25 Matching Annotations
  1. Nov 2024
    1. The ability of Plains people like Scares the Enemy to spatialize time in thismanner, encapsulating past, present, and future aspects into a two-dimensional draw-ing on paper, represents a different kind of counternarrative or counter-archive fromthat of the Native/Indigenous “perspective” or “voice”

      It is interesting how 'perspective' and 'voice' are in quotations, as these few resources are what we rely on to find an unbiased account of Native American history, although an uncertainty on whether the art has been manipulated in some way still sustains.

    2. During the period from 1860 to 1900, Plains men createddrawings on paper, often in accountants’ ledger books acquired by trade, purchase, oras spoils of combat, and hence referred to as “ledger books” or “ledger drawings.”

      To me, the existence of these drawings themselves encompasses the Native American struggle quite aptly, as they 'make do' with what they have, and create art out of it. It feels very empowering and sad at the same time.

  2. static1.squarespace.com static1.squarespace.com
    1. Home is a stopping point, for there is no sense in the migrationstory that there will be only one home for only one people forever.

      When the migration and exploration of different regions is done as a part of their culture and out of own free will, it is looked upon with so much more fondness than if it was due to coercion.

    2. What does migration produce? As we can see in the story of theGreat Migration, it produces difference: new communities, new peoples,new ways of living, new sacred foods, new stories, and new ceremonies.The old never dies; it just gets supplemented by the new, and one re-sult is diversity.

      I find such nomadic cultures so intriguing. Their only constant tradition is change, and they learn to adapt and create new lifestyles with the new environment they're in.

    3. An x-mark is a sign of consent in a context of coercion; it is the agree-ment one makes when there seems to be little choice in the matter.

      I think this is very well-put; it is very evident that the 'consent' that is given by the Indians is very performative, such that the colonialists would have "proof" of their support in the likely case that the treaty's outcome is not favorable to the Indians.

    1. Once we knew everything in this lush promise.

      The use of a single line stanza magnifies the impact of the idea that they were stripped of the land, the resources, the connections--everything--by the colonizers. It makes me as a reader feel their pain and helplessness.

    1. a new interpretation of Indian-European relations. Wereceive this account through multiple interpretations

      It is so valuable and essential to consider the differing perspectives and accounts of the same event, as it gives us more insight on the real truth and biases, especially when it is commonly known that history is written by victors (colonists, in this case).

  3. Oct 2024
    1. as they layher on turtle’s back, the woman releases a seed she had carried from theSky World, and the earth is born.

      I really enjoy how however detailed the story becomes, it always refocuses back to the earth, which emphasizes the significance of land and rootedness in Native American culture.

    2. where they have lived like verybad philosophers, preferring, on the basis of a foolishreasoning, the savage to the French life

      It is interesting how the Native American lifestyle is compared to the French, but only such that the French remain superior. The fact that Native Americans' lives did not align with French values deemed the Native Americans as "foolish" and "bad philosophers". This emphasizes the ignorance and strong mindset that the westernized way of living is always 'correct' and better.

    1. The most common, mundane things of the body, the village, the earth-thesetoo, in the Indian mind, were suffused with a history of sacredness and power

      This last line is very powerful. It affirms the rootedness of Native Americans in Californian lands as their beliefs and myths themselves were centered around the mundane things that were "the body, the village, the earth".

    2. trange yet concrete figures ina magical ambience-the material that myths are made of is very close indeedto the material dreams are made of.

      Often rare to find myths resemble more human, tangible features that we can relate to more.

    3. According to this plan, people are going to be. Thereare gomg to be people on this earth. On this earth there will be plenty of foodfor the people! According to this plan there will be many different kinds offood for the people! Clover in plenty will grow, grain, acorns, nuts!"

      I really love the idea of just "going to be." Like others have touched upon, this creation story is distinct from others I know about in that its intentions are plain and simple: they want the people to live freely and happily--as compared to having to earn happiness and basic necessities like food via strict customs and/or values.

    1. But, inevitably, the hoes became shovels, and the shovels became gas-powered. In our day, when coastal homeowners unearth 100 cubic yards for a swimming pool, bones pop up — a skull, a vertebra, a hand.

      This is so eerie. I cannot even imagine the degree of demoralization and pain Native Americans must have felt when they learn of such incidences where their ancestors' remains are resurfaced because an uneducated or ignorant group prioritized their own luxury over respecting the dignity of ancient burial grounds.

    2. Although there was one “community representative” — the founder of a real estate investment company — no Native Americans were on the committee.

      Representation is the first step in respect and inclusivity of all cultures and groups equally.

    3. The home, modeled on Native American pueblo architecture, features exposed-beam ceilings, long covered porches, and adobe-brick walls, whose stuccoed surfaces are painted white.

      Quite ironic how the very culture and people that they disrespect is now repurposed and utilized to create a 'unique' and 'Native American-inspired' home.

    4. Perhaps the most prized piece of real estate throughout the University of California, San Diego, is the seven-acre site of University House, home to the UCSD chancellor.

      The ignorance appears to be so evident when such a great sum of money was spent on a luxury that benefits a single person over allocating funds for minimal asks that UCSD students and staff fight for: research funds, better parking infrastructure, affordable food, etc, for instance.

    1. Emphasisshould be placed on locating any original documentation from theexcavations, as well as determining the provenance of the artifacts withineach site

      It is actually so unbelievable to me that the most basic responsibility to be taken when storing artifacts was not taken.

    2. Without a catalogue created at the time of excavation, there was noway of knowing if the collection was complete, i.e. if artifacts were missing.Without a report there was no way of knowing what the research design hadbeen, the date of excavation, the exact location of the excavation or theinterpretation of the findings. SDAC staff was not sure that the artifactsrepresented a single project or a group of unrelated excavations.

      This is so frustrating that something as simple as keeping a record was not done for these artifacts. I can't imagine the scale to which Native Americans feel disregarded when the discrimination is deeply institutionalized.

    3. Upon further examination of thecollection, however, there were additional sites represented in the c;:ollection:SDl-4990, W-151, SDl-10940 and site unknown.

      The neglect of proper labeling and categorization seems to only further prove the lack of respect for these artifacts, almost as though their preservation was a waste of time to the officials.

    1. The contributions of stories such as this should be recognized ascelebrations of culture, as declarations of the amazing resiliency and tenacityof a people who have survived horrible circumstances and destructive forces.Some of the greatest stories are those told by Native people and serve aschallenges to the rest of the world to be so strong. Native people have anunbreakable belief in the beauty and the significance of our cultures, and thisis reflected in our storie

      This is so important, especially in light of the current oppression and eradication of Native American people, as stories evidently provide a valuable avenue to revive and educate about Native American culture to the Natives as well as people in general.

    2. My grandmother, Elsie Cavender, received this type of training. Shehad much to tell about some of our more popular characters, stories starringour mythical trickster figure, Unktomi, as well as stories about Dakota menand women-mostly belonging to my lineage-who lived and died long beforeI was born.

      Oral tradition appears to be what the Native American community survives on, so it seems like it is crucial part of what it takes to preserve their identity.

  4. Sep 2024
    1. They remind us just how long it’s been clear there’s something wrong with what we’re doing as well as just how little progress we’ve made in acting on that realization.

      It is quite reassuring to have established texts that seem to empathize and understand a student's perspective, which is currently rare to find in many contexts.

    2. Collecting information doesn’t require tests, and sharing that information doesn’t require grades.  In fact, students would be a lot better off without either of these relics from a less enlightened age.

      Rejecting the commonly accepted ideas of academic learning in the beginning of the text itself is a strong tactic that immediately engaged me as a reader!