1. From “Noble Savage” to “Vanishing Indian”: Euro-American Perceptions of Native Americans Multicultural Literature Background Information

2. Native-American Literature is a Post-Colonial Literature Literature by a COLONIZING culture (e.g. people of European descent) usually distorts the experience and realities of the colonized people—creates a picture of innate inferiority in terms of the colonized people Literature by the COLONIZED culture (e.g. Native Americans) attempts to regain the power to speak for themselves, rather than be spoken ABOUT by the colonizers

3. Native American Customs Europeans were fascinated by Native American customs, and hired artists to create and distribute drawings documenting their lifestyle Europeans were fascinated by Native American customs, and hired artists to create and distribute drawings documenting their lifestyle These prints are not always a reliable source for learning about their traditions These prints are not always a reliable source for learning about their traditions

4. Native-American Literature is a Post-Colonial Literature This literature of the colonized culture: 1. 1.articulates group identity 2. 2.reclaims the past 3. 3.writes their version of history—but also recognizes the influence of the colonizer Colonizing countries often appropriate (take possession of): 1. 1.the languages 2. 2.images 3. 3.Scenes 4. 4.traditions etc. of the colonized land—and vice versa

5. Colonial New England (Puritan) Conceptions of Indigenous Peoples 1: Native Americans are the lost tribes of Israel, waiting for conversion 2: Native Americans as children of Satan – descendents of fallen angels Either way, justification to eradicate people and culture Image: The Death of Jane McCrea, John Vanderlyn, 1804

6. Southern Colonial Conceptions of Indigenous Peoples “Noble Savage” “Savage” meaning “uncivilized” “Noble” meaning innocent, pure, wise, childlike, connected to nature, spiritual— but uncultured Merely inferior rather than the intrinsically evil “ignoble savage” of New England Open to European guidance and deliverance Totally romanticized view Image: Baptism of Pocahontas, John G. Chapman, Capitol Rotunda, Washington D.C.

7. “Noble Savage”

8. “The Vanishing Indian” Pre-contact indigenous population of North America: est. 10-15 million (about 2 million today) Disease and warfare From 1840s : Native Americans are “vanishing race” Vanishing in face of “superior” Euro-American advance Justifies advance of non-Native population and eradication of Native American cultures Image: Last of Their Race, John Mix Stanley, 1857

9. “Civilization” of the Frontier: A “Manifest Destiny” Image: American Progress, John Gast, 1872

10. “Indian Territory,” circa 1700 Yellow=Spanish; green=French; blue=English British actively displaced natives with settlements Everything other than blue generally considered "Indian Territory”

11. “Indian Territory,” 1876 After Civil War, Five Nations of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole forced to cede additional lands Great Plains tribes relocated from Kansas and Nebraska, 1876

12. “Indian Territory,” 1889 1889 General Allotment Act and creation of Oklahoma Territory 1889 General Allotment Act and creation of Oklahoma Territory “Indian Territory” shrunk to final form “Indian Territory” shrunk to final form

13. Indian Removal Act of 1830 President Andrew Jackson Force Native American removal from East Guise of protecting and preserving Indian cultures Move west or give up all tribal rights Removal as only way to “civilize” the “vanishing Indian”

14. The “Trail of Tears”

15. The Language & Culture

16. Indian children were Indian children were sent to boarding sent to boarding schools far away schools far away from the reservations from the reservations so that the authority so that the authority of their parents/elders of their parents/elders would be would be undermined. undermined. Language, and Language, and consequently, cultural identity was legally confiscated. Children were harshly punished for using their own language and were separated tribally to immerse them in English only. consequently, cultural identity was legally confiscated. Children were harshly punished for using their own language and were separated tribally to immerse them in English only. Although great strides have been made in recent years for Indian Sovereignty, Native Americans continue to struggle because of the events of the past. Although great strides have been made in recent years for Indian Sovereignty, Native Americans continue to struggle because of the events of the past.

17. Storytelling & Oral Tradition Long before European explorers came to North America, Native Americans had a rich literary tradition of their own. Their stories, histories, and legends were shared and preserved through oral tradition. The storyteller is one whose spirit is indispensable to the people. Long before European explorers came to North America, Native Americans had a rich literary tradition of their own. Their stories, histories, and legends were shared and preserved through oral tradition. The storyteller is one whose spirit is indispensable to the people.

18. The Native Americans spoke hundreds of languages and lived in incredibly diverse societies with varied mythological beliefs. Despite their differences, their cultures and literary traditions had the following common elements: The Native Americans spoke hundreds of languages and lived in incredibly diverse societies with varied mythological beliefs. Despite their differences, their cultures and literary traditions had the following common elements: 1.lack of a written language 2.they believed in the power of words and they relied on memory, rather than writing to preserve their texts In this regard, these stories are not defined by the boundaries of written language; there are no ending pages and they are not contained within a limited, concrete, physical source.

