Vine Deloria on Native Americans (1972)

Summary

The speaker critiques Western society's treatment of Native American culture and land rights, highlighting the struggle for recognition and restitution. They discuss the impact of anthropological perspectives on Native identity, the Bureau of Indian Affairs' inertia, and the significance of land in Native American spirituality. The talk also addresses the need for a reevaluation of Western values, advocating for a deeper understanding of indigenous philosophies and their potential to offer an alternative vision for modern society.

Takeaways

• 👉 The speaker criticizes the historical and ongoing treatment of Native Americans, referencing the distribution of smallpox-infected blankets and the misrepresentation of their culture and heritage.
• 🔍 The speaker highlights a conflict with anthropologists who may idealize early Native Americans but fail to recognize the validity and evolution of contemporary Native American identities and cultures.
• 🏛 The speaker discusses the contentious relationship between Native American tribes and museums, particularly regarding the possession and display of sacred objects, and the Smithsonian's handling of such items.
• 🗣️ The speaker satirizes anthropologists' approach to sex education, suggesting that if they taught it with the same fervor as anthropology, it might help address the population explosion.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, describing it as resistant to change and slow to respond to the needs of Native American communities.
• 🎓 The speaker recounts the efforts to establish an Indian Cultural Center on Alcatraz Island and the resistance encountered from conservative political figures.
• 📉 The speaker notes a decline in media interest in Native Americans, suggesting that the media prefers to romanticize outdated stereotypes rather than address contemporary issues.
• 🌳 The speaker emphasizes the importance of land to Native American tribes, not just for its economic value, but for its cultural, spiritual, and historical significance.
• 🏞️ The speaker discusses recent successes in land restoration for Native American tribes, including the return of the Blue Lake to Taos Pueblo and other sacred lands.
• 🌱 The speaker predicts a resurgence of traditional Native American religious practices and a potential shift in social movements towards a reevaluation of Western values and the relationship with nature.
• 💡 The speaker calls for a fundamental reexamination of Western civilization's values and beliefs, suggesting that traditional Native American perspectives on life and the universe offer a necessary alternative.

Q & A

What is the primary criticism the speaker has of anthropologists in the context of Native American culture?

The speaker criticizes anthropologists for acting as if only the first Indians they encountered were valid, and for not recognizing the legitimacy of Indians born since who do not conform to their scholarly opinions.

Why does the speaker mention Jeffrey Amherst and the distribution of smallpox blankets?

The speaker mentions Jeffrey Amherst to highlight a historical act of biological warfare against Native Americans, using it as an example of the darker side of the history that is often overlooked.

What is the ongoing battle between the speaker and anthropologists regarding sacred objects and museum displays?

The battle revolves around the fact that anthropologists have collected sacred objects and medicine bags from various tribes and kept them in museums, often without the tribes' consent, in an effort to educate the public about American heritage, which the speaker and tribes find disrespectful and inappropriate.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Native American tribes?

The speaker describes the Bureau of Indian Affairs as an institution that has historically been unresponsive and even antagonistic towards the needs and rights of Native American tribes, often siding against them in political matters.

What was the significance of the Alcatraz takeover by Indian activists?

The Alcatraz takeover was significant because it brought attention to the issues faced by Native Americans and marked a turning point in the level of activism and political engagement by Indian tribes in the United States.

What is the speaker's view on the role of traditional Indian religion in modern America?

The speaker believes that traditional Indian religion, with its emphasis on the unity of life and the kinship of all living species, is a crucial concept for contemporary America and could offer an alternative perspective to the prevailing Western view of man's alienation from nature.

Why does the speaker argue that the Christian concept of resurrection has influenced the way land is treated in America?

The speaker argues that because the Christian concept of resurrection involves the physical body being preserved for the second coming, it has led to a cultural practice of segregating the dead from the land, which in turn has contributed to a lack of connection and respect for the land in American society.

What does the speaker suggest is the current state of Indian activism and what might be expected in the future?

The speaker suggests that Indian activism has entered a new phase where many activists are returning to reservations to study under religious and holy men, renewing ceremonies and traditional religions. He predicts that in the coming years, there will be a resurgence of these traditional beliefs influencing social movements and challenging Western values.

What is the speaker's criticism of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' handling of the Lummi tribe's aquaculture project?

The speaker criticizes the Bureau of Indian Affairs for initially dismissing the Lummi tribe's efforts as lazy and unmotivated, and later attempting to take control of the successful project, rather than supporting the tribe's initiative and innovation.

How does the speaker connect the issues faced by Native Americans to broader societal and environmental concerns?

The speaker connects the issues by highlighting the fundamental differences in worldview between Native Americans and Western society, particularly regarding the relationship between humans and nature. He suggests that the Native American perspective could offer solutions to environmental degradation and societal disconnection from the natural world.