Taos Indians Struggle To Retain Their Sacred Land
[ send me this paper ]
A 6 page paper on Gordon & McCutchen's "Taos Indians & The Battle For Blue Lake"-- a work documenting the struggle that the Taos Indians endured against the U.S. Government in attempting to win back the rights to their sacred land. The courageous spirit of this inspirational group is praised and commentary on the socio-political problems they solved is analyzed. No other sources cited.
Filename: Taosbook.wps

Tayo’s Healing Process in “Ceremony” by Leslie Marmon Silko
[ send me this paper ]
This is a 5 page paper discussing the process of healing of the character Tayo in the novel “Ceremony” by Leslie Marmon Silko. Through Tayo’s interactions with three of main characters in the novel, namely Ku’oosh, Montano and Betonie, Tayo is able to understand that not only do the white man medicines not work on Tayo but neither do the traditional healing ceremonies work on the modern Pueblo Indian as demonstrated by Ku’oosh. Montano teaches Tayo the power of natural elements in his healing process but it is not until Tayo meets Betonie, the modern day medicine man does he realize that it is the fusion of traditional and modern day elements that make the strongest healing regimen. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TJTayos1.rtf

Tecumseh’s “War”
[ send me this paper ]
This 5 page report discusses the 18th and early 19th century Shawnee leader who attempted to create a “pan-Indian” coalition that could work as a confederation of mutual support and defense in order to protect the lands and indigenous peoples against the white pioneers moving west across the Appalachian mountains. In terms of the question of whether or not Tecumseh’s “war” could possibly have been won, the writer of this report argues that it could not. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BWtecums.rtf

The "Discovery" of America: Roots of Racism in Native American Society
[ send me this paper ]
A 3 page paper tracing the rampant racism which continues to target Native American people and culture to the concept of a European "discovery" of this continent. Emphasizes that although this continent and its people were very much in existence at the time of the supposed European "discovery" the mindset which was behind that concept has persisted and the result has been continued racism against Native Americans. Bibliography lists one source.
Filename: PPnaDisc.wps

The Algonquin
[ send me this paper ]
This 5 page paper provides an overview of this group of Indian tribes which live in upper North America. Several variables are discussed inclusive of shamanism, land rights, language, art and history. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: SA302A.rtf

The American Indian Minority Student.
[ send me this paper ]
(36 pp). Although the motivating question for this discussion was to examine those factors, which motivate minority students, in choosing to look at American Indian students, I was surprised that I could not isolate "motivating factors" for this minority group. It seemed illogical that any given group would be too small for motivation. Then I began to wonder if the idea of "motivation" is in accurate. What if motivation is a cultural assumption that does not apply to this minority group? If that is true, than a "western" definition of motivation would be applied to a group of people, for whom the concept was or is erroneous, and it would appear that the group would be then doomed to fail, in relationship to that definition. That is not to say that certain individuals might be self-motivated, or motivated by a relative. However as a group generality, that did not seem to be the case. The author continues to look at motivation in a cultural light in reference to educational needs. Bibliography lists 20 sources.
Filename: BBincled.doc

The Anasazi of the Great Basin
[ send me this paper ]
A 16 page paper discussing the history and fate of the Anasazi, ancestors of the Pueblos occupying the American Southwest for a period of time measured in thousands of years. The Anasazi disappeared abruptly, however, in the 13th century. Investigation points to drought, but some researchers believe that the Anasazi committed environmental missteps that eventually led to their demise. The paper traces some of the early cultural changes, discusses the water cycle and presents results of research focusing on and Anasazi. Bibliography lists 17 sources.
Filename: KSanasazi.rtf

The Apaches
[ send me this paper ]
An 11 page overview of the Apache people as they existed after contact with non-Natives. Recalls the tremendous pressures which were exerted on the people and the retaliations of men like Geronimo. Concludes, however, that the Apache only for their expertise in warfare, and indeed for only that particular time in history, is an injustice to their culture. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: Napache.wps

The Aztecs and Cortez’s Spanish Conquistadors: Conquest or Colonization?
[ send me this paper ]
A 28 page overview of the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Aztec people of central Mexico. Emphasizes the radical differences in cultural viewpoints between these two people, particularly their differences in regard to the use of natural resources. Notes that despite the obvious atrocities committed by Spain, and by men like Hernando Cortez in particular, many still question whether Cortez conquered the Aztecs or whether the events which unfolded were simply a matter of Spain colonizing Mexico. Concludes that not only did Cortez actually conquer the Aztec, he did so in an exceedingly cruel and relentless manner and he did so under the guise of colonization. Bibliography lists 24 sources.
Filename: PPnaCrtz.wps

The Blackfeet
[ send me this paper ]
A 10 page overview of the Blackfeet. Provides historical information from the eighteenth century onward including specific information regarding subsistence patterns and ceremonies such as the Sun Dance and the Shaking Tent Ceremony, as well as contemporary population numbers. Bibliography lists 11 sources.
Filename: Blckfoot.wps

The Cherokee: A Brief History and Insight into Their Culture
[ send me this paper ]
An 8 page overview of the culture and history of this American Indian group. The author emphasizes that today the Cherokee, in many ways, are little different from mainstream While culture in the United States. They have, in fact, assimilated almost completely into that culture. At the time of contact with non-Natives, however, there were often substantial differences between Cherokee and White culture. These differences translated into rocky relationships between the Cherokee and the United States government, relationships which eventually resulted in the forced removal of most of the Cherokee from their homelands, the establishment of a government reservation for the people, and the separation of the nation into two distinctly different political units. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PPnaCHgv.rtf

The Conflict Between Native Americans and the English Colonists in the Seventeenth Century
[ send me this paper ]
An 8 page overview of the conflict which erupted between the English colonists and the Native inhabitants of the Americas. The arrival of the Pilgrims and the Puritans to the Americans would prove the beginning of an insurmountable blow to the Native American peoples who inhabited the continent. This blow would waft across the entire east coast of the Americas in just a few short years. In its sometimes bloody and violent wake would lie a devastated people, the Native Americans. The stories which would unfold, although differing somewhat between the north and the south, would be essentially the same. The English wanted what it was that the Native American had and they were willing to kill to get it. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: PPnaEngl.rtf