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Kinaalda and Quinceanera, 2008.
A description and comparison of the Navajo initiation ceremony known as Kinaalda and the Quinceanos celebration, the traditional way for Hispanic Catholics to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday.
1,063 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
This paper describes the Kinaalda, literally, "puberty ceremony," which celebrates a Navajo girl's transition to womanhood, and explains the symbolism of the ritual. The writer then discusses the Latin American ceremony called the Quinceanos, which is a religious celebration of a girl becoming a woman on her 15th birthday, and its origin. The paper concludes that although the two rituals differ in costume and ceremonies, essentially the goal of both the Kinaalda and the Quinceanera ritual is to formally introduce a girl to her role in society as a future wife and mother.
From the Paper
"The Kinaalda reinforces a Navajo's culture and society and is a symbol of self-identity and world-view. During the ceremony, natural subjects are chosen from the environment and food stores to reinforce the Navajo view of how a girl changes into a woman and what her role is in life. Music is utilized by the entire tribe, and songs are sung inside the hogan, outside and in other locations during different parts of the ceremony. Dance is utilized by the tribeswomen and by the Kinaalda herself, as she runs in a large circle, representing freedom and containment, world and family. The Kinaalda may run by herself or children may accompany her."
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Navajo and European Witchcraft, 2008.
A comparison of the background and characteristics of Navajo and European witchcraft.
1,283 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 43.95
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Abstract
This paper explores some of the similarities and differences between Navajo and European witchcraft. It discusses the background of each form of witchcraft and includes a discussion of the different cultures and geographical locations that influence the practice of witchcraft. It also looks at the characteristics of each form of witchcraft and how they differ.
Table of Contents:
Navajo Background
Navajo Traditions in Witchcraft
European Witchcraft
The Similarities and Differences Between Navajo and European Witchcraft
From the Paper
"First, the Navajo by way of their Asian traditions from an ancient time, pursued stories of creation and the end of life, and compensated for those things which they did not understand or which mystified them with stories, prayers, and rituals. To the extent that they could not fully understand or explain something, they turned to shamans, or holy men, to explain those things for them; or, by way of ritual and prayer, to protect The People from them unknowns which might harm or adversely impact their lives. This is found to be much the same in the European tradition, as Europeans, like the Navajo, have traditions and rituals that were rooted in pagan eras and addressed those things about the world and universe that could not be explained or understood by the majority of the people."
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"The Last of the Mohicans", 2008.
An analysis of the race relations in "The Last of the Mohicans" by James F. Cooper.
1,081 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how the overriding theme in Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans" is really one of the innate belief in white supremacy and that race's need to posses the entire continent. The paper explains that the prevailing consciousness at the time the novel was written was about white privilege and this is represented in Cooper's tales.
From the Paper
"Residing in the literary genre of the Romance novel, Cooper's work, the Last of the Mohicans' dominant backdrop is that of an adventure in the wilderness and the historical context of the siege and massacre of Fort William Henry in 1757. The overriding theme is civilization versus nature, or the war between instinct and reason. However, the undercurrent Cooper evokes is the feelings of his times regarding the white privilege of manifest destiny."
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Using Institutions to Change Culture and Society, 2007.
A review of "Ancient Society" and "League of the Iroquois," by Lewis H. Morgan.
1,588 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 3 sources, APA, $ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses Lewis H. Morgan's ideas about changing the Iroquois institutions of his day in his works "Ancient Society" and "League of the Iroquois," and how those changes would have reshaped Iroquois society and challenged Iroquois culture. The writer concludes that had Morgan's vision for the Iroquois become reality much of the rich Iroquois culture would have simply been assimilated into white civilization.
Outline
Objective
Introduction
Morgan's Desire for the Iroquois Nation
Education and Employment
Fox's View on Morgan's Position on the Iroquois
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper
"Lewis H. Morgan spent a great deal of time documenting the life of the Iroquois and recorded this information in the work entitled: "The League of the Iroquois". In this work, Morgan reflects his thoughts upon the Iroquois society, both in terms of the Indians, as they existed and in terms of his hopes for the Iroquois nation of Indians."
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Museum of Native-American Art, 2008.
This paper discusses a proposal for a historical museum in Montana.
1,002 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper presents a plan for a museum of Native-American history and art that will be located in Montana. The paper outlines the staff to be hired and the budget to be allocated. The geographical attractions, vegetation and economy in the State of Montana are also discussed.
