By Mary Alice Smith

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• By Mary Alice Smith

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The Stubborn Stereotype

• The stubborn stereotype
• Plains culture typecast of all
• Stereotype continues

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American Indian Diversity

• Impossible to describe typical American Indian

• Wide variety of cultures, lifestyles, and
  languages

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Modern Day American Indians
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Uncovering History

• Western scholars rely on historical documents to
  study own history
• Historical documents not available for many
  non-western societies

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Oral Histories

• Some are thousands of years old
• Give insights into values and traditions

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Understanding The Past

• Archaeologists study material remains of past
  humans
• Artifacts
• Features
• Ecofacts

• Ethnologists collect data from
  contemporary groups

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American Indian Origins

• Two popular opinions
• Land bridge migration from Asia
• Originated in the New World

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Cultural Diversity

• All American Indian tribes are interrelated
• Physical separation and access to
  different resources
• Cultural diversity

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A Sample of American Indian Nations

• Navajo, Makah, Iroquois, Kumeyaay, Cherokee,
  Lakota
• Only a tiny glimpse of American Indian diversity

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Southwest The Navajo
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• Navajo Dinè (the people)
• Migrated to the Southwest (1000-1500 CE)
• 1863-64 Forced migration to reservation in
  Eastern New Mexico
• Eventually allowed to return home

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The Navajo

• Largest Indian reservation in the United States
• One of the most economically diverse
• Largest tribe

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Navajo Code Talkers

• Navajo language secret code used for U.S.
  military communication during WWII
• 400 Navajo code talkers implemented
  communication

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Navajo Code Talkers
NAVAJO WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION CODE MEANING
Ne-as-jah Owl Observation Plane
Besh-lo Iron Fish Submarine
Tsidi-ney-ye-hi Bird Carrier Aircraft Carrier
Ne-he-mah Our Mother America
Wol-la-chee Ant A
Shush Bear B
Moasi Cat C
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Northwest Coast The Makah

• Olympic Peninsula in Washington State
• Sea economy Whaling is central aspect of
  culture

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The Whale Inspires Makahs

• Art
• Songs
• Dances
• Museum

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The Lost Village of Ozette

• Makah time capsule
• Oral traditions recall destruction
• Remains discovered in 1970

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The Makah The Potlatch

• Potlatch tradition of Northwest Coast tribes
• Serves two purposes

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Eastern Woodlands Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

• Haudenosaunee people of the longhouse
• Longhouse symbolized unity of extended family
  and the League of the Iroquois

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The Haudenosaunee Iroquois

• Coalition of six tribes
• Common government
• Similar but distinct cultures

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The Haudenosaunee Iroquois

• Women held authority
• Controlled tribes wealth
• Prevented war by not providing necessary
  supplies
• Nominated and unseated the men of the Grand
  Council
• Still practice their traditional form of
  government

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The Haudenosaunee Iroquois

• Women
• Gathered, planted, harvested, and fished
• Men
• Hunted, fished, and cleared land
• Children
• Chased away bugs and animals
• Three sisters agriculture corn, beans, and
  squash grown together

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The Haudenosaunee Iroquois

• Interacted and traded with European colonists
• Dragged into colonists wars with each other

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California The Kumeyaay

• 12,000-year-old occupation of California and
  Mexico
• Knowledge of astronomy, medicine, storytelling,
  and the arts
• 1848 U.S. gained control of California Territory

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Kumeyaay Arts Sciences

• Astronomy and herbal healing
• Music, dance and rattles
• Storytelling Learning and entertainment

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The Kumeyaay Endure Thrive

• 1875 Reservations established on
  waterless land
• Found work farms, ranches, whaling,
  fishing, shipping, and construction
• Own and operate casinos and other
  businesses

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The Southeast The Cherokee

• Homeland in Southern Appalachians
• One of five civilized tribes

ltltlt Sequoahs syllabary
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Indian Removal Act (1830)

• Indian removal justified for western expansion
• Ordered Cherokee (and other tribes) to relocate
  west of the Mississippi

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Indian Removal Video
Single click screen to view video
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The Trail of Tears

• Forced removal in 1838
• 2,200-mile journey to Oklahoma
• Thousands of Cherokee died on the trail

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Trail of Tears Video
Single click screen to view video
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Trail of Tears Map
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Indian Removal Map
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The Cherokee Today

• Cherokee Nation reestablished in Oklahoma
• Eastern Band thrives in North Carolina
• Second largest tribe

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Great Plains The Lakota

• Otherwise known as the Sioux
• Originally woodland people, displaced onto plains
  during fur trade
• Adopted plains culture and buffalo economy
• Built portable homes called tipis

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Tipi Video
Single click screen to view video
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The Lakota

• Social status was achieved differently for men
  and women
• Men practiced acts of bravery during raids
• Craftsmanship valued in women

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The Lakota

• Lakota survival
• 1870s U.S. hunters decimated the bison
  populations, destroyed the Lakota way of life

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European Contact

• Violence, theft and sabotage

• Disease

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Europeans in America Video
Single click screen to view video
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Old World Germs

• Epidemics of smallpox, measles, plague,
  influenza, etc.
• Killed 90 of the American Indian populations

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Old World Germs Video
Single click screen to view video
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Declining Population

• Pre-contact population in the millions
• Only around 500,000 remained in 1900

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New World Politicians

• Tribal governments were in place before European
  contact
• Provided for the overall welfare of the people
• Nations had powerful economies and militaries

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Political Innovators

• Democratic structure of the Iroquois
  impressed Benjamin Franklin
• Iroquois influenced U.S. government

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Influence, Innovation Contributions

• Chewing gum
• Kayaks
• Toboggans
• Maple syrup

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Influence, Innovation Contributions

• Popcorn
• Potato chips
• Canoes
• Jerky

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Influence, Innovation Contributions

• Tipis
• Lacrosse
• Moccasins

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Influence, Innovation Contributions
ENGLISH WORD NATIVE WORD NATIVE LANGUAGE
chipmunk chitmunk Odawa
hickory pawacohiccora Powhatan
skunk squunck Massachusett
caribou kalipu Micmac
moose moos Narragansett
Mississippi, or Great River Misi-ziibi Ojibwe
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Creative Economies

• Tourism and conservation
• Wildlife conservation consultants
• Hydropower dam, timber

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Creative Economies

• Industrial competitors
• GM car parts, American Greeting cards
• Coca-Cola bottling company

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Creative Economies

• Utilizing the Midwest soil
• Menominee National Forest timber
• Black Angus beef, Macintosh apples

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Creative Economies

• Tribal gaming
• California v. Cabazon (1987)
• Revenue used to support tribal communities

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Urban American Indians?

• Lack of opportunities brought American Indians
  to urban areas
• 75 of American Indians live in urban areas

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The Birth of the Pan-Indian Identity

• Tribal people joined together in urban areas
• American Indian centers offer support

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The Powwow

• Most dramatic expression of the Pan-Indian
  identity
• Drumming, singing, dancing, honoring
  ceremonies, contests, food, and giveaways
• Drumbeat heartbeat of Mother Earth
• Found across the country

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Summary

• Long history
• Distinct cultures
• Endured despite tremendous challenges
• United under a Pan-Indian identity

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