19.  these stories belong to the collective people/the tribe  the oral tradition was a performance and is offered to the audience as dramatic events in time  yet, the audience is not passive and has a role in bringing out the story  the storyteller is very important to culture and is one of the most  honored and respected members of the tribe/society  the relationship between the storyteller and the audience is established through: voice emphasis, gestures, use of space, eye contact, and the audience can be representative of the characters in the story  there is no known original author  these stories are open to personal interpretation

20. These oral stories include the following types of texts: These oral stories include the following types of texts:  cultural information (beliefs about social order and appropriate behavior)  historical accounts including migrations: how people got to where they are  lessons describe how and why things are the way they are  creation stories and the origins of societies (beliefs about the nature of the physical world)

21.  legends which include exploits of their heroes  traditions, religious beliefs, ceremonies, dreamsongs, shamanic chants, naming chants and blessings (beliefs about human nature and the problem of good and evil)  trickster tales featuring a trickster figure who was any combination of the following descriptions: rule-breaker, malicious, cunning, foolish, chaos-causing, shape and gender shifting (a famous example is Kokopeli who was a Hopi flute player symbolic of happiness, joy, and fertility)  instructions from spirit mentors and explanations on how to conduct ceremonies  descriptions of natural processes such as water cycles, inter-species relationships, life cycles of plants, earth movements, and soil types  oral maps for travel which describe historic and on-going migrations of tribe for subsistence and holy journeys  magical tales of transformation which articulate the mystery and complexity of being human  adventures in love, romance, and marriage

22. NOTE: While oral stories are meant to be passed down through generations verbally, it is important to remember that written transcripts are not exactly representative of the oral performance. But a translation/ transcription of the stories is the closest we can come to sharing the Native American culture and tradition. NOTE: While oral stories are meant to be passed down through generations verbally, it is important to remember that written transcripts are not exactly representative of the oral performance. But a translation/ transcription of the stories is the closest we can come to sharing the Native American culture and tradition.

23. Some Dominant Themes & Motifs: Oral / Past Relationships between humans and animals Relationships between humans and animals Respect and reverence for mother earth and nature Respect and reverence for mother earth and nature Land as the strength of the people Land as the strength of the people Village/community/tribe as sovereign Village/community/tribe as sovereign Cyclical patterns: renewal and continuance Cyclical patterns: renewal and continuance Importance of tribal traditions and history Importance of tribal traditions and history Personal alienation Personal alienation Cultural dispossession Cultural dispossession Written / Modern Identity Identity Personal alienation Personal alienation Cultural dispossession Cultural dispossession The importance of women and the family The importance of women and the family Celebration of the vitality and diversity of Native American culture Celebration of the vitality and diversity of Native American culture Mixed-blood Natives seeking to secure their individual and communal identities through discussions between tribal traditions and American modernity Mixed-blood Natives seeking to secure their individual and communal identities through discussions between tribal traditions and American modernity Critique of colonialism Critique of colonialism alcoholism and substance abuse alcoholism and substance abuse tensions of belonging and division among different generations of Native Americans tensions of belonging and division among different generations of Native Americans

24. So What about the Native Image in Media Today? Native Americans are underrepresented in mainstream media today Native Americans are underrepresented in mainstream media today When we do see them, they are still depicted as they were during the colonial period When we do see them, they are still depicted as they were during the colonial period Their representations have failed to grow and modernize with the rest of the world (still seen in Westerns) Their representations have failed to grow and modernize with the rest of the world (still seen in Westerns) They are still presented as savages who are stuck in their teepees - running around in the forests, naked, scalping people and smoking peace pipes. They are still presented as savages who are stuck in their teepees - running around in the forests, naked, scalping people and smoking peace pipes. Only hegemonic culture’s perspective is shown. Only hegemonic culture’s perspective is shown.

25. How Does This Affect Modern Native American Indians’ Identity? They don’t see modern representations of themselves on the screen They are often times seen as “others” & feel like outsiders They have to fight against the notion that they are blood-thirsty savages Their true modern struggle of substance abuse and poverty is ignored because world still sees them as “Running Bull” Still seen as the enemy Still seen as the enemy Old opinions of Native Americans held by society makes it difficult for them to be accepted / recognized / respected. Old opinions of Native Americans held by society makes it difficult for them to be accepted / recognized / respected. Failure to fully participate in modern society due to fear / voluntary isolation Failure to fully participate in modern society due to fear / voluntary isolation