From the Paper
"The National Congress of American Indians already has a collection of Native American art and artifacts, which it wishes to display and includes hundreds of thousands of art items in four major collection areas. A building to house the museum already exists in Billings, ready for the museum to move into and the director has been chosen. What remains is for staff to be hired and the budget allocated. Staff qualifications for curators and managers are that they have at least a B.A. in art history, museum studies, studio art, library science, or relevant field. Experience will be considered in lieu of a degree."
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How American Civilization Was Formed, 2008.
A comparison of James Axtell's "The Invasion Within: The Contest of Cultures in Colonial North America" and William Cronon's "Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England".
2,165 words (approx. 8.7 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 67.95
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Abstract
The paper compares how James Axtell and William Cronon analyze in their respective works, "The Invasion Within: The Contest of Cultures in Colonial North America" and "Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England", the essential aspects of the first interaction between the Native-American peoples of North America and the Europeans that colonized them. The paper explains that both authors aim to analyze the way in which this first contact between the Natives and their colonizers influenced the future development of America as a nation. The paper shows how Axtell focuses on the spiritual history of the two nations, while Cronon concentrates on the outer, external aspects of the meeting between the Natives and the colonizers. The paper posits that although the two authors manage their argumentation very well and make very interesting points about the history of the colonization, Cronon's book seems more remarkable in terms of argumentation and originality.
From the Paper
"Axtell's book, as its title indicates, focuses on the way in which the three main ethnicities, the Native Indians, the English and the French attempted a mutual conversion, each struggling to impose its cultural identity over the identity of the other. Axtell thus advocates that ethnohistory is the best instrument for the examination of the confluence between the three cultures, Indian, English and French. He focuses therefore on the way in which each of the three nations perceived the others, and how they struggled to impose their own views over the others. "
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"Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma", 2008.
An examination of the reconstruction of the life of Pocahontas in Camilla Townsend's book, "Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma."
939 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the historian Camilla Townsend's new book, "Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma", in which she attempts to shed some light upon the history behind the myth of Pocahontas. It discusses Townsend's reconstruction of the life of Pocahontas and the difficulties that she faced in doing so. It also looks at Townsend's attitudes to the early Jamestown settlers.
From the Paper
"Townsend admits that in reconstructing the life of Pocahontas, she faces many difficulties, including the fact that Pocahontas came from a non-literate society that left no formal records, and that the settlement of Jamestown and the records of Smith cannot always be relied upon as a true and fair depiction of what Indians were 'like' at this time. However, she believes that the relationship of the tribes of the area were more complex than that of two people who were at war, who suddenly were brought to a truce by Pocahontas. Sometimes, the Indians would provide the colonists with food, as the people of Jamestown were struggling in the new climate and the demands the settlement made upon their fortitude, although for a time Powhatan began to kill the men who openly came begging for food, in an attempt to make the colonists go home (96)."
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The Black Mesa Coal Mine, 2008.
This paper examines the conflict regarding the Black Mesa Coal Mine in Northern Arizona.
1,794 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 8 sources, APA, $ 57.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the Black Mesa coal mine site and the battle over the rights of the Hopi and Navajo native peoples to protect their sacred lands and the Peabody power company's wish to expand operations. The paper explains this issue as the struggle for a balance between the needs of the more developed areas and the needs of the Native Americans. The paper further explains that this is an issue of protecting the environment's resources as well as dealing with the issue of how the Peabody company receives water for virtually nothing and therefore wastes this resource.
From the Paper
"The Black Mesa Coal Mine is in Northern Arizona and is owned by the Peabody Coal Mining Company, which leases the land from the Hopi and Navajo tribes under an agreement from 1964. There are actually two mines in the ore, both owned by the same power company under the same agreement, one at Black Mesa and the other at Kayenta, with each mine providing coal for a different power plant. The site today is the focus of a battle over the right to protect sacred lands and to maintain the way of life associated with that land and the desire on the part of the power company to expand operations and to make the lease permanent for the life of the mine."
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The People Who Lived There First, 2008.
A discussion on the similarities between the native American population in the American West and the indigenous people of Brazil.
