American Indian Lecture #1 Stereotype of Indians: no change, stuck in the past etc.

Indians names: names are given by their enemies (e.g. bad indians, europeans etc) Nomenclature - Navajo: recognized as largest reservation of North America, huge tribe group - Hos Ho***** [important] - Navajo territory got it at 1868 (complications with gov. existed)

FYI) California doesnt have a homogenous ecological region. - Southwest: Colorado river/Colorado indians -> least known, b/c their habitat was totally wiped out. They dont have anything that resemble their traditions anymore. - Pomo (norcal indians): each ecosystem/weather differs, causing each groups (triblets) to have different lifestyles. - Northwestern cali: Trinity river area World View: Framework of ideas and beliefs through which individual interprets the world and interacts with it.

Christian Cosmo (diff. from that of indians) Heaven Earth Hell Wyoming: adapted to the new law of banning violence of sun-dance -> created a new style of sun-dance that didnt require violence. Shaman: trained practitioners/specialists in accessing the powers of universe; derived from Siberia (treat people etc.)

Shamanic world tree: cosmology in order to access unseen world on behalf of individuals or groups. How is the world view passed on from one generation to another? How do people live within it. -The Indian culture (Idea: Static -> Active): Oral-based, face-to-face etc. -> myth becomes an important factor of the Indian society - Myth: quite detailed, real stories - These myths describe the very origins of the world. We (non-indians) have downgraded the idea of myth (e.g. Gilgamesh myth) - Anthropologists think about origins of myths, the stories behind them etc. Animism: attribution of soul to plants, inanimate objects and natural phenomena. Static view of the world/ Static cosmology: just no action; not active!! Active aspect/ Active cosmology: how do people actually behave given their world culture, myths, rules, legends,; who are the beings that they have to go against with etc. Oral Traditions (3 groups) Myths Legends Tales - For the people telling the myths are very concrete and they have a relationships with rocks, flowers, rivers and stars. The objects are being Animism. - Protocol & Etiquette - WORLD VIEW (OF INDIANS) - ultimate emic perspective. - fyi) Emic: approach from inside; american indians resources - Epic: approach from outside sources from outside the group - Ritual: seeing symbol of cosmology in action - Myths and cultural beliefs come to life in rituals, a world renewal ceremony of great magnitude. - 1st: World renewal ritual

- Include movement, dance, travel, theater, regalia, painting - New Year. (World Renewal week!) - Make resolutions on new years week. - 2nd ritual: Life crises ritual - Navajos matrimonial: through women and celebrate female puberty more than male - 3rd ritual (what keeps the shaman fed): Healing ritual - 4th ritual: Seasonal ritual (related to food) Syncretism - Indians have been adapting and accepting new religions - Not only religion, but other things as well. - In the end, we arrive to the point of the Hos Ho. Regalia (costume): express the symbols What is the push back from the indian side? - Sun-dance - 1880s) Native American church - Payote was introduced to North America and a new ritual arose. It was ultimately incorporated with the Native American Church, which used cactus as sacramental food. It was the direct response to the suppression by the US government. - Oklahoma was in the end (by the moony of gov.) was allowed to have Indians only. - Sheep eradication program - Navajos had pride with having sheep and all but due to the eradication program, they were absolutely devastated. - Pan Indian world: the story that Payotists tell. - Oklahoma: 50 tribes of Indians from South East, California, East coast live in.