Essays and Research Papers on Native Indian Studies

This 30 page paper considers the impact of the European intervention in Latin American and the influence on Incan society. This research study maintains support for the thesis that European intervention was not a positive force and resulted in the decline of the already stabilized Incan civilization that resulted from the fall of native ...

An 8 page overview of the initiation of cattle ranching in the West. Traces the history of this land use from the Spanish land grants to the Treaty of Guadelupe Hildalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, in which Mexico ceded Arizona,California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming to the United ...

A short, 4 page look at the history of pre-Columbian Latin America. Meso American civilization (mostly Aztec and Maya) is explored in this essay with reference to specific tribes (Olmec, Toltec, etc;) and large cities (ex. Tenochtitlan) that flourished. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This is a 7 page paper discussing perceptions of the American west and frontier. Perception of historical documentation is presented and argued regarding two aspects. Firstly, whether or not cultural perspective should be included in historical accounts such as argued by Jane Tompkins or whether or not cultural beliefs, and indeed the perspective of the ...

A 4 page essay that refers to a TV documentary. An episode of a TV documentary series narrated by Jack Perkins, Savagery and the American Indian, which aired in 1991, relates the saga of 300 years of hostilities and atrocities perpetuated against Native Americans, first by European settlers and then by the U.S. government. This ...

A 10 page research paper discussing the history, culture, anthropology, and social evolution of three groups of Native Indians : The Yanomamo (regarded as one of the most violent societies on Earth !), the Zapotecs (known for architecture & urban development), and the Yucatecs (relevant to Mayans) Bibliography lists 7 sources.

An 11 page overview of the Apache people as they existed after contact with non-Natives. Recalls the tremendous pressures which were exerted on the people and the retaliations of men like Geronimo. Concludes, however, that the Apache only for their expertise in warfare, and indeed for only that particular time in history, is ...

A 5 page overview of the Oklahoma Land run as witnessed by disciple of Christ preacher E.F. Boggess. Discusses the history of the land starting first with its allocation by the U.S. government to the Cherokee and continuing through its settlement by non-Indians. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper examines the Navajo and Hopi conflict to retain what each claimed as the land of their birthright and the impact of this struggle particularly upon Native-American women in the 1992 book, The Wind Won't Know Me: A History of the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. No additional sources.

A 5 page reaction paper to an essay by Jane Tomkin entitled "Indians." The writer answers questions about the essay, which deal with epistemology of historical scholarship and what it says about European colonial relations with American Indians. No additional sources cited.

A 15 page discussion of the concepts of Native American sovereignty, property rights and land ownership. Outlines the government policies towards these concepts and the history of U.S. dealings with Native Americans in regard to them. Uses the plight of the Western Shoshone and the Dann sisters in particular to illustrate the rights which have been violated. ...

(5 pp) From documented information, according to McWilliams (1979) it is estimated that there were about 130,000 Indians in California. If that figure is close to accurate that would have meant that California had about 16% of Native America n peoples in the United States with about 5% of the land mass of the ...

A 6 page book review that examines Eve Ball's text of the words of the patriarch of the Mescalero Apache, Ace Daklugie, son of Juh, nephew of Geronimo, the story that Daklugie related to Ball before his death in 1955 is an eye-opening experience to anyone who has never considered history from a Native American ...

This 4 page paper is written in the form of a journal entry by a mixed-blood Cherokee who feels she does not fit in the contemporary world. She laments the injustice of being Cherokee but not being accepted as such. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page discussion of the parallels between the events which unfold in the fictional novel by Costa Rican author Tatiana Lobo and history. Recounts the impacts of the Spanish colonists on the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica, emphasizing that the Spanish greed and disregard for cultural uniqueness translated into the decimation of a ...

A 5 page description and artistic analysis of a necklace created in the 1920s and held as a part of the Denver Art Museum's Native American collection. Provides a detailed description of the necklaces components, including quill work and otter fur as well as more commercial components such as mirrors and ribbons. Analyses the ...

A 5 page contrast and comparison of two essays dealing with ethnic issues. The essays are "Crimes Against Humanity" by Ward Churchill and "For the Indians No thanksgiving" by Michael Dorris. Both of these essays are incredibly powerful, and both speak of the conditions involving Native Americans. No additional sources cited.

A 10 page paper discussing Fineup-Riordin's book from an ethnographic standpoint. Discusses the Yup'ik Eskimos from the various facets of their lifestyles: religious, mythological, and warring. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page reaction essay to “Sand Creek,” by Verlyn Klinkenborg, in which she presents a powerful summation of the events that made Sand Creek, Colorado a historical site. Analysis of Klinkenborg’s use of rhetorical devices demonstrates how the emotional impact of the essay was developed. No additional sources cited and the bibliography citation is ...

An 8 page paper discussing Native Americans' communication through songs, dance, art, clothing, hair styles, face paintings, totems" and other means. Drum calls and smoke signals also were used by Plains groups, where there were no forests to obscure sight and the travel of sound. A few of the methods of communications among ...

A 9 page discussion of the factors which influence an individual’s relation with the rest of the society. Presents information obtained during an interview with a seventy-four year old single female of mixed Cherokee and European descent. Discusses the ability of this woman to adjust to society despite her numerous social shortcomings such as limited ...

In this 5 page review of Jerry Mander's 'In The Absence Of the Sacred,' the writer looks closely at sections dealing with technology of Native Indians prior to the arrival of Europeans and contrasts (i.e., land cultivation, food storage, shelter, etc;) their nature-orientated society with the greedy, technology-based society of Americans today. No other sources ...

A six page paper looking at Miguel Leon-Portilla's book 'The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico.' The paper goes into the historical background of the event, and shows how the Aztecs' account of it differs from that reflected in Spanish writings. Bibliography lists three sources.

A 9 page overview of the expected and actual roles of Hopi women both in their early culture and in contemporary culture. Emphasizes that these roles have not only evolved but that they sometimes differ in thought and action. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 9 page exploration of cultural obstacles which face many Native Americans on their moving from the reservations into the dominant white culture and how these obstacles influence educational performance. Bibliography lists 6 sources.