Chapter Six

Understanding the Native American Experience

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Draw a picture of what think about when you hear Indians/Native Americans

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Native American Values Respect Mother Earth Respect the Great Spirit Respect our fellow man and

woman Respect for individual freedom

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Who are Indigenous Peoples or Nations? They are the original peoples of given

territories. The term nation denotes a socio-political

construct of European nature but the concept carries with it considerable importance in international debates.

Nation as used in this chapter is not according to size but according to culture.

Early Native American Nations

Workplace Diversity: Taken from http://xavianthaze.blogspot.com/2013/03/forensic-science-proves-that-famous.html 6

Current Native American “Nations”

Workplace Diversity: Taken from http://www.nps.gov/NAGPRA/DOCUMENTS/ResMAP.HTM

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What about indigenous people in the U.S.? Treaty relationships do exists

between the U.S. and indigenous nations where the indigenous nations retain separate land bases and exercise some degree of self government.

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After the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire but prior to the colonial travels of Europeans to the New world

Distinctions were drawn by Europeans between various

peoples of the known world in terms of Christians or

“infidels”.

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What is the Law of Nations? The historical operation of a system of legal

norms and standards, ordained by a handful of states and imposed upon the overwhelming majority of the world’s people without their consent or input.

Colonial or settler states had the right to impose their particular definition of just or equitable relations between peoples on the majority of humankind and call it “law”.

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What was one such law that impacted Native Americans?The legal definition of a “Discover” A discoverer could legally occupy a

territory that was already inhabited (by infidels) and extend Christian sovereignty over it.

This should explain why Columbus “discovered” a land that was already inhabited.

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Discoverers concept rejected then came the Principles of Conquest and Effective PossessionThis was the justification for extension

of Christian sovereignty that was based upon the attitude that infidels were the enemies of Christian civilizations and that non-believers could be dispossessed of their territories justifiably by subjugation through wars of conquest called “Just Wars”

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Notable defenders of the rights of non-Christians to maintain control over their properties Thomas Aquinas(1200’s) and Sinibaldo

Fiesco believed in peaceful integration and conversion of infidels, not violence

Matias de Paz suggested that due ignorance of Christianity Indians could legally resist any war

Hugo Grotius believed in the equality of nations

Spanish jurist Franciscus de Victoria believed in the sovereignty of indigenous people

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The status of indigenous nations in the U.S. The first U.S. colonists were greeted

without exception by native people with friendship and openness as Columbus had before them.

In return indigenous nations were confronted with racism, massacres, religious bigotry and systematic fraud.

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What was the genocide of Native Americans really about?

Acquisition of land contained by “savages” or “infidels”.

Land is one of the three major economic resources that

leads to economic prosperity.

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What is Manifest Destiny? What is Manifest Destiny and how does

it relate to “who” could acquire land? The expansion of the U.S. was fueled by

this racist philosophy based upon color that all who were of the “white race” were superior.

Therefore, the white race had the right to seize and occupy all of North America.

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How do you maintain control over Indigenous people? Political Colonization (Major Crimes

Act of 1885, General Allotment Act of 1887, Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Indian Reorganization Act of 1934)

Economic Colonization – U.S. has two trust obligations one to indigenous people and the other to the Pacific Trust Territory

Legislation Major Crimes Act of 1885

Gave federal jurisdiction for specific crimes

General Allotment Act of 1887 (Dawes Act) Land allocation

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Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 Gave citizenship to those born in U.S.

limits Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

increasing Indian self-government and responsibility

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Native American MythsAll American Indians AND Alaskan Natives

live on reservations and in tepees.American Indians and Alaskan Natives

receive checks from the government.Existing legal status of American Indians,

their people and their government, is the product of accepted principles of international law and equity.

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Myths (cont.)American Indians are a defeated people.

American Indians are now rich due to gaming on their lands.

The “Allotment Act” (the Dawes Act of 1887) was passed to civilize American Indians by making them private property owners.

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Myths (cont.)Thanksgiving is a day of rejoicing for

Native Americans because it marks the advent of a mutually beneficial relationship between European settlers and Native People.

Given America’s terrible historical treatment of Native Americans, they are now treated fairly and are a valued ethnicity in this country treated with dignity throughout history books.

How does modern society benefit from Native Americans?

Ecology Food Games Form of government Words Sign Language Mathematics Medicines Inventions

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How does modern society benefit from Native Americans?

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Who is Native American?

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Iroquois Constitution

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True or False Freeburg Midgets Orofino Maniacs Pekin Chinks Centralia Orphans Laurel Hill Hoboesoachella Valley Arabs Robstown Cottonpickers Akron East Orientals Frisco Coons Smithville Crackers

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Name this team

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What does it mean? Savages Squaw Redskins Braves Chiefs

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