Portraits of "the Whiteman" by Keith H. Basso

In Portraits of the "Whiteman", author Keith Basso describes a joking culture of the Western Apache that's often overlooked. Native Americans have always been portrayed in a very serious manner, so Basso sheds light on this humorous aspect of life. These jokes entail making fun of the Whiteman through joking around with one another. This linguistic play of the Whiteman symbolizes everything the Apache are not. These are cultural and social constructions based off of observations an Apache might have, but no two jokes are the same because each joke is geared specifically toward the relationship between the people giving and receiving the joke. These joking performances serve as a "micro-sociological analysis" of society - both how they view the Whitman and how they view their own culture. Views are constantly evolving as cultures evolve, so these adaptations are evolving too.

An aspect of joking is "code-switching", meaning that the Apache speaks in English. This in and of itself is a form of social commentary as Apaches were forced to learn English on the reservations. Styles of speaking with block phrasing and higher, quicker speech are meant to imitate the Whiteman. Apaches think that the Whiteman speaks in a way that always sounds angry, which is high and quick - Apaches speak in a low tone that is slow. Adult males primarily partook in this type of joking, but it originally started with schoolchildren. Basso repeatedly stated how the Apache thought these jokes were 'dangerous', and I was confused by this at first because I wasn't sure what it quite meant. Basso reveals, finally, that by 'dangerous' the Apache mean that although the joke holds properties of bringing happiness, the joke could also offend people. And with any joke, sometimes it's hard to tell whether the joker holds ulterior motives of seriousness.

These jokes hold a social commentary of the people giving and receiving the joke in that this boasts of the closeness of their relationship - that they are close enough to be joking so intensely with each other. The most 'dangerous' type of joke is one dealing with disrespectful treatment of the person spoken about (the butt of the joke) in that the butt thinks higher of themselves than other people. As these jokes provide a way to discuss things that otherwise would not occur,

Basso describes a quintessential joke which covers many bases of Apache culture:
1. The joker says, "Hello, my friend!" This makes fun of the fact that Whitmen call each other friend all the time. The Apache don't have a word for this in their culture because even the nearest equivalent is spoken by individuals who are very close to each other. Also, Basso notes how Whitemen use this term more openly when they want something from someone.
2. The joker says, "How you doing? How you feeling?" Such questions as these are considered violations of privacy instead of concerned notions. The Apache view the Whiteman as nosy and lacking a degree of self-control because they want to know all aspects of that persons life.
3. The joker says, "Look who here, everybody! Look who just come in." This is considered unnecessary fanfare and drawing attention where there not need be. Apaches view this as socially exposing and embarrassing.
4. The joker says, "Sure, it's my Indian friend, L." By referring to the person by their personal name is considered addressing the person as a piece of individual property.
5. The joker slaps his friend on the back, shakes his hand vigorously, stares him in the face, and guides him to his seat. Apaches avoid touching each other, so slapping backs and shaking hands are an encroachment of personal space. Staring at someone in the face is considered an act of aggression. And guiding the person to his seat is considered bossy, which the Apache find very offensive.
6. The joker repeats rapid fire questions. The Apache consider it rude to repeat questions, and not giving someone enough time to respond is deemed discourteous.
7. The joker says, "You looking pretty fat!" Statements concerning someone's physical appearance are considered disrespectful and discomforting. The Apache want to blend in moreso than stand out like the Whiteman, who the Apache think are very self absorbed.
8. The joker speaks quickly and in a loud, high-pitched voice. As mentioned earlier, this is how the Apache view the Whiteman speaking, which they deem angry.

As stated prior, views of the Whiteman are constantly evolving, but regardless, these portraits will always be what the Apache is not. These jokes serve as social commentary of how the Apaches view the Whiteman, but also how the Apache view themselves. These jokes are only performed when the people giving and receiving the joke are close enough with each other that neither will be offended.

Native Nations of the Plains

In Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of Native Nations, Bonvillain addresses native nations of the Plains. The Great Plains refers to the territories of central and western North America. The environment doesn't bode well in terms of precipitation and farming, and high temperatures plague the summer months. Some of these nations include the Arikaras, Mandans, Hidatas, Comanches, Wichitas, Kiowas, Lakota/Dakota (pictured left), etc. Of these nations, there are six different linguistic families being that of Algonkian, Athabaskan, Caddoan, Siouan, Kiowa-Tanoan, and Uto-Aztecan. Most of the indigenous Plains languages are actually still spoken today by Native Americans on the reservations.

Most people think of horses as being indigenous to North America, with the myth of the wild mustang and all that jazz, but horses were introduced by the Spanish of the southwest. The acquisition of horses forever changed how these nations lived. Among some of the most important aspects of their lives affected include transportation, concepts of social status and wealth, and rituals. The amount of horses one has became a symbol of wealth, and horses were sacrificed at the owner's death, if possible. Horses allowed these nations to migrate much easier, and the elderly and sick could retreat to riding a horse if they were unable to walk. Consequently, the egalitarian ethic was negatively impacted by this as well since a social hierarchy was created, which marginalized those who did not own horses.

