Introduction to Indian Country

1. Introduction toIndian Country Dr. Zoltan Grossman Faculty member in Geography & Native American Studies, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washingtonhttp://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz

2. 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

3. No “Indians”before 1492 There goes the neighborhood… Diversity in… Tribes/bands Languages Governments Cultures Spiritual beliefs Resource use Land control

4. Pros & Cons of Terms Aboriginal First Nations 4th World American Indian or Indian Native American or Native Tribal Indigenous Nation names Amerindian Autochthonous

5. Racial category? (“minority”) • Ethno-cultural groups • Economic status • Groups with a land base • Autonomous nations Native Americans

6. Tribal Diversity

7. CulturalAreas Arctic Subarctic Northwest Coast Plateau Great Basin California Plains Southwest Southeast Northeast

8. Western U.S.language groups Salish xxxxx Algonquian Penutian Siouan Athaba- scan Algonquian Siouan Caddoan Aztec-Tanoan Athabascan (Southern) Salish Penutian Hokan Keres Siouan Hokan Caddoan Aztec- Tanoan Penutian Algonquian Athabascan Aztec- Tanoan Hokan Keres Aztec- Tanoan Caddoan Athabascan Hokan

9. Canadalanguagegroups xxxxx 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

10. NATION Ethnic group with a common… • Language • Identity / customs • History • Territory Treaties recognized tribes as “nations”

11. Nations have a common… • Past in a “homeland” • Present identification • Future viability

12. 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

14. Native Land Losses

15. Percentages by County Reservations

16. Urban Population

17. “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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. xxxx

22. 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”?

23. 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

24. Racial Complexities • Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc. • Multiracial • tribal nations • Seminole, Lumbee, etc. • Mixed categories • Métis (French), • Mestizo (Spanish), etc.

25. 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

26. “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

27. 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?