3,268 words (approx. 13.1 pages), 10 sources, APA, $ 93.95
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Abstract
The paper addresses the Native American population in the American West and compares it with the indigenous people of Brazil. The paper states that while many people may feel as though there are no commonalities between these two groups, there actually are many that can be addressed. The paper highlights the fact that both of these groups have been displaced from what was rightfully theirs by others for reasons beyond their control. The paper then discusses the reasons that this has happened to both groups of people and concludes by indicating that these problems come from too many people and not enough resources. The paper states that this is something that will continue to be an issue well into the future.
Outline:
Introduction
The Native Americans
Brazil's Indigenous People
Comparison and Conclusion
From the Paper
"Where the Native Americans and the Brazilian indigenous people were concerned it appears that there were both accidental and deliberate problems that were caused by the settlers. Accidental problems include many of the changes that the countries and the people went through when the settlers arrived. Even if the settlers tried to make peace with the indigenous people and become their friends there were still unforeseen issues that took place. The main one of these was the threat of disease. Both the European settlers that went to Brazil and the settlers that arrived in America brought diseases with them that the people in other lands were not used to. Because of this they had no natural immunity to these diseases and suffered from them, many times to the point of death."
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Dine Cosmology, 2008.
A discussion on Dine cosmology, its structure and philosophical concepts.
886 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses Dine cosmology and how it is structured. It describes Dine as a homology and shows how Dine holds that all elements derive from a common source. The paper discusses the roles of baskets, hooghans and textiles and then shows how they represent universal structures, elements, colors, numbers, shapes and forms within Dine belief.
From the Paper
"Without the strict binaries that characterize the cosmologies of other cultures, the Dine propose a more integrated vision of the universe. The breath of life permeates everything, and life is cyclical and eternal. Death means only a transition from one phase of life or one form of life to another. Upon death, the same basic elements of creation continue to characterize life and that individual. The number four is structural and represents not only the four elements of moisture, air, substance and heat but also the four cardinal directions and the movement of the sun throughout the year. Directionality and the compas points denote the sacred geography that characterizes the Navajoland and Dine cosmos. As a result, the hooghan is constructed with four main structural poles. Each pole corresponds to a direction with the entrance of the house always in the east. The poles create special sections within the hooghan that are also linked to sacred geography and directionality. A fifth pole flanks the doorway, demarcating the presence of the fifth element."
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The Hopi, 2008.
Examines the agriculture of the Hopi.
810 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 28.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, as a collective endeavor, agriculture required that the Hopi work together under the guidance of ancestral wisdom. The author describes that the cultivation of corn and other crops was no small feat in the desert especially during summer months when rainfall was scarce. The paper concludes that, with life so intimately connected with land, the sacred aspects of agriculture permeated the everyday Hopi life.
From the Paper
"Rains and moisture are integral to the survival of the corn and of the clan. Thus, Hopi venerated clouds as ancestral spirits and created kachinas (O'mau kachinato) honor them. Cloud figures pepper Hopi iconography and the Hopi distinguished between different types of clouds to distinguish those that deliver the blessing of rain from those that simply flank the sky. Cloud kachinas essentially "wear" the clouds on their headdress, and cloud imagery also decorates their sash and garment."
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The Religion of Consumerism, 2008.
A discussion on how some people feel that dissatisfaction or unhappiness can be instantly cured by by shopping.
959 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 34.95
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Abstract
This paper compares the religion of the Lakota Indians to the religion of consumerism. The paper notes that the Lakota Indians lived, and still do live, simple lives whose religion focuses on the connection to nature. In contrast, the religion of today, or consumerism, holds that the purpose of life is to consume as much as possible, at all costs. This paper particularly looks at how the religious traditions of the Lakota are about learning how to live as one with nature. Whereas, in consumerism, instead of seeking happiness through spiritual betterment, consumerism simply allows one to purchase happiness.
Outline:
1. What does it mean to be human?
2. What is the basic human problem?
3. What is the cause of the problem?
4. What is the end or goal of transformation?
5. What are the means of transformation?
6. What is the nature of reality?
7. What is the sacred and how may the sacred be known?
From the Paper
"The cause of the problem is that the religion of consumerism has taken human outside the traditional cycles of good and bad, birth and death, and harmony versus disharmony. By contrast, consumerism simply creates the problem of "what don't I have that I should have". Unlike other religions, which create a connection to either nature (Lakota) or a divine being, consumerism makes a connection between the individual and the artificial. Instead of seeking happiness through spiritual betterment, consumerism simply allows one to purchase happiness. The result is the problem: that humans loose the connection to what it means to be human. Instead consumerism creates a new definition of what it means to be human, an artificial meaning that simply defines being human with being a consumer."
