Louise Erdrich's novel Love Medicine presents a variety of voices that depict thetruths of Chippewa life and how they as a group are victims of a society that authorizesoppression and domination. Studies show that Chippewa tribes have a close connectionto nature and with each other as people. Ecofeminist critics draw analogies between theexploitation of nature and the oppression of groups such as those based on race, class,and sexuality, which results in a distortion of Native people's identity and connection tonature. Since the characters and nature are both oppressed and exploited by the U.Sgovernment, it becomes relevant to draw parallels between Erdrich's characters andnature with ecofeminism. The analysis concludes that ecofeminism can be applied toErdrich's novel because they share some values such as the importance of striving forinterconnection between humans and nature to free both from the power structure. TheChippewa characters and the U.S government can be identified in ecofeminist discourseas a set of dualisms. However, there are also some differences between ecofeminismand the way in which Erdrich depicts her Chippewa characters and nature. Erdrich’sstory shows that both female and male characters of Chippewa origin possess a sacredrelationship to Mother Earth, not only women, as ecofeminists would suggest.

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This study explores and critically examines the role of indigenous mechanisms (the Inter-Tribal Reconciliation Conferences-ITRCs) in resolving tribal conflicts in South Darfur State of Western Sudan. The fundamental question raised by this study is: have these reconciliation conferences- 1989-2009- been able to address the root causes of the tribal conflicts and are they capable of serving the same role that they once did? Tribal leadership structures, such as Native Administration (NA) and their mechanisms of conflict resolution/management in Darfur, have been subjected to highly significant changes over time. The question is to what extent these changes further fuelled tribal conflicts and/or have negatively affected the capability of the NA and the ITRCs to deal with these conflicts? This thesis relies on archive records and reports of the ITRCs and data generated through interviews conducted with key informants. Through a detailed analysis the study: 1) presents a detailed account of the major conflicts and their causes in South Darfur; 2) identifies the changing identities of the protagonists and of the perceived causes; 3) assesses the effectiveness of the agreements reached by these conferences when considered alongside the causes identified. Analysis of the ITRCs shows that tribal conflicts in Darfur (from1980s), and South Darfur in particular, were connected to the wider political conflict in the Sudan and the region respectively. The analysis suggests that the history of neglect/marginalisation of the region by successive governments, and the political manipulation of the NA and local government, have negatively affected the performance of these institutions. The experience of the ITRCs indicates that they were unable to address the underlying causes of the tribal conflicts, such as land disputes, the manipulation of the NA and local government, rape and mass killings.

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Contemporary events frequently call into question the status of state-recognized Native nations. For example, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) failed to pass a resolution dissolving state-recognized membership; and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported on the reality of federal funding being awarded to non-federally recognized Native nations. Although state-recognized Native nations are handicapped in their strategies and the availability of resources to assert their right to self-determine, some have persevered despite the inability to establish a direct relationship with the national government. Reconsidering federalism as it pertains to Native nations reveals opportunities for non-federally recognized Native nations to access resources and assert self-governing authority in alternative arenas outside the exclusive tribal-national government-to-government relationship. My research analyzes how two state-recognized Native nations, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and the Waccamaw Indian People of South Carolina, have operated as political actors; have maintained their communities; have organized politically and socially; and have asserted their right to self-determine by engaging state—and at certain times federal—politics to address needs within their communities. I used a qualitative case study approach to examine the strategies these two state-recognized Native nations have developed to engage state relationships. I argue that state-recognized Native nations are developing significant political relationships with their home states and other entities, such as federal, state, and local agencies, and nonprofits, to address issues in their communities.

This research report examined the implementation of villager self-governance in China, of which the election of village leader is the most distinct feature. Unlike previous studies of village self-governance, which focused on policy intentions of the Chinese leadership or the speculation of scholars about what may happen, this study attempted to examine whether or not the elections are competitive and what the consequences of self-governance are.

L'analyse critique des différentes prospections archéologiques réalisées dans la péninsule du Sinaï montre clairement que la partie ouest du Sinaï central n'a jamais été explorée totalement avant l'inventaire qui a commencé au milieu des années 1990. Sans étude de cette zone, tout modèle d'occupation ancienne du territoire sinaïtique se révèle insuffisant. L'objectif principal de mon doctorat était de fournir des informations de nature géographique et anthropologique aux archéologues. D'un point de vue méthodologique, l'ensemble des structures archéologiques géoréférencées a été intégré dans un système d'information géographique (SIG). Ces vestiges ont été replacés dans leur contexte environnemental (climat, géologie, géomorphologie, végétation…). Parallèlement, j'ai engagé un travail de documentation anthropologique relatif aux populations bédouines actuellement installées dans la péninsule en général, dans le Sinaï central en particulier. Je me suis particulièrement concentré sur l'étude des structures et des limites tribales, de la gestion des territoires, des pratiques liées au culte des saints et de l'économie. Dans le cadre de cette réflexion ethnoarchéologique, les nouveaux acquis permettent d'établir une analyse comparative de l'occupation ancienne et actuelle du Sinaï central. Mes conclusions sont susceptibles d'être utiles à l'interprétation des vestiges archéologiques du Sinaï central et à l'élaboration d'un modèle de l'occupation ancienne de cette région durant l'Holocène. / Critical analysis of the archaeological surveys conducted in the Sinai Peninsula shows that the western central Sinai had never been explored before the beginning of this survey in the mid-1990's. Without a study of this area, models of the ancient occupation of the sinaitic territory were insufficient. The main objective of my PhD was to provide geographical and anthropological information to the archeologists. From a methodological point of view, all georeferenced archaeological structures were integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). These remains were placed in their environmental context (climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation…). In parallel, I initiated an anthropological documentary work on Bedouin currently living in the Peninsula in general, in the central Sinai in particular. I particularly concentrated on the tribal structures and boundaries, the management of territories, the cult of the saints and the economy. As part of this ethnoarchaeological reflection, new learning can establish a comparative analysis of past and current occupation of central Sinai. The conclusions of my studies may help to understand the archeological remains in the central Sinai and to develop a model of the region's occupation during the Holocene.

