NATIVE PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA

Anthropology 338A
Prof. Carmen Lambert
carmen.lambert@mcgill.ca

Fall 2006
MW 15:30-17:00

The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of North American

Aboriginal societies and the current situation of Aboriginal peoples in the present social-political
framework of relationships between First Nations and the Nation-State in Canada and the United
States.
The course is organized in distinct but related sections. The Introduction presents the
theoretical framework adopted in looking at issues of colonization and decolonization, Aboriginal
nationalist movements at the international level and in national contexts, cultural continuity, and
politics of culture. The second and third parts focus on Aboriginal cultures with attention to links
between traditional cultural institutions and present cultural and political orientations. The fourth
section on the colonial system is designed to help understand the context of First Nations
struggles in United States and Canada to maintain and consolidate a distinct identity. The fifth
and sixth sections deal with aspirations and goals set by First Nations in restructuring their
relationships with the larger society.
Required readings (course pack):
1. Introduction
Frideres, James D. and Ren R. Gadacz. Aboriginal Canada: Identity and Consciousness, in J.D.
Frideres and R.R. Gadacz (eds.), Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2001, pp.
22-46.
.
2. First Nations in North America: Migrations, cultural diversity
Schwarz, Maureen Trudelle. Unravelling the Anchoring Cord, Navaho Relocation, 1974 to 1996.
American Anthropology 99 (1), 1997, pp. 43-55.
Poirier, Sylvie. Territories, Identity and Modernity among the Atikamekw (Haut St-Maurice,
Quebec), in C.H. Scott (ed.), Aboriginal Autonomy and Development. Vancouver: UBC Press,
2001, pp. 98-116.
Kanerahtenha:wi Hilda Nicholas, Kanehsata:kes Language History. Karihwatatie, 2003
3. Cultural past and present: Culture change, authenticity, identity
- Hunting-gathering societies: Reciprocity systems, leadership patterns, the spiritual world
Tanner, Adrian. Respect for the Animals Killed, in A. Tanner (ed.), Bringing Home Animals. St.
Johns, Nfld: Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1979, pp. 154-181.
Mills, Antonia. The Meaningful Universe: Intersecting Forces in Beaver Indian Cosmology.
Culture VI (2), 1986, pp. 81-91.

Steckley, J.L. and B.D. Cummins. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, in J.L.
Steckley and B.D. Cummins (eds.), Full Circle. Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2000, pp. 159-166.
Krech III, Shephard. Reflections on Conservation, Sustainability, and Environmentalism in
Indigenous North America. American Anthropologist 107 (1), pp. 78-86.
Wenzel, George W. Sharing, Money, and Modern Inuit Subsistence: Obligation and Reciprocity at
Clyde River, Nunavut, in G.W. Wenzel, G. Hovelsrud-Broda and N. Kishigami (eds.), The Social
Economy of Sharing: Resource Allocation and Modern Hunter-Gatherers. Osaka: National
Museum of Ethnology, 2000, pp. 61-86.
- Sedetary horiticultural societies: Social systems, tribal organization, confederacies,
chiefdoms.
Becker, Mary Druke. Iroquois and Iroquoian in Canada, in R. B. Morrison and C.R. Wilson
(eds.), Native Peoples. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2004, pp. 229-247.
Oswalt, W.H., and S. Neely. The Hopi: Farmers of the North, in W.H. Oswalt and S. Neely (eds.),
This Land Was Theirs, Toronto: Mayfield, 1999, pp. 292-328.
- The Prairie-Plains cultures: Ecological adaptation, the individual and the collectivity
Bonvillain, Nancy. Native Nations of the Plains, in N. Bonvillain (ed.), Native Nations. New
Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001, pp. 178-206.
- Northwest Coast Societies: Social inequality, the Potlatch
Sutton, Mark Q. Native peoples of the Northwest Coast, in M.Q. Sutton (ed.), An Introduction to
Native North America. New York: Pearson, 2004, pp. 123-139.
McDonald, James A. Poles, Potlatching, and Public Affairs: the Use of Aboriginal Culture in
Development. Culture X (2), 1990, pp. 103-120.
4. The Colonial Framework: Laws, Policies, Treaties
Government of Canada, The Royal Proclamation of 1763 (exerpts)
Littlefield, Alice. Native American Labor and Public Policy in the United States, in S. Lobo and
S. Talbot (eds.) Native American Voices. New York: Longman, 1998, pp. 333-341
Dickason, Olive P. First Numbered Treaties, Police, and the Indian Act, in O.P. Dickason (ed.)
Canadas First Nations. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1997, pp. 248-264.
Government of Canada, The Indian Act (selected provisions)
Frideres, James D. and Ren R. Gadacz. Aboriginal Canada: Identity and Consciousness, in J.D.
Frideres and R.R. Gadacz (eds.), Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2001, pp.
22-46.
Hare, Jan and Jean Barman. Aboriginal Education: Is There a Way Ahead?, in D. Long and O.P.
Dickason (eds.), Visions of the Heart. Toronto: Harcourt, 2000, pp. 331-359.
Government of Canada, Constitution Act, 1982 (selected provisions)