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The Legitimacy of the Indian Wars, 2008.
A review of the conflicts between native Americans and colonists.
2,372 words (approx. 9.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the conflicts between native Americans and colonists in terms of the moral legitimacy of warfare. The paper states that the end result of these conflicts are clear; it led to the deaths of thousands of native Americans and the eventual disappearance of the majority of the native American tribes within North America. The paper argues that the results were disastrous for the native Americans, however on further examination, it becomes evident that the Indian wars qualify as a just war.
From the Paper
"In order to determine the legitimacy of the Indian Wars, a context for understanding the agents of action within the war must be developed. The Indian Civil War occurred in parallel to the American Civil War. The conflict began in the wake of the French and Indian War. The British, after acquiring the significant amount of territory ceded by the French dictated that settlements were forbidden west of the Appalachian Mountains. This policy was made to ensure that conflicts between the Native Americans and colonists would not continue to persist. However, due to pressure from the colonists, the British negotiated a treaty with the Iroquois in 1768 to allow for colonial expansion beyond the Ohio River."
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Lewis & Clark, 2008.
This paper discusses the expedition of Lewis and Clark across the North American continent in the early nineteenth century.
960 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 34.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Specifically the writer discusses how the expedition came to be and looks at what findings with which the explorers returned. The writer explains that Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery traveled across America to the Pacific Ocean between 1804 and 1806, and then returned east to report their findings. The writer notes that it was one of the greatest exploratory expeditions in American history, and it resulted in a much greater understanding of the lands "out west."
From the Paper
"He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead the expedition, and asked Congress for the money to fund it ($2500). They chose 40 men to accompany them, trained them throughout the winter of 1803, and set off from St. Louis, Missouri in May 1804.
"Toussaint Charbonneau and his young wife, Sacagawea joined the expedition in North Dakota at the Mandan Indian settlement. Lewis & Clark hired Charbonneau, a French fur trapper, to act as a guide for the next leg of their journey, and he brought his wife and young son along. Sacagawea was a young Shoshone girl, who provided much help during the expedition."
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Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World., 2008.
A Critique of Jack Weatherford's "Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World."
1,495 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 49.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses that the term 'Indian giver' has come to be a synonym for someone who gives something, only to take it back. The paper further explains that it was the Indians who were forced to give to the Europeans--their knowledge about farming and fishing in the Americas and ultimately their land. The paper discusses that in Jack Weatherford's book, "Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World," the exchange between Europeans and Native Americans was an unequal one, with Europeans taking of the positive benefits of the New World, while the Indians were doing all of the giving. The paper concludes that unwittingly, the Indians found themselves the recipient of the evils of European civilization, like slavery, and a disrespectful attitude to the land.
From the Paper
"According to Weatherford, the early post-Columbian contact of the Europeans with the native populace actually enabled the Industrial Revolution to change Europe, and ultimately the world. "Had Europe and America not come together through Columbus or some other connection, the industrial revolution would never have happened in the way we know it," because Europeans would never have gained access to the metals of the New World, or to Indian mines (Weatherford 57). This contact also generated the money economy of Europe and fueled a shift to a European economy based upon real, hard, convertible currency. Metal-based currency also was critical in fueling industrialism and world trade. By beginning the book with tales of South American encounters with Europe, which were particularly brutal and unequal from the beginning of the Indian-European relationship, Weatherford initiates a tragic tone, explaining how enslaved South American Indians mining gold and silver in Potosi supplied the precious metals for most of the European coins that generated wealth for the Old World at the expense of the liberty of the New World."
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'Tobacco Road', 2008.
This paper provides a review of the book 'Tobacco Road' by Erskine Caldwell.
2,835 words (approx. 11.3 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 84.95
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Abstract
In this essay, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "Tobacco Road," by Erskine Caldwell. Specifically, the writer discusses the author's life and its effect on his writing of "Tobacco Road". Further, the writer provides criticisms of the novel and looks at the novel's place in literary history. The writer notes that "Tobacco Road" is probably one of the most enduring glimpses into a tragic part of America's history that has ever been written. The writer explains that profiling a poor white family from Georgia, it encapsulates the poverty and hunger these people faced, while using dark humor and pathos to portray the tragedy of their lives, and the gradual decline of any decency in their spirit. The paper includes over 10 pages of copied critiques on this subject.
