Image of the Amerindian
  1. Portrayal of Native American (NA) Culture
    1. Instrumental in American history and culture
    2. Aid in constructing an American image of self and national identity
      1. Boston Tea Party
  2. Contemporary images of American Indians
    1. PLAINS/WAR BONNET/WARRIOR
    2. western movie image
    3. plains culture as pan-Indian
    4. even Eastern Indian's today adopt Plain's image as authentic Indian
  3. In reality
    1. over 500 individual cultures and languages at the time of Columbus
    2. we distill the image to only a few
    3. the Plains, The End of the Trail, the mighty warrior
    4. promoted by Hollywood and public sentiment
  4. Historical Images of the Amerindian
    1. Noble Savage image –
      1. we retain this image because it is attractive and quells guilt feelings
      2. flipside – not really human if so perfect
    2. Blood Thirsty Savage image - we retain parts of this image because it justifies conquest behavior

 

ORIGINS OF AMERICAN INDIAN
  1. We have theories with supportive evidence - however, much conjecture
  2. Anthropological Position
    1. migrations from North East Asia across Bering Land Bridge – but when?
  3. Ameridian position on origins
    1. Bering is Whiate Man’s Myth
    2. We’ve been here forever
    3. allows whites to marginalize by saying Indians also migrants
    4. not all Native American's dismiss anthro position
  4. time frame translates in practical human terms (500+ generations) an existence considered pretty much "forever" - so theory doesn't really conflict

 

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
  1. MOUNDBUILDER culture – First appear 3000 years ago
    1. early cultures in Southeast using mounds as places to bury, to honor etc
    2. some correlate with astronomical places and phases
    3. considered further evidence of sedentrism, representing more intense use of agriculture
    4. higher population required to erect mounds, settlements are larger
    5. particularly influential in Southeast and Ohio River
  2. HOPEWELL culture – 200BC-500 AD
    1. again probably many populations - quite stratified societies
    2. more mounds
    3. mounds as shelters - domestic space
    4. defense fortifications
    5. agriculture, hunting, and foraging
    6. modifying landscape
    7. slash and burn
    8. large scale trading networks
      1. Mountain West obsidian
      2. shells from Caribbean
      3. soapstone from Canada
      4. copper from Great Lakes
    9. Died out for many reasons
      1. climate changes
      2. overworked soil
      3. overpopulation
      4. some sign of heightened warfare
  3. MISSISSIPPIAN culture - 750 AD to contact
    1. complex moundbuilders
    2. more stratified society
    3. larger cities - 2,000 people
    4. Cahokia
      1. 30,000-50,000 people
      2. had more versatile uses of mounds
    5. Social Organization
      1. hereditary chieftain positions
      2. may have been early states
      3. some of these groups lasted 'til contact
    6. Religious Practices
    7. historical records available towards the end of the Mississippian culture
    8. possibly focused on blood and sacrifice
    9. sun worship
      1. primary deity
      2. other gods "less" prominent or powerful
      3. mirrored in the social structure and hierarchy