CLASS NOTES
Snowbird Cherokees: People of Persistence
Focus of the Book
Interethnic and intraethnic relations
Behavior typologies
from outside
Cherokee typologies
Persistence of culture
How do you define "Indianness?"
How does a community maintain "Indianness" while adapting to larger world?
History
Traditional history
Lore
origin myths
migrations
Language
Archaeology
Written history
Who is writing it?
Cherokee History
Lived in area 4000 years
Traditionally
matrilineal
matrilocal
clan exogamy
moieties
1700s
Pressure from settlers
Disease
1800s
Removal 1838
Trail of Tears
Change in culture
Intermarriage
1860 served in Civil war
1866 Could own land
1870 Adopted a constitution
1889 Federally recognized
1880-1890 breakup of land
Dawes Act
1900s
1926 Taxation of land
1950 tourism provides seasonal jobs
1954 boarding school closes
1982 high stakes bingo introduced
HISTORY
Traditional history
Lore
Origin myths
Migrations
Language
Archaeology
Written history
Who is writing?
Sociocultural trends
Culture change
CULTURE CHANGE
What changes?
Factors of cultural identity:
How cultures change
Discovery and invention
Diffusion
Acculturation/contact
Revolution
DISCOVERY
Behavior or an idea
INVENTION
Applied knowledge
DIFFUSION
. . .borrowed and incorporated trait
. . .no external pressure
Why select a trait?
function
positive cultural meaning
ADAPTIVE FEATURES
enhance survival (adaptive)
environmental factors
experiment
observe others= experiment
improve technology
Some changes maladaptive
ACCULTURATION
one society more powerful
societies abut
includes diffusion
two way
ASSIMILATION
complete acculturation
HOW?
Conquest or colonialization
To enjoy benefits of majority
Humanitarian ways
education
health care
TYPES OF CHANGE
Commercial
Migratory labor
Nonagricultural production
Supplementary cash crops
Commercial/industrial agriculture
All produced for the market
labor hired
Machines
Religious
Political and social
spread of Ademocracy@
Increased stratification
Problems:
population increase
loss of culture
loss of self-respect