It seems that even in 2007, the image of Native Americans is shrouded in hoary stereotypes.
April 02, 2007
Stereotypes persist in 2007
Who We Are: Native American spirit rises above stereotypeUsually G. Peter Jemison of Victor, Ontario County, wears the business casual uniform of polo shirt and khakis. But when he attended Gov. Eliot Spitzer's inauguration in January, he wore traditional Seneca attire, including a feathered headdress, as he was representing the Seneca Nation of Indians. A woman passing by raised her hand and said "How," mimicking the greeting Hollywood mistakenly attributed to all Native Americans more than half a century ago.
It seems that even in 2007, the image of Native Americans is shrouded in hoary stereotypes. 
It seems that even in 2007, the image of Native Americans is shrouded in hoary stereotypes.
Indian nations have always been political entities. That's why the European powers signed treaties with them centuries ago and why they were given a special status in the US Constitution.
ReplyDeleteIronically, you're the one who thinks Indian governments, cultures, histories, customs, and languages don't matter. That's because you've said being Indian is a matter of a "genetic racial memory" or an "awareness granted by heredity." That means being Indian is a biological trait and not a political, social, or cultural trait, according to you.
Since Indian nations have always been political entities, it will have no effect on this site if they continue to be political entities. Therefore, you can count on my doing this work as long as you're around--and longer.
Repeat: Indian nations have always been political entities. That's why the European powers signed treaties with them centuries ago and why they were given a special status in the US Constitution.
ReplyDeleteYou don't sign a political treaty with a political entity if you don't recognize that political entity. Euro-Americans began signing political treaties with tribes in the 1500s and continued signing them for centuries thereafter. Indian leaders were treated as government dignitaries, even heads of state, throughout this time.
I thought this was Indian History 101, but apparently you didn't know it. Now you do. You're never too old to learn something, eh?
"On the 3d of March, 1871, Congress declared that "hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power, with whom the United States may contract by treaty."
ReplyDeletewriterfella says, "Arrogance and self-awareness are opposing quantities, according to Carl Jung." I really don't think Jung said that. According to what I can discover from the internet, M (Judi Dench) said something similar in Casino Royale, 2006 -- although from the references to it on the 'net, you'd think it had the weight of a statement by Jung.
ReplyDelete