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When oil was discovered on Navajo land in the 1920's, the Navajo council voted unanimously (75-0) to not lease Navajo lands to Standard Oil
In response, the Bureau of Indian Affairs created a new council to force the vote on a policy to sign away all leasing authority over to the BIA.
John Collier, who headed the Livestock Reduction Act of 1933, proposed the Reorganization Act, which targeted the assimilation policies, but was rejected due to the nation's hatred of him.
The Act would have set up corporate tribal councils as advisory bodies to the Indian Bureau |
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| what policy impacted sheep farming for Navajo in 1933? |
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The Bureau of Indian Affairs aimed to reduce sheep stock by 45% by the 1950's, starting with a 10% decrease= bad for family farms
Reinforced by destroying sheep and threatening non-compliance from Navajo farmers with jail.
Welfare was implemented to keep Navajo families from starving to death
Government gave herding licenses but only to men, ignoring that traditionally women are in charge of sheep and finances, causing families to break apart and older women to starve and live in poverty |
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| How is uranium mining a form of genocide? |
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Revenues from uranium mining increased 10 fold between 1950-1954
Mining on the reservation was cheap due to exploitation of Navajo labor, who had little alternative at that point, no safety or pollution regulations, and taxes.
Former Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley JR. described uranium mining as "genocide"
From a statistical standpoint, the Three Mile Island accident of Pennsylvania is actually the second most significant nuclear accident in United States History, the first is Church Rock, NM.
94 million gallons of radioactive waste contaminated the Rio Puerco River during a colossal dam break. The resulting death toll due to radiation poisoning and cancer continued silently over 30 years.
Livestock, crops, and peach trees died and drinking water became contaminated
radiation levels within the unregulated mine was 90 times the legal level, leaving most Navajo even in proximity to the mine and spill sick with cancer.
Children who played in the water were inflicted with sores produced by contact with toxic waste and eventually died of cancer or radiation poisoning.
The Navajo never knew the dangers of radiation until decades later.
uranium mining was finally banned in Navajo territory 2005. |
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| key points of "Iroquois influence debate" |
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Participation of Iroquois:
bicameral legislature with senators and representatives, women's suffrage, right of popular nomination, right of recall, and the idea for equal representation in nations or states were all practiced by the Iroquois
The early colonists looked to advice and examples from the Iroquois nation to unite against Britain. Hence why they dressed as Mohawks as a symbolic gesture during the Boston Tea Party |
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| Key points by Donald Grinde and Bruce Johansen on Iroquois influence on democracy |
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1744: Canassatego advised the colonies to unite as the Iroquois had, symbolically breaking an arrow while demonstrating how difficult it is to break all arrows
On the back of the dollar bill, the US's seal shows an eagle (the symbol of the Pine Confederacy) holding thirteen arrows.
Franklin attended Iroquois condolence ceremony to better understand the Iroquois league at a treaty conference
1754: Franklin proposes the Albany plan of union to the colonists with the presence of Iroquois at the meeting as they and other native Americans already functioned in the same way
While some Native Americans camped on the State House Lawn, the sachems (chiefs) of the Iroquois were housed on the 2nd floor of the house to witness the framing of the constitution.
Backlash:
renowned anthropologists attacked supporters of the Iroquois influence theory, barring them from jobs, denying them grants for research, and strong-arming publishers into refusing their works for fear of backlash from elite academics. |
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| Why is sheep herding important to the Navajo? |
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Economy:
wool used to make Navajo blankets- money often made by women who used it to support their families
Cultural tradition:
paying singer fees
feeding guests at ceremonies
prestige and wealth of family judged by size and health of herd
Central to kin ties:
women make blankets for sons, husbands etc.
pass knowledge onto daughters
validated marriages
extended families shared grazing with women in charge of sheep
source of meaning in life, staying close to family, sustaining ancient customs |
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| How did the Oklahoma land rush and statehood impact the Cherokee? |
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In 1907, was officially the 46th state, officially dissolving the then-prospering Cherokee nation and revoking all sovereignty from the tribe.
The Cherokee Chief was appointed for 60 years by the United States government without the consent or consideration of the tribe
Indian territory, businesses, and homesteads were handed to whites while the Cherokee were left impoverished and homeless.
Remaining Cherokee land was divided into small parcels and given to families, reducing the land further and causing many Cherokee to take a stand and inhabit rural, unclaimed land and refusing per capita payments from the government.
allottees were divided into three classes: whites, freedmen, and mixed-bloods less than 1/2. All others were subject to restrictions and the act resulted in 12 million acres of land open to tax and sell as well as complete control over indian administration |
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| Mostly practiced by plains cultures including black foot and arapaho. groups of members around the same age transition through life together through ceremonial stages, almost like graduating classes. This includes puberty rites of passage. |
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Deganawidah's teachings: A Huron-born member of Mohawk nation taught all human beings are rational, not suicidal or homicidal by nature. Logic may prevail.
Major goal: governments of human beings dedicated to the principle that not human being has the right to abuse another
Hiawatha- Onondaga-born Mohawk who gains supporters for Deganawidah
The result: uniting the five warring Iroquois nations and laying the grounds for a fair system of settling disputes, strengthening the nations until they were powerful with a well-established government. |
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| Brief summary: Part of Deganawidah's law of peace, officially recognizes the long-standing blood feuds between five major warring nations and outlaws violent behavior. In place of blood feuding was the "condolence ceremony" or a system of compensation for the kin of the deceased. each nation retained sovereignty through representation by 10 confederate chiefs per tribe to resolve conflicts and unite in defense against enemies. |
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Onondaga: led by Tadadaho the Firekeeper represented the executive branch
Mohawk and Seneca formed "Elder Brothers" (senate) and Oneida and Cayuga formed "Younger Brothers" (house of representatives) to make legislative branch
Chiefs were meant to be servants to the people, women's suffrage, states with a state, and the pursuit of dreams and goals were all parts of the confederacy. |
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| Defence of the Constitution |
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| 1787 handbook by John Adams used by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in which Adams urges colonists to look to the government of modern Indians and their separation of powers through legislation. |
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| Women's Suffrage and Iroquois Influence |
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| Like many Native American cultures, the Iroquois were matrilineal |
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