Sociology and the Multicultural Individual
[ send me this paper ]
5 pages. This paper focuses on a hypothetical person who is half Native American and half Caucasian from a sociological perspective. The paper describes her life, the people around her, what she does and how the sociological impact of being of two cultures impacts her life in general. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: JGAnatam.rtf

Some Legal Aspects of Hoover Dam
[ send me this paper ]
A 5 page paper discussing the federal government's efforts to reduce the sheep and goat herds of the Navajo Indians in the early 1930s in environmental concern about the contribution of silt to the reservoir that would be created by the Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam brought much improvement to life in the Southwest in terms of electrification, flood control, water availability and irrigation, but in many respects it did so at the expense of the Navajo people and the Navajo way of life, and largely with impunity. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: KSlawHoovDam.rtf

Spanish Administration in the Americas in the Sixteenth Century
[ send me this paper ]
A 10 page overview of the way the Spanish administered their colonial holdings in the so-called New World. The author details the subjugation and exploitation the Spanish attempted to exert on the indigenous inhabitants of their new holdings. Bibliography lists 12 sources.
Filename: PPspainA.rtf

Stereotypical Portrayals and the Underlying Theme of Capitalism in "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
[ send me this paper ]
A 6 page contention that the story revealed in James Fennimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans" is essentially the same as that revealed in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Both authors, although sympathetic to their respective characters plight, tend to employee stereotyping to convey their points which in reality is little different from the damaging stereotypical images we have held throughout history of both Blacks and Native Americans. While the characters have changed from red to black, societal oppression, aided by a stereotypical view of people who differ from the mainstream, is pivotal to the plot of both of these great classics. No additional sources are listed.
Filename: PPnaMohi.wps

Storytelling in Two Native American Novels
[ send me this paper ]
This 5 page paper examines Ghost dancing by Anna Linzer and House made of dawn by N. Scott Momaday to see how these different Native authors tell their stories. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: HVLinMom.rtf

Structural Functionalist Themes in “Black Elk Speaks”
[ send me this paper ]
This is a 5 page paper discussing structural functionalism in relation to themes presented in “Black Elk Speaks”. “Black Elk Speaks” as told through John G. Neihardt portrays several social and religious aspects of the Sioux while they are faced with their own destruction by the invasion of the white men. Black Elk, a holy man, provides commentary on the structure of the individuals within his own tribe through a vision he has which includes himself, all the levels in his tribe, all the men, women, children, warriors and the spirits of their ancestors. This vision and faith in their structure allows Black Elk and his tribe hope in their negotiations with the intrusion of the white man. Structural functionalism also deals with the evolution of social and religious forces which shape social and religious roles within a community and the slow religious transition and inclusion of the Catholic Mission into the lives of the Sioux allows for Black Elk as a religious leader to promote the cohesiveness of his tribe while remaining within the restrictive new laws of the country. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TJNBElk1.rtf

Suicide Among Canadian Aboriginal Youths: Rates, Causes, and Solutions
[ send me this paper ]
This is a 10 page paper discussing the high rate of suicide among Canadian Aboriginal youths and the possible causes and solutions to the problems. The suicide rate among Canadian Aboriginals living on reservations is more than twice the Canadian average of non-Aboriginals with the largest rate recorded for young Native males. Half the Native communities living in the Northern areas of Canada report suicide as one of the major problems in their community. The causes for the high rates of suicides among Aboriginals seem to relate to the historical treatment of the Natives which through the Canadian government’s attempt at assimilation, the Aboriginals lost ties with their traditional ways of healing and self-government and eventually the means to remain economically stable. These factors led to a high unemployment rate, overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions among many other negative factors which in turn led to an increase in the number of mental and physical disorders such as depression, and alcohol and substance abuse. Within the last decade, several reports from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and other Aboriginal-based task forces have outlined possible positive solutions for the recovery of the Aboriginal communities which will hopefully reverse the high suicide rates. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: TJftnat1.rtf

Suicide And The Native American
[ send me this paper ]
Native Americans are not culturally predisposed to suicide. They are, however, at high risk for suicide as a result of both social and physical factors. This 5 page paper explores a number of different factors that contribute to the high rate of suicide among Native Americans. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: KTindian.wps

