Exam 3 Flashcards
Bureau of Indian Affairs
the Indian department was created to manage native peoples. In 1824, the name of the agency was changed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Initially the goal was to maintain good relations with sovereign Indian nations in order to obtain land and promote trade. As the United States grew, however, its goal became the removal of the Indians from all lands east of the Mississippi river, then to their assimilation into American society. More recently, its charge has evolved into supporting Indian groups.
Board of Indian Commissioners
The board of Indian commissioners was a committee that advised the federal government of the US on native American policy and it inspected supplies delivered to Indian agencies to ensure the fulfillment of government treaty obligations to tribes
The government thought it best for Indians to move to reservations to lessen the bloodshed between native americans and whites. The government attempted to provide for these groups within the various reservations by appointing Indian agents. However, these Indian agents prevented much of the money and supplies from getting to the Indians. Due to this corruption and greed, starvation became a real concern. So Indians left the reservations to find food. Well. The government perceived these actions as ‘uprisings’. Which were often quelled through bloodshed. Finally recognizing the corruption of Indian agents, the government appointed religious organizations-presumed to have higher morals- to administer the reservations and Indian payments through the Board of Indian commissioners. When this too failed, the plight of the Indians worsened.
Potlatches
Potlatches were ceremonies feeding, entertaining, and giving gifts to people. They were held on multiple occasions such as: birth of a child, puberty, marriage, a funeral, the construction of a house. It could be used to erase shame or to maintain or change one’s rank. (failure to do even a minimal potlatch for rank might result in loss of rank). Rivalry potlatches were an opportunity for social mobility. To win, the challenger had to present a ‘better’ potlatch than the other. The public determined the winner. At a large and important potlatch, a group may display and even destroy their own coppers. If the other group failed to match the act they could risk being shamed.
Slaves were sometimes killed during a large potlatch***
NWC Dance Societies
Young men were initiated into the dancing society based on rank and inheritance. Each society had it’s own house and initiated its members at the beginning of the winter ceremonial period. At about the same time, the young man assumed the rank and responsibilities in his clan by holding a potlatch.
The most important ceremonial event in the winter was the Cedar Bark Dance. This ceremony initiated novices into the dancing societies. They were held in semidarkness and included dancing, storytelling, and staged performances. Dancers wore elaborate masks and costumes. Each performance had four parts: 1. The abduction of the initiate by spirits 2. The return of the initiate 3. The initiate’s demonstration of power obtained from the spirit 4. The taming of the initiate and their return to normal society
Winter Ceremonial Season
The ceremonial year was divided into two halves, summer and winter. Summer was the time to work and obtain food for the Winter. Winter was the ceremonial part of the year when supernatural beings visited the town and interacted with humans. People’s names, songs, and behavior changed to its equivalent supernatural rank in the winter. The changed was marked by a four-day feast and celebration punctuated by a brief period of mourning for those who died since the previous winter. The most important ceremonial event in the winter was the Cedar Bark Dance and initiation of a new member into the Cannibal Society.
Mounted Plains Complex
introduction of horses- that expands their hunting grounds and mounted bufflo hunting and etc. and guns that made them more proficient.
Plank Longhouse, Tipi, Earth Lodge
Plank Longhouse-longhouses built of thick cedar planks. If the tribe built the longhouse the chief designated space inside of it for the family.
Earth Lodge-some plains people were not hunters and gatherers. They were farmers and lived in villages. They lived in earth lodges. Warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Covered partially or completely with earth.
Tipi-a cone shaped tent. Traditionally made of animal skins upon wooden poles. Can be distinguished by other tent structures by the smoke flaps at the top.
Sundance Ceremony
The sun dance (sometimes called Medicine Lodge) is a world renewal ceremony practiced by many plains groups. Each follows the same basic theme but differing in detail. A sun dance had to be initiated by a male, females can’t do it. This male either wanted to contribute to the welfare of his group or thank a supernatural for some past favor. Self sacrifice for the good of the group was a common theme. The event was calm and cheerful.
The sundance would be held in the summer, when there are sufficient bison that could be hunted to support a large gathering of people, and it lasted about a week. A shaman would construct the ceremonial facility. After the ceremony, the structure was left to decay naturally.
If a participant so desired they could offer their own flesh as an element of ritualized sacrifice for the group, but they were allowed to back out at any time. This could involve cutting but was mainly comprised of piercing. These piercings involved thongs that were torn out of their flesh. The scars would mark them as an important person for the rest of their lives because during this time they don’t have any food or water, suffer considerable pain, and have visions.
Counting coup
Men would carry coup sticks into battle, not as weapons, but to touch the enemy. Upon returing to their villages, men would bang their coup sticks against a pole and recount their various feats. As long as the opposing groups played by the same basic rules, the system prevented large numbers of death in battle as other feats were more significant. However, the U.S. army did not count coup and considered this behavior bizarre and foolish. Because in their mind, the whole goal of war was to kill your enemy. This system of coup counting was a serious disadvantage when fighting the U.S. army.
Arrow Renewal Ceremony
The most essential Cheyenne ceremony. A four day ritual held just before the summer bison hunt. Four sacred medicine arrows-two arrows held power over the bison, the other two held power over people. The arrows symbolized the existence of the tribe as a whole. The arrow keeper kept track of them. As long as the arrows were well cared for the Cheyenne would thrive.
Toloache Ceremony
Were conducted south of the san Francisco bay area. These rites involved the use of the hallucinogenic drug found in the Datura (or toloache) plant to facilitate contact with the supernatural world. This drug is very powerful and dangerous (sometimes fatal), even if used properly. Male initiates, aided by shamans, experienced visions during such ceremonies.
American Indian Movement (AIM)
Beginning in the early 1970s, Indians began campaigning more actively for their rights. This was led in part by AIM, which was an important factor in raising Indian power. While Indians had always been involved in the political process, they had rarely been participants. The mission of AIM was to force the dominant U.S. culture to listen and act on Indian rights, they felt only militant action, attracting media coverage, could effectively communicate their actions.
Ex. Seizure and occupation of Alcatraz in san Francisco bay
Died down after wounded knee. Partly due to disagreements among the leadership and because several leaders were imprisoned. It’s no longer a major force in Indian politics.
