The Shawnee
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A 6 page overview of the Shawnee tribe of Native Americans. Provides a cultural description of the Shawnee and a brief overview of their encounters with the white encroachers to their lands in the 1700s and 1800s. Outlines the role of Tecumseh in these encounters, the ultimate loss of Shawnee traditional lands, and the forced move to the reservations. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPnaShaw.wps

White Man vs. The Native Indians -- Real Stories in History
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A 5 page analysis of Alvin Josephy's 'Patriot Chiefs' -- a book which attempts to detail realistic events and interactions occurring between America's Native Indians and early European settlers. What makes this book particularly important is that it contains a recounting of the first Thanksgiving ever. Also discussed in this essay are : King Phillip's War Against the Indians (17th century), the role of the Puritans, and the hypocrisy of White Europeans in a changing America. No Bibliography.
Filename: Patriot.wps

Gender Roles in Pueblo Culture
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A 12 page paper discussing gender roles in the culture of the Pueblo Indians. The Pueblo Indians were actually made up of several tribes that inhabited the areas known as Arizona and New Mexico. The Zuni were the most prevalent and as such are the tribe focused on in the paper. An examination of men and women, and their roles, is presented, as well as a section discussing the berdache, which were people, traditionally men, who took on the roles of the opposite sex. Bibliography lists 25 sources.
Filename: RAberdach.wps

Three Successive Centuries of Native American Alliances 1680-1812: The Pueblo Revolt, Pontiac's Rebellion, and Tecumseh's Movement
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A 4 page outline of three of the most noteworthy Native American military alliances formed to resist the European subjugation they were expected to endure. Provides an outline of the reasons the alliances were formed and a brief encapsulation of the details and outcome of each. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: PPnaAlli.wps

Utilizing the Direct Historical Approach in Reconstructing Pueblo Social Organization
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A 3 page overview of the usefulness of comparing archaeological data with information gleaned from ethnographic accounts. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: Pueblo.wps

The Freudian View of Pueblo Native American Religion
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A 5 page overview of the views of Sigmond Freud on organized religion. Illustrates the complex ceremonial and religious life of the Pueblo people using the Hopi ceremony and belief extensively in examples. Suggests that Freud would view these beliefs not only as an illusion but also as a delusion, that the Pueblo were a misguided people who were in serious error regarding their separation of the real world from that of the spiritual world. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPnaFreu.wps

Book Review / Navajo - Hopi Conflict
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This 5 page paper examines the Navajo and Hopi conflict to retain what each claimed as the land of their birthright and the impact of this struggle particularly upon Native-American women in the 1992 book, The Wind Won't Know Me: A History of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. No additional sources.
Filename: Navhopi.wps

Gender Roles in Hopi Society
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A 9 page overview of the expected and actual roles of Hopi women both in their early culture and in contemporary culture. Emphasizes that these roles have not only evolved but that they sometimes differ in thought and action. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: PPhopiGn.wps

Hopi Oral Tradition and Resistance to Outside Forces
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An 8 page paper discussing the ease with which the Hopi religion and oral tradition has persisted over the centuries. 'Wrong headedness' is a condition that the Hopi are not to have. They are to adhere to the admonishings and warnings of ages to come given by the ancient ones. Because the oral traditions attached to the Hopi religion are so adaptable to changes in society and in levels of technology, they can remain relevant at any stage of development, either of the Hopi culture or those that would overrun it. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: KS-Hopi.wps

Koyaanisqatsi / Life Out Of Balance
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A 5 page exploration of the term 'Koyaanisqatsi' which means 'life out of balance,' its relation to Hopi life, ceremony and legend, and its relation to all life. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: NAbalanc.wps

Tedlock’s “Popol Vuh” and “Breath on a Mirror”
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A six page analysis of these two important works on ancient Mayan tradition. The paper asserts that in comparing Mayan myths with those of the Old Testament, the Mayans emphasize self-reliance and the use of intelligence while the Old Testament emphasizes obedience. No additional sources.
Filename: KBpopol.wps

A Comparison Of Navajo And Taoist Philosophies
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A 6 page comparison of the philosophies of two very different yet very similar peoples. Emphasizes the importance of nature and harmony to both cultures. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: NavTaois.wps

The Mystique of Turquoise
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An 8 page paper discussing the enduring allure of turquoise. Were we to have a national stone in the US, certainly turquoise would surely be it. It has been used from times of prehistory for trading and as talismans for good health and good fortune; it has fueled the latest craze of all things Southwestern. Stephen Dweck, a modern-day designer, calls turquoise a modern amulet. The Navajo Indians are most noted for their artistry with turquoise, but many of the Native American tribes traded with it and held it dear long before the first white man invaded their lands. Bibliography lists 11 sources.
Filename: KS-tourq.wps

'Unspeakable Sadness' vs. 'Disposition of Nebraska Indians' / Theft of Land & Culture
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A 12 page overview of the differences in approaches to ecology which were responsible for the atrocities and wrongs perpetuated on the American Indian in regards to their land and culture by white settlers and governments invading Nebraska and California. Based largely on the books by David J. Wisehart and John Walton. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: Unspeak.wps

Columbus and His Time: The Beginning of the Decimation of Native America
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A 5 page discussion of the impact on Columbus' voyage in 1492 on the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas. Emphasizes that Columbus' motivation was money and fame not any real concern for the land or the peoples he would encounter. Concludes that Columbus' journey was the beginning of the end for pre-contact Native American cultures. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: PPnaColu.wps

Contemporary and Historic Issues Confronting Native Americans
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A 6 page overview of the historic and contemporary issues confronting Native Americans. The author condenses these issues into three main categories: health, land and leadership. Background information is provided for each category and the reasons for its importance are emphasized in terms of statistics and historic and future applicability. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPnaIssu.wps

Native American Land Rights: The Battles of the Western Shoshone and the Dann Family
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A 15 page discussion of the concepts of Native American sovereignty, property rights and land ownership. Outlines the government policies towards these concepts and the history of U.S. dealings with Native Americans in regard to them. Uses the plight of the Western Shoshone and the Dann sisters in particular to illustrate the rights which have been violated. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: PPNAshoL.wps