Summary and Critical Analysis of Arthur J. Ray’s article “Fur Trade History as an Aspect of Native History”
[ send me this paper ]
This is a 3 page paper discussing Arthur J. Ray’s article “Fur Trade History as an Aspect of Native History”. Arthur J. Ray’s article “Fur Trade History as an Aspect of Native History”, presents the reader with an alternative perspective in regards to the fur trade and the relationship between the Natives and the Europeans in early Canadian history. While Ray does not deny the Europeans exploited the Natives throughout history, he nevertheless presents an argument which suggests the possibility that the Natives were not “unintelligent” in their trading methods and indeed controlled a great deal of the competition and the quality of the merchandise traded through the Hudson’s Bay Company. Ray presents good examples and documentation from the 18th century which provides good evidence for his argument, however economically it is clear that despite the important roles the Natives played in the onset of the process, the Europeans nevertheless overcome the influence of the Natives negating most of the argument proposed by Ray. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Filename: TJfurtr1.rtf

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 Black Hills: The Oglala Sioux Land Claim
[ send me this paper ]
A 3 page consideration of the contras that has existed between the Oglala Sioux's regard for the Black Hills and the U.S. government's regard for the region. The Black Hills of South Dakota are a sacred place for the Oglala Sioux. They are also a highly valuable place from an economic perspective and are thus the subject of considerable dissension between the Oglala and the non-Natives that are struggling to control them. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: PPnaBlHl.rtf

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 Case Against Leonard Peltier
[ send me this paper ]
This paper explores the Leonard Peltier murder case from all perspectives, focusing on the following: leonardpeltier.org, noparolepeltier.com, U.S. v. Peltier, the FBI's defense, Robert Redford and Michael Apted's film, and various other critics and commentators on the incident. Sections include intro, background, Peltier's case, FBI case, and the court case. Bibliography lists 13 sources. JVpelter.rtf
Filename: JVpelter.rtf

The Cherokee and the Trail of Tears
[ send me this paper ]
A 4 page discussion of the injustices inflicted during the early nineteenth century to the Cherokee people. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPnachertrail.rtf

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 Circumstances Leading Up to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
[ send me this paper ]
A 14 page discussion of the many injustices which were dealt to Native Americans in the early history of this country. Assimilation policies, particularly those involving the taking of Native children and placing them in boarding schools or in non-Native homes, were particularly abhorrent. The ICWA is a step in the right direction for preventing the extinction of Native Americans as a whole. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Filename: PPnaChWl.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

The Creek Indians: Culture and Custom
[ send me this paper ]
A 12 page overview of the traditional culture of the Creek Indians and how this culture has suffered after contact with Europeans. Outlines such customs as familial relationships, the importance of clans, and the role of women. Concludes that although the Creeks have been largely assimilated into mainstream White culture they have managed to retain some semblance of their traditional cultures. Bibliography lists 11 sources.
Filename: PPnaCrk.wps

The Decline of Native American Culture
[ send me this paper ]
A 5 page overview of the factors which have affected Native American culture. Defines Native American culture as being composed of a number of distinctive components. Relates the concern that while the number of Native Americans may be increasing, the cultures of many groups are being lost as they associate more and more with mainstream white America. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPnaDstr.wps

The Definition Of 'Native American'
[ send me this paper ]
Provides a 7 page overview of the various factors which are used to determine whether or not a person is indeed a Native American. Stresses the importance of what is in the heart rather than phylogenetic or stereotypical images of what a 'true' Native American is. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: Nawho.wps

The Development of the Native American in the Field of Entertainment
[ send me this paper ]
A 4 page paper which examines the development of the Native American in the field of entertainment: films. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: RAntamth.rtf

The Eskimo Spirit in Death
[ send me this paper ]
(6 pp). One of greatest human fears is death. We superstitiously think that if we don't talk about it, we do not have to deal with it, but according to Purnell's Model for Cultural Competence, mourning, death and its attending rituals are commonalities which all humans share. This discussion will examine death and its rituals among Eskimos . Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: BBeskimo.doc

The Eskimo Spirit Never Dies.
[ send me this paper ]
(6 pp).One of the greatest human fears is death. We superstitiously think that if we don't talk about it, we do not have to deal with it, but according to Purnell's Model for Cultural Competence, mourning, death and its attending rituals are commonalities which all humans share. This discussion will examine death and its rituals among Eskimos . Bibliography lists 7 sources - 2 visuals.
Filename: BBeskmoR.doc

The European Perception of and Impact to Native Americans
[ send me this paper ]
A 4 page discussion of the ways Native Americans and Europeans differed and how these differences translated into differences in survivability in the Americas. Although initially they had the advantage, it was the Native Americans that were forced to change in regard to their lifeways and even their spirituality. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: PPnaenveurwmn.rtf

The Evolution of Laws Protecting Archaeological Resources and Native American Graves
[ send me this paper ]
A 6 page overview of the laws that have been implemented to protect Native American antiquities and human remains. The author traces the legislative effort from the 1906 Antiquities Act through the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, and the California Native American Graves and Repatriation Act of 2001. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPnaGraves.rtf

