LITERARY ANALYSIS The Round House & The history of abuse against Native American women

EARLY NATIVE WOMEN HISTORY The women of tribes were always respected. The women of tribes were always respected. Sacred beings, creators of life. Sacred beings, creators of life. A lot of responsibilities; agriculture, tanning hides, etc. A lot of responsibilities; agriculture, tanning hides, etc. Seen as equal to the men; each had an important role to provide to their existence. Seen as equal to the men; each had an important role to provide to their existence. Clan Mothers of the Iroquois Confederacy chose, advised, and guided their chiefs. Clan Mothers of the Iroquois Confederacy chose, advised, and guided their chiefs.

THE ROUND HOUSE Joe speaks of what his mother’s existence in their lives meant to him; Joe speaks of what his mother’s existence in their lives meant to him; “Women do not realize how much store men set on the regularity of their habits. “Women do not realize how much store men set on the regularity of their habits. “We absorb their comings and goings into our bodies, their rhythms into our bones.” “We absorb their comings and goings into our bodies, their rhythms into our bones.” “Our pulse set to theirs; her absence stopped time.” “Our pulse set to theirs; her absence stopped time.” The Old Buffalo Woman lead Nanapush in guiding his people in “a good way.” The Old Buffalo Woman lead Nanapush in guiding his people in “a good way.” She gave him, in his mind, the structure of the Round House. She gave him, in his mind, the structure of the Round House.

THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEAN SETTLERS Put change in action. Put change in action. Viewed men superior to women. Viewed men superior to women. Portrayed Native women as, “sexual savages.” Portrayed Native women as, “sexual savages.” Deeply romanticized, then and still today. Deeply romanticized, then and still today. The movie, Pocahontas, shows this stereotype of Native women. The movie, Pocahontas, shows this stereotype of Native women.

EUROPEAN SETTLERS Brought diseases. Brought diseases. Brought devastating warfare. Brought devastating warfare. Stripped food supply, stole the children, raped the women, kept the men drunk. Stripped food supply, stole the children, raped the women, kept the men drunk. Divided Turtle Island in to small stolen land claims covered in blood and tears of the people. Divided Turtle Island in to small stolen land claims covered in blood and tears of the people. Would not allow the precious children to speak their native language. Would not allow the precious children to speak their native language.

NATIVE WOMEN PREVAIL Ancestors survived through all the hardships and hopelessness. Ancestors survived through all the hardships and hopelessness. Became integrated and learned to adapt to the Euro-American lifestyle. Became integrated and learned to adapt to the Euro-American lifestyle. Carried their old teachings and beliefs. Carried their old teachings and beliefs. Keepers of Mother Earth. Keepers of Mother Earth.

LILLIE ROSA MINOKA HILL Born 1876, on the St. Regis reservation in New York. Born 1876, on the St. Regis reservation in New York. “Became a doctor in a time when doctors were rare and Indian doctors almost nonexistent.” “Became a doctor in a time when doctors were rare and Indian doctors almost nonexistent.” Moved to Oneida Reservation in 1905, when she married Charles Hill. Moved to Oneida Reservation in 1905, when she married Charles Hill. Called the “kitchen doctor.” Called the “kitchen doctor.” Someone who gave everything and expected very little in return. Someone who gave everything and expected very little in return.

POLITICS & LEADERSHIP Does it matter who leads the tribe in today’s modern society? Does it matter who leads the tribe in today’s modern society? Either a woman or a man? Either a woman or a man? Is it about who has more education? Is it about who has more education? Maybe, who has more experience working with the government? Maybe, who has more experience working with the government? Or should the choice of the people be more traditional? Or should the choice of the people be more traditional? These are types of question we ask ourselves when it comes to electing a leader. These are types of question we ask ourselves when it comes to electing a leader.

ADA DEER Born on the Menominee Reservation in Born on the Menominee Reservation in Father a member and her mother a white woman. Father a member and her mother a white woman. She is a woman if her time. She is a woman if her time. Well educated, first member of her tribe to earn a master’s degree. Well educated, first member of her tribe to earn a master’s degree. Helped restore the Menominee reservation. Helped restore the Menominee reservation.

MALE VS. FEMALE Traditionalists, including Buddy Chevalier, believe women do not think women should run the government. Traditionalists, including Buddy Chevalier, believe women do not think women should run the government. Buddy and Ada disagree on this issue. Buddy and Ada disagree on this issue. Ada doubts the importance of the male-female issue. Ada doubts the importance of the male-female issue. Buddy a member of the militants that over took the Alexian Brothers Novitiate, demand that 3 female tribal leaders step down. Buddy a member of the militants that over took the Alexian Brothers Novitiate, demand that 3 female tribal leaders step down. Ada, in the year 1975, was the chairwoman of the Restoration Committee. Ada, in the year 1975, was the chairwoman of the Restoration Committee.

FACTS Women were once seen as equal to men. Women were once seen as equal to men. Rate of Violent Crimes against Native American women is 2 ½ times the rate for other females. Rate of Violent Crimes against Native American women is 2 ½ times the rate for other females. 1 in 3 will be raped. 1 in 3 will be raped. 3 in 4 will be physically assaulted. 3 in 4 will be physically assaulted. Stalked a higher rate. Stalked a higher rate. We as Native Americans need to realize that abuse against our women is not a tradition. We as Native Americans need to realize that abuse against our women is not a tradition.