conflict, but the colonization of colonization of nationsnations
• Not only about the U.S. government, but the Not only about the U.S. government, but the origins of the United Statesorigins of the United States
• Not only about federal/state policies, but the Not only about federal/state policies, but the land base where they occurland base where they occur
• Not only looks at political/economic, but at Not only looks at political/economic, but at European cultural underpinningsEuropean cultural underpinnings
No “Indians”No “Indians”before 1492before 1492
Diversity in…
Tribes/bands
Languages
Governments
Cultures
Spiritual beliefs
Resource use
Land control
There goes the neighborhood…
American IndianAmerican Indian
or Indianor Indian
Native American Native American
or Nativeor Native
TribalTribal
IndigenousIndigenous
Nation namesNation names
American IndianAmerican Indian
or Indianor Indian
Native American Native American
or Nativeor Native
TribalTribal
IndigenousIndigenous
Nation namesNation names
AboriginalAboriginal
First NationsFirst Nations
4th World4th World
AboriginalAboriginal
First NationsFirst Nations
4th World4th World
AmerindianAmerindian
AutochthonousAutochthonous
AmerindianAmerindian
AutochthonousAutochthonous
Pros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of Terms
Native AmericansNative Americans
• Racial category?(“minority”)
• Ethno-cultural groups
• Economic status
• Groups with a land base
• Autonomous nations
Tribal Diversity Tribal Diversity
CulturalCulturalAreasAreas
Arctic
Subarctic
Northwest Coast
Plateau
Great Basin
California
Plains
Southwest
Southeast
Northeast
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AlgonquianSiouanCaddoanAztec-TanoanAthabascan (Southern)
SalishPenutianHokanKeres
SiouanSiouan
Western U.S.Western U.S.language groups language groups
CaddoanCaddoan
CaddoanCaddoan
SalishSalishAlgonquianAlgonquian
AlgonquianAlgonquian
Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan
AthabascanAthabascan
AthabascanAthabascan
HokanHokan
Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan
Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan
HokanHokan
HokanHokan
PenutianPenutian
PenutianPenutian
Athaba-Athaba-scanscan
KeresKeres
SiouanSiouan
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DenéDené
InuitInuit
InuitInuit
InuitInuit InuitInuit
AlgonquianAlgonquian
AlgonquianAlgonquian
AlgonquianAlgonquian
AlgonquianAlgonquian
IroquoianIroquoian
SiouanSiouan
DenéDenéDenéDené
InuitInuit
CanadaCanadalanguagelanguagegroups groups
Waka-Waka-shanshan
SalishSalish
DenéDenéAlgonquianDené(Athabascan)
InuitSiouanIroquoianSalishWakashan
TsimshianKootenai
NATIONNATION
• LanguageLanguage
• Identity / customsIdentity / customs
• HistoryHistory
• TerritoryTerritory
Ethnic group with a common…Ethnic group with a common…
Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”
Nations have a common…Nations have a common…
• Past in a “homeland”Past in a “homeland”
• Present identificationPresent identification
• Future viabilityFuture viability
STATESTATE
• Authority / power to governAuthority / power to govern
• Outside recognitionOutside recognition
• Defined territory / boundariesDefined territory / boundaries
• A few Native nations have more landA few Native nations have more land
or population than some UN member statesor population than some UN member states
A legal / political entity with …A legal / political entity with …
Native Land Losses Native Land Losses
ReservationsReservations
Percentages by CountyPercentages by County
Native alone in Non-
Metro area43%
Native alone in
Metropolitan Area57%
All Natives in Non-
Metro area34% All natives in
Metropolitan Area66%
Urban PopulationUrban Population
““Pendulum” of Indian policyPendulum” of Indian policy
• Cycles of binary thinking Cycles of binary thinking
(“good” or “bad” Indian)(“good” or “bad” Indian)
• Policy swings betweenPolicy swings between
Autonomy and AssimilationAutonomy and Assimilation
• Policies intended to assimilate Policies intended to assimilate
often backfired on gov’toften backfired on gov’t
Autonomy modelAutonomy model(Self-determination)(Self-determination)
• Cultural Traditions, identity, language protected
• Political Limited self-rule;
“bilateralism” of federal & Indian gov’ts
• Economic Increased self-sufficiency
• Geographic Control/jurisdiction of tribal territory
Assimilation modelAssimilation model (Detribalization)(Detribalization)
• Cultural Loss of traditions; more Christian/”white”
• Political Only U.S. citizenship; under state/counties;
“unilateralism” of federal gov’t
• Economic Dependency; only farmers or workers
• Geographic Tribal loss of control; Private ownership
Era Policy trend Global trend
1880s-1920s: Assimilation Imperialism/racism
1930s-1940s: Autonomy Economic reform
1950s-early 60s: Assimilation Cold War/individualism
1970s-early 90s: Autonomy Civil rights/liberation
Late 1990s-2000s: Assimilation? Anti-multiculturalism
Pendulum of Federal Indian PolicyPendulum of Federal Indian Policy
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• Ancestors lived in America,
before the arrival of Europeans.
• Who is considered to be
an Indian by the community.
• Who self-defines as an Indian.
• Federal court decisions have
shifted definitions over time
Who is an “Indian”?Who is an “Indian”?
• Pushed by federal Bureau
of Indian Affairs (1/4)
• Tribal govt’s set today
(often internalized)
• Intermarriage can
“fractionalize” tribe
Blood QuantumBlood Quantum(% of tribal ancestry)(% of tribal ancestry)
•Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc.
•Multiracial
tribal nations
-Seminole, Lumbee, etc.
•Mixed categories
-Métis (French),
-Mestizo (Spanish), etc.
Racial Complexities Racial Complexities
Categories Defined by…. What about…
RACIAL Blood Quantum (biology) “Mixed bloods,”
Assimilated
CULTURAL Tribally raised/accepted Adopted Indians,
White ‘wannabes’
GEOGRAPHICAL Reservation residents Urban Indians,
Rez whites
Who is an “Indian”?Who is an “Indian”?
““Racial composition is not always dispositive Racial composition is not always dispositive in determining who are Indians for the in determining who are Indians for the purposes of Indian law. In dealing with purposes of Indian law. In dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with members or descendants of political entities, members or descendants of political entities, that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a particular race. Tribal membership as particular race. Tribal membership as determined by the Indian tribe or community determined by the Indian tribe or community itself is often an essential element.”itself is often an essential element.”
— — Handbook of Federal Indian LawHandbook of Federal Indian Law
Top 10 Things to Say to a White Top 10 Things to Say to a White Person Upon First MeetingPerson Upon First Meeting
10. How much white are you?
9. I’m part white myself, you know.
8. I learned all your people’s ways in the Boy Scouts.
7. My great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded white-
American princess.
6. Funny, you don’t look white.
5. Where’s your powdered wig and knickers?
4. Do you live in a covered wagon?
3. What’s the meaning behind the square dance?
2. What’s your feeling about river-boat casinos? Do they
really help your people, or are they just a short-term fix?
1. Oh wow, I really love your hair! Can I touch it?