The Expansion of Cattle Ranching in the West
[ send me this paper ]
An 8 page overview of the initiation of cattle ranching in the West. Traces the history of this land use from the Spanish land grants to the Treaty of Guadelupe Hildalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, in which Mexico ceded Arizona,California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming to the United States. Continues in the history through the opening of the Cherokee strip in Oklahoma. Emphasizes that cattle ranching can have many adverse impacts in addition to its positive ones. Notes the displacement of indigenous peoples and animals which occurred as ancillary impacts to the expansion of cattle ranching in the West. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPranch.wps

The Games and Myth of the Maya
[ send me this paper ]
A 7 page overview of the importance of Maya game and myth. The author contends that game and myth alike provide incredible insight into social customs, history, religion, spirit concerns and numerous other aspects of the people from whom it is spawned. Includes a one page Roman Numeral outline. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: PPmayaGm.rtf

The Great Dying
[ send me this paper ]
5 pages in length. The Great Dying is historically known as a period of time two hundred and fifty-one million years ago where the earth suffered significant and overwhelming devastation. The most intriguing aspect about this mass extinction of plant and animal life is that scientists still have no concrete evidence why such a phenomenon occurred. That the planet lost more than ninety percent of all marine plant and animal life, as well as nearly seventy percent of all land species, makes one ponder the underlying spiritual reasons for such havoc. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TLCgrtdy.wps

The Healing Properties of Native American Tradition
[ send me this paper ]
An 11 page overview of the importance of Native American tradition in healing Native American people and securing their place in modern society. This book uses examples from Eden Robinson’s “Monkey Beach”. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: PPnaShamanTrad.rtf

The Histiographical Debate Concerning Native American Survivability as Related to Land Ethic Verses That of Europeans During Colonial Times in the Americas
[ send me this paper ]
A 15 page address of the question which has occupied historians for centuries, why were Native Americans not only able to survive but to thrive in a land where European colonists would at first flounder and many times perish? The author of this paper explores various sides of the debate to conclude that the speculations as to why this was the case vary dramatically and, although there is no singular answer, the distinction in the way that Native Americans and Europeans related with the land appears to be important. Bibliography lists 18 sources.
Filename: PPnaLnd.rtf

The Historical Decimation of Native American Culture and Lifeways
[ send me this paper ]
A 4 page outline of the many injustices that were dealt the Native American peoples by those that invaded their lands. Many Native American groups have actually been wiped off the face of the earth by those that sought land, resources, and wealth in the Americas. Other Native American groups have endured centuries of torment at the hands of peoples that for the most part considered them subhuman. Native Americans have been forced off their traditional lands and confined on reservations that limited not only their traditional lifeways but also their spirit and their culture. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPnaGen2.rtf

The History of Lacrosse: From the Native American Stickball Game to the Game We Know Today
[ send me this paper ]
A 9 page overview of the game Lacrosse. Traces the game from its origin among the Native Americans to the present day. Details the spiritual meaning of the game to Native Americans as well as its history among the non-Natives in their relations with Natives. Outlines the evolution in gear, rules, and playing fields. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: PPlacros.wps

The Impact of European Diseases on the Native American
[ send me this paper ]
A 10 page exploration of the impacts of European introduced disease on the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas. Examines both biological and cultural reasons for the susceptibility of the Native peoples to these diseases. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: Nadiseas.wps

The Impacts of Christianity on Zitkala Sa, A Yankton Sioux
[ send me this paper ]
A 3 page discussion of the life and literary contributions of this nineteenth and early twentieth century Native American woman. A noted lecturer and writer, Zitkala would take many aspects of the white world to task. Her most resented target, however, was Christianity itself. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Filename: PPnaLtZt.rtf

The Impacts of Diabetes on Native Americans
[ send me this paper ]
An 8 page overview of the problem of diabetes among Native American populations. The author provides statistics delineating the extent of this problem and suggests areas of intervention for medical personnel as well as social workers. Bibliography lists 12 sources.
Filename: PPnaDiab.rtf

The Impacts of History and Culture on Reading Level and Language Acquisition Among Native American Students
[ send me this paper ]
A 5 page discussion of the historical and cultural factors explaining differences in reading comprehension and language acquisition between Native American students and mainstream students. Suggests that these differences revolve around differences in cultural schemata and differences in motivation. Utilized research in education to substantiate this suggestion. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: PPnaRead.wps

The Indigenous Women of Latin America: Factors Impacting Human Rights
[ send me this paper ]
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