From “Noble Savage” to “Vanishing Indian”: Euro-American Perceptions of Native Americans

Native-American Literature is a Post-Colonial Literature Literature by a COLONIZING culture (e.g. people of European descent) usually distorts the experience and realities of the colonized people—creates a picture of innate inferiority in terms of the colonized people Literature by the COLONIZED culture (e.g. Native Americans) attempts to regain the power to speak for themselves, rather than be spoken ABOUT by the colonizers

Native-American Literature is a Post-Colonial Literature This literature articulates group identity, reclaims the past, writes their version of history—but also recognizes the influence of the colonizer Colonizing countries often appropriate the languages, images, scenes, traditions, etc. of the colonized land—and vice versa

Colonial New England conceptions of indigenous peoples View 1: Native Americans lost tribes of Israel, waiting for conversion View 2: Native Americans as children of Satan – descendents of fallen angels Either way, justification to eradicate people and culture Image: The Death of Jane McCrea, John Vanderlyn, 1804

Southern colonial conceptions of indigenous peoples “Noble Savage” “Savage” meaning “uncivilized” “Noble” meaning innocent, pure, wise, childlike, connected to nature, spiritual—but uncultured Merely inferior rather than the intrinsically evil “ignoble savage” of New England Image: Baptism of Pocahontas, John G. Chapman, Capitol Rotunda, Washington D.C.

“Noble Savage”

This translation of the first page of Genesis into Massachusett, an Algonquian language, was done with the help of John Sassamon (Massachuset). (Massachuset).

“The Vanishing Indian” Pre-contact indigenous population of North America: est million (about 2 million today) Disease and warfare From 1840s : Native Americans are “vanishing race” Vanishing in face of “superior” Euro-American advance Image: Last of Their Race, John Mix Stanley, 1857

“Indian Territory,” circa 1700 Yellow=Spanish; green=French; blue=English British actively displaced natives with settlements Everything other than blue generally considered "Indian Territory”

“Indian Territory,” 1763 King George III issues “Indian Proclamation Line,” creating first official “Indian Country”

“Indian Territory,” Treaty of Paris revokes Indian Proclamation Line

“Indian Territory,” Louisiana Purchase Made Mississippi River natural barrier between “Indian Country” to west and “civilization” to east

“Indian Territory,” 1834

“Indian Territory,” 1854

“Indian Territory,” 1876 After Civil War, Five Nations of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole forced to cede additional lands Great Plains tribes relocated from Kansas and Nebraska, 1876

“Indian Territory,” 1889 “Indian Territory” shrunk to final form “Indian Territory” shrunk to final form

Indian Removal Act of 1830 President Andrew Jackson Force Native American removal from East Guise of protecting and preserving Indian cultures Move west or give up all tribal rights Removal as only way to “civilize” the “vanishing Indian”

Native American Literature Emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world Emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world Human beings have a kinship with animals, plants, the land, heavenly bodies, and the elements Human beings have a kinship with animals, plants, the land, heavenly bodies, and the elements The human and the nonhuman are seen as parts of a sacred whole The human and the nonhuman are seen as parts of a sacred whole Human beings must maintain a right relationship with the world around them Human beings must maintain a right relationship with the world around them

Native American Literature Creation myths explain how the universe, earth, and life began Creation myths explain how the universe, earth, and life began Hero and trickster tales show how the world transformed to its present state Hero and trickster tales show how the world transformed to its present state Ritual songs and chants are used as part of Native American ceremonies Ritual songs and chants are used as part of Native American ceremonies

Iroquois Refers to six separate Native American groups – Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onodaga, Mohawk, and Tuscarora Refers to six separate Native American groups – Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onodaga, Mohawk, and Tuscarora All but the Tuscarora once resided in what is now New York State All but the Tuscarora once resided in what is now New York State War with other tribes led to the formation of the “Iroquois League” in 1570 War with other tribes led to the formation of the “Iroquois League” in 1570 For 200 years, Iroquois dominated other Native American groups and remained free from British and French rule For 200 years, Iroquois dominated other Native American groups and remained free from British and French rule

