Contact: What it means and how it operates Exhibiting Native American Cultures: Points of Contact Museum Studies Special Topics, A460/560 Larry J. Zimmerman, Ph.D., RPA Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

A coming together so as to be touching A situation allowing exchange of ideas or messages: communication, intercommunication An acquaintance who is in a position to help: connection, source. Be in communication with, establish communication with A junction where things touch or are in physical contact Close interaction A communicative interaction Contact

How do you know contact has occurred? Sudden culture change Apparent anomalies in objects or practices Combinations of decorative motifs, objects, practices that weren’t there before Sudden popularity of certain objects or practices Population movements But be cautious! Lots of other factors may account for the shifts observed.

What factors cause one group to contact another? Environmental changes that force population movements Economic pressures (other than environment) Population pressures Displacement from territory Curiosity & exploration Desire for the exotic Religious proselytizing

What happens when contact occurs? Ideas get exchanged Things get exchanged Understanding begins Misunderstanding begins Other possibilities: Disease Conflict Mistrust Trust ‘Hybridization’ Syncretism

Diffusion and its processes Stimulus diffusion—ideas, from simple contact Single trait diffusion—a few things, from trade Complex diffusion—whole cultural complexes, from colonization

Independent Invention Just because things seem to be alike doesn’t mean they are so because of contact and diffusion! Similar environmental and social conditions lead to similar adaptations.

Form, Function, and Meaning Form—physical characteristics or attributes of an object or concept Function—the role of the object or idea, what it does Meaning—what the object or idea means to the people who have or use it

The concept of the Frontier A boundary between (at least) two major approaches, elements, or territories Characteristics: Constant tension and possible conflict Constant exchange in spite of any tensions Constant minor shifts one way or another For America, the frontier is part of the master narrative, an element of American character Frederick Jackson Turner Frederick Jackson Turner and the “Frontier Hypothesis”—see the full textfull text Development of the American frontier helped to shape not only the character of the American people but also the nature of its institutions Individualism, nationalism, mobility, egalitarianism Frederick Jackson Turner

Culture as process Contact is not a ‘thing,’ but can be seen in things Contact is dynamic and is best viewed diachronically Contact is a matter of adaptation Contact is sometimes so subtle that it is denied

The Culture Area Concept How to handle the huge diversity of Native American cultures:

There was huge variation in languages.

Cultures Areas or Food Areas?

The Problem with Culture Areas Actually, these categories have entered into the popular culture in a big way. They are now the main descriptors of Indian groups. One needs to question whether it is still a useful concept: It locks Indian groups in time, using descriptions of groups at the time of Contact. Pan-Indian cultural activities and massive influences of media have "blended" lots of cultural traits. Doesn't account for the ability of groups to adjust to white and other Indian influences.

Contact in the Eiteljorg

According to Webster… Marty Gradolf (Winnebago of Nebraska), 2001 Treaties—formalized contact

Even in the entryway, contact is obvious

Interactive map: Indian Indiana

Myaamiaki (The Miami People)

Myaamiaki

Finished mahkahsina (moccasins) made by Scott Shoemaker

Tomahawk pipe (Miami), c

Ribbonwork interactive

Bodewadmi (The Potawatomi People)

I live in two worlds really. I go to work everyday and I live in a house and I drive a Tahoe and I wear Reebok shoes, just like everybody does. But also, I follow the good road. It’s important to me to keep that balance. - John Pigeon (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi) Basket by John Pigeon

Basketry interactive

Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki (The Delaware and Others)

Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki

Historical Timeline—draws attention to contact