Cette recherche interroge le champ des objets ethnographiques au prisme de leur circulation entre deux médiateurs situés entre leur production et leur réception : les musées d’ethnographie et les marchés de l’art. Aucune recherche scientifique ne s’est jusqu’à maintenant penchée en profondeur sur les relations entretenues entre ces deux intermédiaires dans le champ de l’art africain et océanien, si ce n’est pour décrire ou critiquer le cas précis de la fondation du Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac.Mobilisant l’anthropologie et la muséologie, ma recherche est basée sur un travail de terrain intensif auprès des galeries, des maisons de ventes aux enchères et des musées en Suisse, en France et en Belgique entre 20013 et 2017. L’analyse, fondamentalement compréhensive, montre les enjeux territoriaux à l’œuvre et souligne l’impact d’une montée de l’événementiel tant du côté des musées que des marchés. Ma recherche dresse un portrait du marché, de son fonctionnement et de ses hiérarchies à l’heure actuelle et propose une typologie des différentes relations et acteurs afin de comprendre le processus de fixation de la valeur des objets. Sur un marché où domine la spéculation et une grande part d’arbitraire, je montre que cette valeur est intimement liée à la maîtrise de l’information. Finalement, l’analyse met en évidence les « prêts-à-penser » et processus développés par l’entier des acteurs du champ pour rationaliser une partie de ces pratiques spéculatives. J’espère souligner dans cette recherche les formes nouvelles de production, d’appropriation, de consommation et de valorisation de l’altérité par notre société aujourd’hui. / This PhD thesis presents the valuation of ethnographic object through the prism of their circulation between two stakeholders : art markets and ethnographic museums. No scientific research has so far looked in depth at the relation between this two actors in the tribal art’s field, except to describe or criticise the specific case of the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac’s foundation.My research mobilising anthropology and museology is based on intensive fieldwork with galleries, auction houses and museums in Switzerland, France and Belgium between 2013 and 2017. The comprehensive analysis shows the territorial issues between this different stakeholders and highlights the increase in events both in museums and markets. My research also draws a portrait of the market, its functionning and its hierarchies and proposes a typology of the different relations and actors. The main objective was to understand the process of fixing an object’s value. In a market dominated by speculation and a lot of arbitrariness, I highlight that this value is intrinsically linked to the control of information. Finally, the analysis shows the « how-to-think » and processes developped by all the actors in the field to rationalise some of these speculative practices. I hope I have emphasised in this work the new forms of production, appropriation, consumption and the valorisation of otherness by our society today.

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children, and prevalence rates are disproportionately higher in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) recommends annual oral health screening for children in Head Start programs using the Basic Screening Survey (BSS). The 2014 study was a follow-up to a 2010 national survey of AI/AN children ages five and under that assessed oral health outcomes such as untreated decay, decay experience, urgent need for treatment, presence of sealants and decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth (dmft) scores, and investigated the changes in Early Childhood Caries (ECC) prevalence from 2010 to 2014 in the Indian Health Service (IHS) Nashville Area. A gap analysis was completed comparing current recommended practices among dental clinics that participated in the IHS ECC Collaborative ASTDD Framework to Prevent and Control Childhood Tooth Decay (ASTDD Framework). Due to historical mistreatment of AI/AN populations in research, and out of respect for the sovereignty of the Tribal Nations that participated in the study, there limited data was made available for this study. In 2010, 579 children were screened in the Nashville Area; 1231 children participated in 2014. While there was a statistically significant, yet clinically small 9.36% reduction of untreated decay from 2010 (30.33%) to 2014 (27.49%), the ECC Collaborative did not reach their objective of a 25% reduction. There was also a significant increase in urgent need for treatment (3.17% in 2010 to 4.35% in 2014), and in presence of sealants (4.54% in 2010 to 10.01% in 2014). Gaps in best practices identified were related to need for increased risk assessments and enhancing policy development. Based on study findings and the limited access to data on Tribal and Area levels, development of culturally appropriate policies that are unique to individual Tribal needs, and focus on perinatal care, is recommended. Individual Tribal programs also need to be evaluated and surveillance needs to be continued to establish trend data. All program evaluations and research should be conducted in an ethical manner that is community-based and considerate of the needs of the Tribe.