1. Geography / American Indian Studies 322 Professor Zoltán Grossman
Introduction to Native Geographies
Geography / American Indian Studies 322 Professor Zoltán Grossman

2. There goes the neighborhood…
No “Indians” before 1492
There goes the neighborhood…
Diversity in…
Tribes/bands
Languages
Governments
Cultures
Spiritual beliefs
Resource use
Land control

3. Pros & Cons of Terms Aboriginal First Nations 4th World
American Indian
or Indian
Native American
or Native
Tribal
Indigenous
Nation names
Amerindian
Autochthonous

4. Native Americans Racial category? Ethno-cultural groups
(“minority”)
Ethno-cultural groups
Economic status
Groups with a land base
Autonomous nations

5. Tribal Diversity

6. Cultural Areas Arctic Subarctic Northwest Coast Plateau Great Basin
California
Plains
Southwest
Southeast
Northeast

7. xxxxx

8. Major Early Language & Cultural Groups

9. Eastern U.S. language groups
xxxxx
Algonquian
Algonquian
Siouan
Caddoan
Iroquoian
Gulf (Muskogean)
Timucua
Algonquian
Siouan
Iroquoian
Algonquian
Iroquoian
Caddoan
Gulf
Timucua

10. Western U.S. language groups
xxxxx
Salish
Algonquian
Penutian
Siouan
Athaba-
scan
Algonquian
Siouan
Caddoan
Aztec-Tanoan
Athabascan (Southern)
Salish
Penutian
Hokan
Keres
Siouan
Hokan
Aztec-
Tanoan
Caddoan
Penutian
Algonquian
Athabascan
Aztec-
Tanoan
Hokan
Keres
Aztec-
Tanoan
Caddoan
Athabascan
Hokan

11. Alaska language groups
xxxxx
Alaska language groups
Inuit
Inuit
Dené
Dené
(Northern
Athabascan)
Inuit
(Eskimo)
Aleut
Inuit
Inuit
Dené
Aleut
Aleut

12. Canada language groups
xxxxx
Canada language groups
Inuit
Dené
Algonquian
Dené
(Athabascan)
Inuit
Siouan
Iroquoian
Salish
Wakashan
Tsimshian
Kootenai
Inuit
Dené
Inuit
Dené
Inuit
Dené
Inuit
Waka-
shan
Algonquian
Algonquian
Salish
Siouan
Algonquian
Algonquian
Iroquoian

13. Native Land Losses

14. Studying Native History/Geography
Not only about racial conflict, but the colonization of nations
Not only about the U.S. government, but the origins of the United States
Not only about federal/state policies, but the land base where they occur
Not only looks at political/economic, but at European cultural underpinnings

15. xxxx

16. Who is an “Indian”? Ancestors lived in America,
before the arrival of Europeans.
Who is considered to be
an Indian by the community.
Who self-defines as an Indian.
Federal court decisions have
shifted definitions over time
Who is an “Indian”?

17. Blood Quantum (% of tribal ancestry)
Pushed by federal Bureau
of Indian Affairs (1/4)
Tribal govt’s set today
(often internalized)
Intermarriage can
“fractionalize” tribe

18. Racial Complexities Native Americans can “appear” white, black, etc.
Multiracial
tribal nations
Seminole, Lumbee, etc.
Mixed categories
Métis (French),
Mestizo (Spanish), etc.

19. Who is an “Indian”? Categories Defined by…. What about…
RACIAL Blood Quantum (biology) “Mixed bloods,”
Assimilated
CULTURAL Tribally raised/accepted Adopted Indians,
White ‘wannabes’
GEOGRAPHICAL Reservation residents Urban Indians,
Rez whites

20. “Racial composition is not always dispositive in determining who are Indians for the purposes of Indian law. In dealing with Indians, the federal government is dealing with members or descendants of political entities, that is, Indian tribes, not with persons of a particular race. Tribal membership as determined by the Indian tribe or community itself is often an essential element.”
— Handbook of Federal Indian Law

21. Top 10 Things to Say to a White Person Upon First Meeting
10. How much white are you?
9. I’m part white myself, you know.
8. I learned all your people’s ways in the Boy Scouts.
My great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded white-
American princess.
6. Funny, you don’t look white.
5. Where’s your powdered wig and knickers?
4. Do you live in a covered wagon?
3. What’s the meaning behind the square dance?
2. What’s your feeling about river-boat casinos? Do they
really help your people, or are they just a short-term fix?
1. Oh wow, I really love your hair! Can I touch it?

22. 2000 CENSUS 1.5% of U.S. population
American Indian or
Alaska Native alone 2.5 million
(26% higher than 1990) (0.9%)
In combination
with other “races” million (0.6%)
Total = million (1.5%)
(110% higher than 1990)

24. Native Population Distribution
100 million acres =
4% of U.S.,
BUT…..

25. Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?
322 entities in Lower 48 = 56 million acres
BUT much of rez land is allotted ( non-Indian ownership)

26. Modern Indian Lands = 4% of U.S.?
229 Alaska villages =
44 million acres
BUT Alaska Native
lands held as village &
regional corporations,
not as sovereign
reservations

27. Federal Recognition of Tribes
Historical Written or oral history proves a tribe/nation.
2. Demographical Members not from another tribe.
3. Geographical Lived and continue to live in a distinct area.
4. Political Record of continuous government or leadership.

28. “Trust Responsibility”
Direct relationship between federal & tribal gov’ts
Tribal land put “in trust” to become reservation
Protects reservation from state & local gov’ts
Puts tribe at mercy of federal “trustee”

29. Sovereignty Paramount; supreme Having supreme rank or power
3. Self-governing
(American Heritage Dictionary)

30. Percentages by County
Reservations

31. 19 states above U.S.
average (1.5%)
MN 1.6%
WI 1.3%

32. Population by County

33. Top 10 states =
62% of Native pop.

34. Urban Population

36. Top 10 cities =
8% of Native pop.

40. xxxxx

41. Canadian Treaties 1,200 tiny reserves today

42. Inuit (Eskimo) territory of Nunavut
1999
Canada