History of American Indians and the United States

Self-Identification and Authenticity

Dr. Kane

mkane2@albany.edu Humanities 109 | MWF 9:20 - 10:15 AM

Office Hrs: M 10:20 - 11:20 & F 1:30 - 3:30

Social Science 60S

Monday, September 11

coming up

Policy piece due Monday Sept 18 (BB)
OPTIONAL feedback via Blackboard
check "References" and "Suggested Readings" section of First Peoples

today's class

culture and biology
"authenticity"

Garroutte, Self-Identification

how does self-identification complicate legal definitions of "Indian"? what are the political implications? what are the social implications?
why does the New Age movement present a problem for Indian culture, identity, and sovereignty?

why not DNA?

no DNA for specific tribes
enrollment and recognition tribe-based
Y-chromosome haplogroup inheritence
Y-chromosome haplogroups distinct but not universal
mtDNA in common with Asian and Polynesian groups

US naturalization vs. definitions of Indian

US citizenship purely political - anyone can become a member
"Indian" is political, historical, biological, and/or cultural depending on situation
conflation of political rights with race and/or culture

put a wolf on it

Google "Native American" images

Mashpee and Mashantucket Pequot

the "rich Indian" problem
who defines "authenticity"?
Trump-funded geneology research (Aug 2017 court filing) & 1993 lawsuit
2005 Schgaticoke and Eastern Pequot loss of recognition
2017 BIA rules change - may not re-petition after denial

Makah whaling controversy

1855 Treaty of Neah Bay
controversy over "authenticity" with use of harpoon gun
harpoon gun policy developed in conjuntion w/ federal wildlife officials to minimize whale injury/pain
2007 hunt against federal agreement resulted in prison time
2015 petition to open hunting before SCOTUS

"A Way of Life - The Meaning of Food"