American Indians express national identity and sovereignty often in a context of misrecognition and domination. The dominant culture frequently mythologizes, or depoliticizes, Native Americans to maintain its hegemony. The mythologization of the Nez Perce Indians has been overwhelmingly laudatory from Lewis and Clark onward, yet it frequently distorts Nez Perce/white history, denies the Nez Perces coevalness, and effaces dual U.S./Nez Perce identity and sovereignty After providing an overview of Nez Perce history and culture, Chapter One discusses the role Thomas Jefferson, the Journals of Lewis and Clark, and press coverage of the 'Nez Perce War of 1877' had in establishing the Nez Perces as exemplary American Indians. Chapter Two analyzes a book-length poem about the Nez Perces by Robert Penn Warren. Warren critiques U.S. empire-building and late 20th century American malaise, seeing in the Nez Perces an ideal nation. But Warren's idealization of the Nez Perces effaces living Nez Perces and participates in the imperialist project he critiques Chapter Three examines Nez Perce orature to discern national and political identity. Mythic literature creates a tribal identity grounded in a specific place that emphasizes relations in the natural world, explaining the Nez Perces' contemporary vigilance to prevent the devastation of salmon. The work of Nez Perce poet Phil George demonstrates a dynamic political identity against experiences of colonization and cultural misrecognition. George's poetry undercuts the idealization of the Nez Perces by Robert Penn Warren and other Euroamerican commentators Chapter Four examines 'Chief Joseph Days,' a festival where nonIndians and Nez Perces assert differing versions of local history and identity in a contested geographic area. Indian performances assert legitimacy of origin and legal/spiritual ownership of this place, providing an alternative to versions of the area's pioneer past asserted through the performances of whites The Epilogue argues that assertions of sovereignty ultimately move Indians from the realm of the mythical to the real; that it is imperative that we recognize and accept 'difference'; and that we should view the unique relationship of Indians to the United States as a challenge to live with our neighbors, both locally and globally, with tolerance and justice / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_23204 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Contributors | Johnson, Janis Ann (Author), Roach, Joseph (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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