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Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies,
Introduction to Indian Country Dr. Zoltan Grossman Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington
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Studying Native History/Geography
Not only about racial conflict, but the colonization of nations Not only about the U.S. government, but the origins of the United States Not only about federal/state policies, but the land base where they occur Not only looks at political/economic, but at European cultural underpinnings
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There goes the neighborhood…
No “Indians” before 1492 There goes the neighborhood… Diversity in… Tribes/bands Languages Governments Cultures Spiritual beliefs Resource use Land control
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Pros & Cons of Terms Aboriginal First Nations 4th World
American Indian or Indian Native American or Native Tribal Indigenous Nation names Amerindian Autochthonous
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Native Americans Racial category? Ethno-cultural groups
(“minority”) Ethno-cultural groups Economic status Groups with a land base Autonomous nations
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Tribal Diversity
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Cultural Areas Arctic Subarctic Northwest Coast Plateau Great Basin
California Plains Southwest Southeast Northeast
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Western U.S. language groups
xxxxx Salish Algonquian Penutian Siouan Athaba- scan Algonquian Siouan Caddoan Aztec-Tanoan Athabascan (Southern) Salish Penutian Hokan Keres Siouan Hokan Aztec- Tanoan Caddoan Penutian Algonquian Athabascan Aztec- Tanoan Hokan Keres Aztec- Tanoan Caddoan Athabascan Hokan
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Canada language groups
xxxxx Canada language groups Inuit Dené Algonquian Dené (Athabascan) Inuit Siouan Iroquoian Salish Wakashan Tsimshian Kootenai Inuit Dené Inuit Dené Inuit Dené Inuit Waka- shan Algonquian Algonquian Salish Siouan Algonquian Algonquian Iroquoian
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Ethnic group with a common… Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”
Language Identity / customs History Territory Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”
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Nations have a common… Past in a “homeland” Present identification
Future viability
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A legal / political entity with …
STATE A legal / political entity with … Authority / power to govern Outside recognition Defined territory / boundaries A few Native nations have more land or population than some UN member states
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Native Land Losses
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Percentages by County Reservations
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Urban Population
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“Pendulum” of Indian policy
Cycles of binary thinking (“good” or “bad” Indian) Policy swings between Autonomy and Assimilation Policies intended to assimilate often backfired on gov’t
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Autonomy model (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
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Assimilation model (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
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Pendulum of Federal Indian Policy
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
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Who is an “Indian”? 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”?
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Blood Quantum (% of tribal ancestry)
Pushed by federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (1/4) Tribal govt’s set today (often internalized) Intermarriage can “fractionalize” tribe
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Racial Complexities Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc.
Multiracial tribal nations Seminole, Lumbee, etc. Mixed categories Métis (French), Mestizo (Spanish), etc.
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Who is an “Indian”? 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
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“Racial composition is not always dispositive in determining who are Indians for the purposes of Indian law. In dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with members or descendants of political entities, that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a particular race. Tribal membership as determined by the Indian tribe or community itself is often an essential element.” — Handbook of Federal Indian Law
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Top 10 Things to Say to a White Person 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. 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?
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