Outline:
Introduction
Tobacco Road
References
From the Paper
"It seems the only one with any sense at all in the family is Pearl, and she has enough sense to want to get out and go to Augusta. She is also the most unusual character in the novel - she never speaks, and refuses to sleep with her husband, Lov. Early in the novel, the reader discovers Jeeter is not her father, and this explains why she is different, and why she wants to leave the area. Everyone else in the novel seems a bit dazed by what happens around them, just as Lov is dazed when he loses the turnips. Caldwell gives a sense of unreality to the novel, as if things are happing around the characters, and they do not understand why they happen, or how everything relates to them and their lives. It is as if they are walking through life - seeing it but not really taking part.
"Jeeter uses his children to further himself, no matter how shocking this may be. He sold Pearl to Lov for seven dollars and some household items, and is absolutely enthralled with Ellie May's sexual seduction of Lov so Jeeter can grab the turnips. He also in effect sells his son Dude to Sister Bessie Rice for a car and the chance to get his firewood to market. Jeeter is always full of hope, but he is so scheming and lazy he can never get past the hoping stage."
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Native-American Indian Health-Related Problems, 2008.
Examines alcoholism, HIV, suicide and the subsequent risk factors for other health-related problems within the Native-American Indian culture.
1,765 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 7 sources, APA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
This paper is a review of peer-reviewed literature to determine current incidence and subsequent risk factors for health-related problems among Native-Americans today. The author concludes that, because Native-Americans remain at a higher risk of HIV, alcoholism and suicide than their white counterparts with incidences even higher than for many other American minority groups, there is a growing consensus among healthcare experts and lawmakers at all levels that something must be done to correct this situation.
Table of Contents:
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Cultural Issues Affecting Native-American Healthcare
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Even those Native-Americans fortunate enough to have healthcare providers from their own tribes who are familiar with these cultural perspectives are faced with some issues that are unique to their heritage and culture. For example, in some cases, healthcare providers have been fired from their positions with the state for participating in religious rituals involving the use of peyote and have even been denied unemployment benefits as well. According to Kellhofer (2001), in one case that went to the Supreme Court (Employment Division vs. Smith, 494 U.S. 872, 1990), dealt with the use of peyote."
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Mission San Francisco de Asis (Dolores), 2008.
Looks at the archeology, architecture and history surrounding the Mission San Francisco de Asis (Dolores).
3,800 words (approx. 15.2 pages), 21 sources, MLA, $ 104.95
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Abstract
This paper describes the Mission San Francisco de Asis or Mission Dolores, located at nearly the geographic center of what is now San Francisco. The paper relates that the Mission is one of 21 of the original Spanish Missions constructed to foster Spanish control over the region and it is the oldest intact nave structure in California and the oldest building in San Francisco, having survived the 1906 earthquake. The paper also points out that this location is said to be the original site of a Native0American village of the Ohlone Nation called Chutchui. Additionally, the paper describes the rich fusion of Spanish, Mexican and American history surrounding this mission. Two photographs are included with the paper.
From the Paper
"The cemetery has never been desecrated but has had regional periodical re-internment and moving of bodies for various city projects. The rich history of some of those interred is of course limited to the white, as this was what was of interest to the people in the 19th century, when many of the local interest stories about the cemetery became popular. Famous governors of California and renegades of the region are buried there in addition to the Native burials and the friars of the Franciscan order who toiled and died there."
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Modern Indians and Traditions, 2008.
A discussion of how Indians have maintained their traditions in various ways.
1,610 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how Indian nations have attempted to maintain oral Indian traditions in various ways. The paper explains that the value of understanding the diversity and collective of the Indian culture is paramount to understanding the way in which modern Indians have resisted losing their native cultures. The paper also looks at how the language issue is addressed in nearly every Indian education system through a bilingual or submersion technique. The paper then points out that Reservations also serve as a center for the expression of ceremonies, dances, beliefs and customs.
From the Paper
"Some Indian nations retained their oral traditions and handed down the seeds of this information to the later generations through a largely oral tradition. So, against all odds there are still Indians who understand their heritage and many modern movements have doggedly attempted to retell and transmit tradition to later generations and to others who are interested in this revival of heritage. The traditions of the past include many varied languages, beliefs, ceremonies, dances and customs. Each nation has made attempts to rekindle the expression of their cultures."
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