INDG 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Sun Dance, Indian Agent, Cultural Genocide

• School: McGill University
• Department: Indigenous Studies
• Course: INDG 200
• Professor: Allan Downey

Document Summary

The indian problem : emerging government regulation of indigenous peoples. Reeducate indg cultures (stripping of language, worldviews) Hired by government to spy on them. The arm of the state implementing colonialism. Helped monitor and administer the programs of assimilations. Missionaries want to get rid of potlatch: the ceremonies. Missionaries put their efforts to convert indg ppl. Missionaries don"t like the ceremonies since missionaries have their own traditional system. Advertise features of culture of indg ppl to public their mission was for public to pressure gov to take out potlatch indg culture. Potlatch: give away your wealth to earn your prestige. European traditions: high value of indg customs. West coast marriage customs outsiders portray their customs like young girls sold for goods. Banned in 1884 can gov to practice your culture- offense o fail. Ppl are against the war of potlatch. Non- indg ppl didn"t want to oppress the issue fear. Couldn"t give away money or goods before or after ceremony.