Geography / American Indian Studies 322Geography / American Indian Studies 322

Professor Professor ZoltánZoltán Grossman Grossman

Introduction toIntroduction toNative GeographiesNative Geographies

No “Indians”No “Indians”before 1492before 1492

Diversity in…

Tribes/bands

Languages

Governments

Cultures

Spiritual beliefs

Resource use

Land control

There goes the neighborhood…

American IndianAmerican Indian

or Indianor Indian

Native American Native American

or Nativeor Native

TribalTribal

IndigenousIndigenous

Nation namesNation names

American IndianAmerican Indian

or Indianor Indian

Native American Native American

or Nativeor Native

TribalTribal

IndigenousIndigenous

Nation namesNation names

AboriginalAboriginal

First NationsFirst Nations

4th World4th World

AboriginalAboriginal

First NationsFirst Nations

4th World4th World

AmerindianAmerindian

AutochthonousAutochthonous

AmerindianAmerindian

AutochthonousAutochthonous

Pros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of TermsPros & Cons of Terms

Native AmericansNative Americans

• Racial category?(“minority”)

• Ethno-cultural groups

• Economic status

• Groups with a land base

• Autonomous nations

Tribal Diversity Tribal Diversity

CulturalCulturalAreasAreas

Arctic

Subarctic

Northwest Coast

Plateau

Great Basin

California

Plains

Southwest

Southeast

Northeast

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Major Early Language & Cultural Groups Major Early Language & Cultural Groups

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GulfGulf

AlgonquianAlgonquianAlgonquianAlgonquian

IroquoianIroquoian

IroquoianIroquoian

SiouanSiouan

CaddoanCaddoan

Eastern U.S.Eastern U.S.language groups language groups

AlgonquianAlgonquian

TimucuaTimucua

Algonquian

Siouan

Caddoan

Iroquoian

Gulf (Muskogean)

Timucua

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AlgonquianSiouanCaddoanAztec-TanoanAthabascan (Southern)

SalishPenutianHokanKeres

SiouanSiouan

Western U.S.Western U.S.language groups language groups

CaddoanCaddoan

CaddoanCaddoan

SalishSalishAlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

AthabascanAthabascan

AthabascanAthabascan

HokanHokan

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

Aztec-Aztec-TanoanTanoan

HokanHokan

HokanHokan

PenutianPenutian

PenutianPenutian

Athaba-Athaba-scanscan

KeresKeres

SiouanSiouan

xxxxxxxxxxAlaskaAlaskalanguagelanguagegroups groups

DenéDené

InuitInuit

InuitInuit

InuitInuit

AleutAleut DenéDené

AleutAleut

InuitInuit

Dené(NorthernAthabascan)

Inuit(Eskimo)

Aleut

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DenéDené

InuitInuit

InuitInuit

InuitInuit InuitInuit

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

AlgonquianAlgonquian

IroquoianIroquoian

SiouanSiouan

DenéDenéDenéDené

InuitInuit

CanadaCanadalanguagelanguagegroups groups

Waka-Waka-shanshan

SalishSalish

DenéDenéAlgonquianDené(Athabascan)

InuitSiouanIroquoianSalishWakashan

TsimshianKootenai

Native Land Losses Native Land Losses

Studying Native History/GeographyStudying Native History/Geography

• Not only about racial conflict, but the Not only about racial conflict, but the colonization of colonization of nationsnations

• Not only about the U.S. government, but the Not only about the U.S. government, but the origins of the United Statesorigins of the United States

• Not only about federal/state policies, but the Not only about federal/state policies, but the land base where they occurland base where they occur

• Not only looks at political/economic, but at Not only looks at political/economic, but at European cultural underpinningsEuropean cultural underpinnings

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• 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”?Who is an “Indian”?

• Pushed by federal Bureau

of Indian Affairs (1/4)

• Tribal govt’s set today

(often internalized)

• Intermarriage can

“fractionalize” tribe

Blood QuantumBlood Quantum(% of tribal ancestry)(% of tribal ancestry)

•Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc.

•Multiracial

tribal nations

-Seminole, Lumbee, etc.

•Mixed categories

-Métis (French),

-Mestizo (Spanish), etc.

Racial Complexities Racial Complexities

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

Who is an “Indian”?Who is an “Indian”?

