The Indigenous Women of Latin America: Factors Impacting Human Rights
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A 19 page overview of the numerous factors affecting the basic human rights of Latin America’s indigenous women. The author asserts that the indigenous women of Latin America have been suppressed by a number of societal factors. These factors revolve around their native traditions and societal expectations, the influence on the Europeans who colonized Latin America, globalization, and the rampant development of their homelands in a manner which degrades traditional land rights and serves to further adversely affect the rights of indigenous women. Bibliography lists 12 sources.
Filename: PPwmnLat.rtf

The Iroquois Fur Trade Wars
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(6 pp) "As to the natives of this country, I find them entirely savage and wild, strangers to all decency, yea, uncivil and stupid as garden poles, proficient in all wickedness and godlessness; devilish men, who serve nobody but the Devil …" Reverend Jonas Michaelius in 1628. This attitude, generally expressed by the colonists, allowed them to trade "trinkets" for furs. Various internal structures were already in place in the Iroquois Confederacy, which then dovetailed into the desire for European goods, and accelerated warfare among the woodland tribes. The fur trade was definitely a component in play, but not the actual cause of increased and deadly warfare, nor the accumulation of territory. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BBiroquo.doc

The Iroquois Fur Trade Wars.
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(6 pp) "As to the natives of this country, I find them entirely savage and wild, strangers to all decency, yea, uncivil and stupid as garden poles, proficient in all wickedness and godlessness; devilish men, who serve nobody but the Devil …" Reverend Jonas Michaelius in 1628. This attitude, generally expressed by the colonists, allowed them to trade "trinkets" for furs, but never understand their neighbors. Various internal structures were already in place in the Iroquois Confederacy, which then dovetailed into the desire for European goods, and accelerated warfare among the woodland tribes. The fur trade was definitely a component in play, but not the actual cause of increased and deadly warfare. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BBiroquR.doc

The Lakota Sun Dance: An Overview of the Interconnectivity With all Aspects of Lakota Culture and the Changes Incurred During the Reservation Period
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A 15 page overview of this sacred reflection of Lakota culture. The author points out that the Sun Dance is intertwined with such cultural elements as the Sacred Pipe, Lakota oral history, and even the most simplistic aspects of their ceremonial lives. The Sun Dance, after all is a circular ceremony and one with no beginning and no end. Although the Dancers of the Sun Dance gather and actually dance only at specific times, the Sun Dance interlaces all aspects of traditional Lakota culture. The author emphasizes that only the traditional Lakota people understand the full degree to which the Sun Dance interlaces their culture. Only the traditional Lakota, therefore can understand the full meaning of this ceremony and many, in fact, contend that the truths of the Sun Dance are sacred and should not be shared with non-Indians. Consequently, this paper attempts to provide a respectful yet informative overview of a very complex aspect of Lakota life while not intruding upon the sacred nature of that life. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: PPnaSunD.rtf

The Legal Status of African Slaves and Native Americans From 1775 to 1840:
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This 5 page paper discusses the legal status of these two groups during the early colonial days of this country. Paper also discusses similarities between these two groups. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: GSLegal1.rtf

The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Purpose, History and Impacts on Native America
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A 25 page discussion of the Lewis and Clark expedition of the early 1800s, that infamous expedition sponsored by the U.S.government in order to procure information about the lands to the west of the Mississippi River. Traces the route of the journey providing a chronological account of its progression and numerous quotes from the expedition journals. Contends that while the expedition would prove to be of tremendous benefit to the United States, and indeed be characterized by almost exclusively peaceful interactions to the Native Americans encountered along the way, it would have an underlying agenda of economic gain. This agenda would ultimately translate into an exploitation of the natural resources in the region and in an adverse impact to the cultures of the Native American peoples. Bibliography lists 12 sources.
Filename: PPnaLwis.wps

The Life of Sitting Bull
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A 5 page paper which traces the life of Sitting Bull from his birth in Dakota to his death at Wounded Knee, including references to the Ghost Dance, his involvement in the battle of Little Big Horn and his time with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Bibliography cites 6 sources.
Filename: JLsitbul.wps

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
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This 3 page paper examines this story by Sherman Alexi, from the book by the same name, considering the content and the meaning of the story, the message it communicates and why it is so effective. The bibliography cites 1 source.
Filename: TEloneto.rtf

The Man Eating Bird “Hokhokw” Mask of the Kwakiutl
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This is a 6 page paper discussing the man eating bird “Hokhokw” mask of the Kwakiutl Indians as displayed at the American Museum of Natural History. The mask was used in potlatch and secret ceremonies of the Kwakiutl and is an excellent example of the transformational masks of that time as the hinged beak opens and is used to snap during the dance rituals. Comparison to the Tlingit Shaman’s mask is made. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: TJKmask1.rtf

The Meeker War:
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This 5 page paper discusses the history of the Meeker War which involved the Ute Indians. Furthermore, this paper examines the issues surrounding this war such as the desire of Nathan Meeker and others to "reform" the Ute Indians into Christian farmers. Bibligraphy lists 4 sources.
Filename: GSMeeker.rtf

The Miami Indians: History and Culture
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An 8 page discussion of the Miami Indians, indigenous representatives of the Eastern Woodlands. Provides a brief history of the Miami since contact with Europeans and outlines the cultural changes which they have experienced. Emphasizes that Miami Indians today are often identical in their appearance and lifeways to non-Indians yet many retain remnants of their traditional culture. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPmiami.wps

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the Controversy of the Kennewick Man
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This is a 7 page paper discussing NAGPRA and the controversy over the Kennewick Man. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed in 1990 which outlined the conditions for the repatriation of Native American remains and artifacts from archeological projects, museums and agencies. Since it was passed, a great deal of controversy has surrounded the act especially in the case of the Kennewick Man. The Kennewick Man was a 9,300 old skeleton found near the Columbia River in Washington in 1996. Following the guidelines of the act, the Department of the Interior wanted to hand over the remains to a nearby Native American tribe without scientific examination. Archaeologists brought the case to court using the argument that not only was the find critical to the development of the theories of migration in North America but also there was evidence that the Kennewick Man was not even of Indian origin. Overall, anthropologists and scientists believe that NAGPRA was made out of political considerations for the Native Americans but elevates the religious beliefs of Native Americans over those of other Americans, making it a violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution and disregarding the field of science. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TJNAGPR1.rtf