Native American Cultural Artifacts

Native Americans have existed in the different regions-the plains, mountains, marshes- of the North American continent- long before the United States existed. Yet, most were not treated with the respect and dignity that the white American settlers were given. Viewed as outlandish and savage by white settlers, series of negotiations to “correct” the Indian way of life were implemented- through forced relocation, war, and assimilation into white culture. Those who stood up against the American government were viewed as beacons of hope by their fellow Native Americans. Many Native American traditions still exist today, but unfortunately most of them have been lost along with their people.

At first, it came as a surprise to me that there are still many tribes who are trying to become federally recognized and colonize land again just like before to continue their culture and identity. By now, I would had imagined that the Native Americans are at peace and can continue their traditions. However, I have come to discover that Natives Americans are still fighting for social justice when they have existed here way before Christopher Columbus discovered their land and called them, Indians. The impact that these social justice issues has on me is that the issues in which Native Americans face cannot be entirely solved. It is an impossible action to fix.

By 1940, Native Americans had experienced many changes and counter-changes in their legal status in the United States. Over the course of the nineteenth century, most tribes lost part or all of their ancestral lands and were forced to live on reservations. Following the American Civil War, the federal government abrogated most of the tribes’ remaining sovereignty and required communal lands to be allotted to individuals. The twentieth century also saw great changes for Native Americans, such as the Citizenship Act and the Indian New Deal. Alison R. Bernstein examines how the Second World War affected the status and lives of Native Americans in American Indians and World War II: Toward a New Era in Indian Affairs. Bernstein argues

Long ago on the great plains, the buffalo roamed and the Native Americans lived amongst each other. They were able to move freely across the lands until the white men came and concentrated them into certain areas. Today there are more than five-hundred different tribes with different beliefs and history. Native Americans still face problems about the horrific history they went through and today 's discrimination. The removal of American Indian tribes is one of the most tragic events in American history. There are many treaties that have been signed by American representatives and people of Indian tribes that guaranteed peace and the values of the Indian territories. The treaties were to assure that fur trade would continue without interruption. The American people wanting Indian land has led to violent conflict between the two. Succeeding treaties usually forced the tribes to give up their land to the United States government. There were laws made for Native American Displacement that didn’t benefit the Native Americans, these laws still have long lasting effects on them today, and there was a huge number of Native Americans killed for many reasons.

During the end of the nineteenth century, the United States had formed policies which reduced land allotted to Native Americans. By enforcing these laws as well as Anglo-American ideals, the United States compromised indigenous people’s culture and ability to thrive in its society.

“Last Rights for Indian Dead” by Suzan Shown Harjo is an essay written that describes the desecration of Native American artifacts and remains and the call for action to put an end it. Harjo touches on the effects that the harboring and selling of these items causes. She speaks about the universities and the museums and their role in the problem; housing thousands of remains. One museum she speaks of houses over 19,000 remains. She also describes the desecration brought on by thieves digging up burial sites and taking what is not theirs.

These issues with museums and other institutions has led many tribes to not only protest these collections and demand the most sacred items back, but to also develop their own institution that not only tell the real story of their people from a non scientific point of view, but also show the proper resect for the sacred and religious artifacts. Religious sights and objects are a piece of many different groups culture, many of which require a certain level of respect. Within the United States Native American groups are reclaiming these objects for their own

While the oppression of NAs goes back many centuries, NA assimilation into society was not entirely enforced until after WWII ended (CITE). After which came the Indian Termination (IT) policies, which were a series of laws in the 1940s to 1950s, forcing NA tribes to, “...subsume into the larger white society” (John J., et al. 968). The IT process began in June of 1940, and consisted of various acts granting state level

This essay presents a brief history of Californian Indigenous people. It also showcases a history behind the evolution of Federal Recognition and the Termination policy. In addition, it presents the history and explains what is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is. It then examines the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria giving a brief history. It also discusses the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria’s termination due to the Termination policy and California Rancheria Act of the 1950s. It also discusses the importance of regaining federal recognition applied to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Archaeologists can’t just possess any Native American material on their own for research purposes without the consultation of the Native American tribes. To the Native Americans, the past is connected to present. Rebecca Tsosie, a law professor from the Arizona State University mentioned that “The past is very real to contemporary Indian people ans is preserved in oral histories and ongoing ceremonial practices and beliefs.”(66). The native people feel that they’re obligated to take care of their past, they have to honor their ancestors no matter how long ago they have passed away. They believe that they should have the right to stop any behaviors that might desecrate their ancestors. It is very understandable that one might not appreciate someone digging up their grandparents and perform research without permission. Especially to people who practices a religion, this action may be interpreted as the archaeologists trying to disturb the spirits of their ancestors. Not only the remains and objects are important to the Natives, but also their land. Land was considered to be a gift given from the Creator. Just like the ancestral remains the descendants are responsible for their sacred land. It is believed that “The land is complete with sacred teachings, marked by tribal history, and places of interrelations to the powerful beings of the nature-spirit world.” (Champagne). The Native Americans do not have the need to know the truth, all they care is to ensure spiritual peace to their ancestors and to pass on the legacy of their own

Reparation plans have been an ongoing debate for over 100 years. Albeit a lot of the debate is relating the hardships the Native Americans of the “Manifest Destiny” as a direct result of white immigration west,

The repatriation process set up by NAGPRRA requires federal agencies and museums to identify items in their possession that are subject to the law and make inventories and summaries of them, they then must consult with lineal descendants and Indian tribes regarding the identification and cultural affiliation of the items, finally the agencies and museums must send notices to the appropriate group describing the lineal descendancy or culture affiliation and stating that the item may be repatriated. The law provides federal grants to assist with the process of documentation and repatriation of the items. NAGPRA also sets up a review committee to monitor and resolve disputes consisting of three Native American nominees, three nominees from scientific organizations or museums, and one mutually approved nomination. In addition, there are steps provided to follow for unclaimed items, unidentifiable items, intentional and inadvertent discoveries on both federal and tribal land. Penalties for noncompliance and illegal trafficking are also set up through the law. NAGPRA does not prohibit all scientific study or mandate the repatriation of the human remains and other cultural items subject to its coverage. What the law does do is provide

Authorizing the president to exchange unsettled land west of the Mississippi for Indian land within state borders, the Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. Being pursued for nearly thirty years, the relocation of the Indians was desired primarily for pecuniary advantages and the termination of the contention between white settlers and “dangerous” Native Americans. While some tribes accepted their inevitable fate, many resisted and faced harsh government and social brutality. As a result, Jackson’s presidential administration is tainted by the 4,000 lives lost on the Trail of Tears, the separation of the Native Americans from their ancestral lands and cultural ties, and the condemnation of the Native people

Historically, the United States government began a relationship with individual American nations. The government developed contracts that negotiated land agreements. The American Indian nations gave up their homelands in exchange for protection provided by the United States government. A connection based on trust was established so that each party could fulfill their obligations. However, problems struck when one group failed to attain their responsibilities. Repayment is a priority Indians need to receive in order to regain integrity. Native Americans should receive compensation for the historical effects, cultural and social reform, and lack of financial restitution.

With the federal government’s support, many Native tribes have constructed Native Governments and Corporations where the rights to land and money are placed to their own responsibility. What this actually means is that the rights of the people’s land and monetary bonds are transferred from governmental trust to