““Racial composition is not always dispositive Racial composition is not always dispositive in determining who are Indians for the in determining who are Indians for the purposes of Indian law. In dealing with purposes of Indian law. In dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with members or descendants of political entities, members or descendants of political entities, that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a particular race. Tribal membership as particular race. Tribal membership as determined by the Indian tribe or community determined by the Indian tribe or community itself is often an essential element.”itself is often an essential element.”

— — Handbook of Federal Indian LawHandbook of Federal Indian Law

Top 10 Things to Say to a White Top 10 Things to Say to a White Person Upon First MeetingPerson 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.

7. 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?

2000 CENSUS2000 CENSUS1.5% of U.S. population1.5% of U.S. population

American Indian or Alaska Native alone 2.5 million (26% higher than 1990) (0.9%)

In combination with other “races” 1.6 million (0.6%)

Total = 4.1 million (1.5%)(110% higher than 1990)

Native in combination

40%

Native alone60%

74

81

86

97

149

153

159

181

298

730

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000

Cherokee

Navajo (Diné)

Latin Amer. Indian

Choctaw

Sioux

Chippewa (Ojibwe)

Apache

Blackfeet

Iroquois

Pueblo

Tribe alone(in 1000s)

Tribe incombination

Tribe specified

74%

Tribe not specified

26%

Native Population DistributionNative Population Distribution

Midwest17%

North-east9%

South31%

West43%

100 million acres =100 million acres =4% of U.S.,4% of U.S.,

BUTBUT…..…..

Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?322 entities in Lower 48 = 56 million acres322 entities in Lower 48 = 56 million acres

BUTBUT much of rez land is allotted ( non-Indian ownership) much of rez land is allotted ( non-Indian ownership)

Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?229 Alaska villages = 229 Alaska villages =

44 million acres44 million acres

BUTBUT Alaska Native Alaska Nativelands held as village &lands held as village &regional corporations,regional corporations,not as sovereignnot as sovereignreservations reservations

1. Historical Written or oral history proves a tribe/nation.

2. Demographical Members not from another tribe.

3. Geographical Lived and continue to live in a distinct area.

4. Political Record of continuous government or leadership.

Federal Recognition of TribesFederal Recognition of Tribes

““Trust Responsibility”Trust Responsibility”

• Direct relationship between federal & tribal gov’ts

• Tribal land put “in trust” to become reservation

• Protects reservation from state & local gov’ts

• Puts tribe at mercy of federal “trustee”

SovereigntySovereignty

1.1. Paramount; supremeParamount; supreme

2.2. Having supremeHaving supreme rank or powerrank or power

3. Self-governing3. Self-governing

((American Heritage DictionaryAmerican Heritage Dictionary))

ReservationsReservations

Percentages by CountyPercentages by County

2.5

2.7

3

5.5

5.7

7.4

9

10.5

11.4

19

0 5 10 15 20

Alaska

Oklahoma

New Mexico

South Dakota

Montana

Arizona

North Dakota

Wyoming

Washington

Oregon

Nativepercentage,2000

19 states above U.S.average (1.5%)

MN 1.6%WI 1.3%

Population by CountyPopulation by County

119

124

132

159

172

191

216

293

392

628

0 200 400 600 800

California

Oklahoma

Arizona

Texas

New Mexico

New York

Washington

North Carolina

Michigan

Alaska

Nativepopulation(in 1000s)

Top 10 states =62% of Native pop.

Native alone in Non-

Metro area43%

Native alone in

Metropolitan Area57%

All Natives in Non-

Metro area34% All natives in

Metropolitan Area66%

Urban PopulationUrban Population

8

6

5

4.1

3.6

3.3

3.2

3

2.5

10.4

0 5 10 15

Anchorage, AK

Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma City, OK

Albuquerque, NM

Green Bay, WI

Tacoma, WA

Minneapolis, MN

Tucson, AZ

Spokane, WA

Sacramento, CA

Nativeurbanpercentage,2000

87

53

35

30

29

27

22

21

16

15

0 50 100

New York, NY

Los Angeles, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma City, OK

Anchorage, AK

Albuquerque, NM

Chicago, IL

San Diego, CA

Houston, TX

Nativeurbanpopulation(in 1000s)

Top 10 cities =8% of Native pop.

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Canadian TreatiesCanadian Treaties1,200 tiny reserves today1,200 tiny reserves today

Inuit (Eskimo) territory of NunavutInuit (Eskimo) territory of Nunavut

Canada

1999