The World on the Turtle’s Back Iroquois Creation Myth Iroquois Creation Myth Myth – Traditional story, passed down through generations, that explains why the world is the way that it is. Myth – Traditional story, passed down through generations, that explains why the world is the way that it is. Creation Myth – A myth that explains how the universe, earth and life began Creation Myth – A myth that explains how the universe, earth and life began

Creation Myths Explain the beginnings of the universe, life, and the earth Explain the beginnings of the universe, life, and the earth To some extent, are imaginative stories of cause and effect To some extent, are imaginative stories of cause and effect Cause and Effect Relationship - One thing (the cause) directly brings about the other (the effect) Cause and Effect Relationship - One thing (the cause) directly brings about the other (the effect)

Sky Woman (1936) By Ernest Smith

The World on the Turtle’s Back Contains the idea that there is a sky world above our world where supernatural beings exist Contains the idea that there is a sky world above our world where supernatural beings exist A story of cause and effect A story of cause and effect –The actions of supernatural beings cause the present features of the world to exist –Explains how the land and other physical features were formed

The World on the Turtle’s Back Expresses a Native American ideal of people living in harmony with nature Expresses a Native American ideal of people living in harmony with nature Theme

Trickster (Coyote)

Coyote Coyote is a mythological character common to many Native American cultures, based on the coyote (Canis latrans) animal. This character is usually male and is generally anthropomorphic although he may have some coyote-like physical features such as fur, pointed ears, yellow eyes, tail and claws. The myths and legends which include Coyote vary widely from culture to culture. Coyote is a mythological character common to many Native American cultures, based on the coyote (Canis latrans) animal. This character is usually male and is generally anthropomorphic although he may have some coyote-like physical features such as fur, pointed ears, yellow eyes, tail and claws. The myths and legends which include Coyote vary widely from culture to culture.mythologicalNative AmericancoyoteanthropomorphicmythologicalNative Americancoyoteanthropomorphic

Coyote Coyote often plays the role of trickster, god of tricks, although in some stories he is a buffoon and the butt of jokes and in a few is outright evil. His positive traits include humor and sometimes cleverness. His negative traits are usually greed or desire, recklessness, impulsiveness and jealousy. Coyote is often the antagonist of his brother Wolf, who is wise and good natured but prone to giving in to Coyote's incessant demands. Coyote often plays the role of trickster, god of tricks, although in some stories he is a buffoon and the butt of jokes and in a few is outright evil. His positive traits include humor and sometimes cleverness. His negative traits are usually greed or desire, recklessness, impulsiveness and jealousy. Coyote is often the antagonist of his brother Wolf, who is wise and good natured but prone to giving in to Coyote's incessant demands.trickster

Coyote Coyote figures prominently in several creation myths. In one myth, Coyote creates the first people by kicking a ball of mud (sometimes a bit of feces) until it formed into the first man. In another myth Coyote is able to successfully impregnate an evil woman who has killed off all the other men in the world during the sexual act. Coyote figures prominently in several creation myths. In one myth, Coyote creates the first people by kicking a ball of mud (sometimes a bit of feces) until it formed into the first man. In another myth Coyote is able to successfully impregnate an evil woman who has killed off all the other men in the world during the sexual act.

Coyote Coyote also plays the role of a hero, or even a culture hero, in some stories. In these stories, he proves to be helpful (and sometimes genuinely heroic). Coyote also plays the role of a hero, or even a culture hero, in some stories. In these stories, he proves to be helpful (and sometimes genuinely heroic).culture heroculture hero creator, humor, cleverness, hero creator, humor, cleverness, hero destroyer, greed, desire, recklessness, impulsiveness, jealousy destroyer, greed, desire, recklessness, impulsiveness, jealousy TRICKSTER TRICKSTER