5. Decolonization: Aboriginal Governance

Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. The Indigenous Peoples Project: Setting a New Agenda, in L.T. Smith
(ed.), Decolonizing Methodologies, Research and Indigenous Peoples. London: Zed Books, 1999,
pp. 107-122.
Muehlebach, Andrea. Making Place at the United Nations: Indigenous Cultural Politics at the
U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Cultural Anthropology 16 (3), 2001, pp. 405448.
Schouls, Tim. The Basic Dilemma: Sovereignty or Assimilation, in J. Bird et al (eds.), Nation to
Nation. Toronto: Erwin, 2002, pp. 12-26.
Alfred, Gerald D. The Rise of Native Nationalism, in G.D. Alfred (ed.), Heeding the Voices of
Our Ancestors. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1995, pp. 178-191.
Monture-Angus, Patricia. To Break with the Past, in P. Monture-Angus (ed.), Journeying
Forward. Halifax, 1999, pp. 21-39
Asch, Michael. Self-Government in the New Millenium, in J. Bird et al (eds.), Nation to Nation.
Toronto: Irwin, 2002, pp. 65-73.
Tully, James. A Just Relationship Between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, in
C. Cook and J. Lindau (eds.), Aboriginal Rights and Self-Government. Montreal: McGill-Queens
Press, 2000, pp. 39-71.
Deloria Jr., Vive. The Size and Status of Nations, in S. Lobo and S. Talbot (eds.), Native
American Voices. New York: Longman, 1998, pp. 457-465.
6. Other current debates and social action
- Land issues: Aboriginal title to land, comprehensive land claims, specific land claims
Frideres, J.S. and R.R. Gadacz. Contesting Title and Ownership: the Modern Claims and Treaty
Process, in J.S. Frideres and R.R. Gadacz (eds.), Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Toronto: Prentice
Hall, 2001, pp. 187-229.
Culhane, Dara. The Gitksans and Wetsuwetens Case, in D. Culhane (ed.), The Pleasure of the
Crown: Anthropology, Law and the First Nations. Vancouver: Talon Books, 1998, pp. 116-126.
Culhane, Dara. Reasons for Judgement, in D. Culhane (ed.), The Pleasure of the Crown:
Anthropology, Law and the First Nations. Vancouver: Talon Books, 1998, pp. 235-253.
- Treaty rights: Cultural and economic provisions
Steckley, J.L. and B.D. Cummins. The Mikmaq Treaties, in J.L. Steckley and B.D. Cummins,
Full Circle. Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2000, pp. 131-133.
- Cultural, social and economic issues
Johnson, Tim. The Dealers Edge: Gaming in the Path of Native America, in S. Lobo and S.
Talbot (eds.), Native American Voices. New York: Longman, 1998, pp. 341-350.
Steckley, J.L. and R.D. Cummins. The Justice System and Natives, in J.L. Steckley and R.D.
Cummins (eds.), Full Circle. Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2001, pp. 228-238.

Denis, Claude. Aboriginal Rights In/And Canadian Society: a Syewen Case Study. International
Journal of Canadian Studies 14, 1996, pp. 13-34.

EVALUATION:

Class test
Take-home exam
Final take-home exam

30%
30%
40%

October
November
December

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