Women's status changed as a result of the trade of horses and buffalo. Woman's labor was essential to trade, and a man might have become polygamous to ensure his wives prepared more hides and thus, elevating his economic status. Therefore, the notion of polygyny had nothing to do with a romanticized concept, but rather an economic stance. Westerners have a social stigma against polygny when in fact, most societies around the world practice polygamy. Most societies use the metric system too, but that's another issue. The point is, Western tradition has developed the ethnocentric notion that simply because we accept the romantic notion of monogamy and consensual love that other societies are wrong and therefore seem like chauvinist bigots. The fact is, different cultures hold different priorities - Western society centers around romantics, while many other societies center around survival and economics.

The Choctaws

Bonvillain writes about the Choctaws in Chapter 7 of Native Nations. The Choctaws inhabited the southeast, more specifically Mississippi, western Alabama, and eastern Louisiana, before being forced off their land during the "Trail of Tears". The Choctaws were the second most populous indigenous people of the southeast nations - the Cherokee being first. Though the Choctaw, like the Seminoles, had to deal with an intense bayou type environment, they farmed and foraged as a way of accumulating subsistence. (Shout out to my Choctaw friend Joanna!)

I've always been interested in cultural norms and mores of different societies and when I read about Choctaw clothing, it sparked my interest. Choctaw men wore a breechcloth that hung from their waists around the front and back, and women wore skirts consisting of deerskin or buffalo hair or plant fibers. Both sexes went topless. There is a clear stigma in Western culture against toplessness, most certainly due to sexual arousal and social conditioning which states baring breasts is indecent. This was illustrated later in the chapter when Bonvillain explained consequences of European expansion. Bonvillain described British traders who were served graciously by Choctaw women and showed no respect for them by blatantly placing their hands on the breasts of the wives. This was not permitted, obviously, and in fact, death was preferable to humility. Needless to say, this caused problems not only between the traders, but within the psyche of Choctaw women as well.

Another interesting aspect to cultural norms and mores is tattoos. To the Choctaws, tattoos were symbols of honor as well as decoration. Bonvillain states that warriors, chiefs, and their wives adorned tattoos on their faces, arms, shoulders, thighs, and legs, while warriors particularly adorned them on their chests. This lends itself to another Western stigma of social conditioning and indecency, particularly in regard to religion. Currently, tattoos are much widely accepted by western culture. People sport them for a variety of reasons, including honor and pure decoration, but Choctaw strictly used black, red, and blue pigment as these were the types available at their disposal.

Native Nations of the Southeast

Everglades

Chapter 6 of Native Nations addresses Native Nations of the Southeast. Bonvillain first outlines the five linguistic families: Muskogean, Caddoan, Iroquoian, , Siouan, and Algonkian. Bonvillain elaborates on the Muskogean linguistic family since it is the largest, which consists of the Choctaws (discussed in the next blog), Chickasaws, Creeks, Seminoles, Natchez, Coosas, Alabamas, Yamasees, and several others. It's neat to learn about how these nations adapted to a completely different environment with the bogs and swamps of the south (see everglades pictured above). These harsh conditions boded well, however, when it came time for the Seminoles to flee because they had the advantage of knowing the terrain, which Europeans were otherwise foreign to. Mosquitoes, alligators, and subtropic wetland humidity - oh, my! Since resources were in relative supply, south-easterners didn't have to migrate, and lived a sedentary lifestyle. South-easterners utilized horticulture, along with the usual hunter-gathering way of life. I liked the Natchez thirteen moon calendar, as it reminded me of the farmers almanacs of today, in which the names of the moons are pretty straight forward as to the crops and animals in season (e.g. the little corn moon is the third moon of the year, which begins in March, not February, and the Great Corn moon is the seventh moon - makes sense, right? Right.) I found it interesting, and this reveals a European ignorance, that South-easterners hunted buffalo, particularly in the western parts, but also Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee. I often forget how the buffalo roamed not only the Plains of the North, but also prairies and grasslands that covered a large segment of the middle U.S. and even some eastern territories. Turkeys were considered the most important bird of the southeastern diet - understandable why Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be that national bird as they were plentiful.

Reading about the Natchez left a bad taste in my mouth as most of the culture described by Bonvillain was on account of post-European conquest. Egalitarian ways were shattered and Natchez society was split into two classes: the noble and the commoners. This is further revealed with titles, such as the highest ranking chief's eldest sister (near equal to the chief) is called "White Woman". The submission continues as commoners were mostly referred to as "stinkards". What a set up for disaster and resentment!

Now to the meaty stuff with the Seminoles and encounters with Spanish explorers and the federal government in general. The Seminoles are perhaps the most honored of all the tribes in my opinion because of their will to fight and dedication to their people. Seminoles fought with Andrew Jackson's troops even though they resided in Spanish territory at the time of Jackson's presidency. A seven year Seminole War that ended in 1842 forced a good majority of Seminoles out, but Seminoles never actually signed a treaty. I'd heard of this only vaguely, and Bonvillain doesn't directly address it, but she does state that their leader, Osceola, attempted to negotiate a settlement, but when he tried to call truce, Osceola was jailed and died there (pictured in the center of the Seminoles to the left). Seminoles continued to reject removal thereafter and only about 150 survived to continue living in Florida. I tried to do a little bit of research on this and the only information I could find is that someone said Governor Claude Curk signed a treaty with the Seminoles in the 60's, but I'm not sure as to how much water this holds because I couldn't find any further research on it. As far as I'm concerned, the Seminoles are only recognized by the federal government, but not actually associated with them. Also, Seminoles pioneered with legal and economic relations as they were the first nation to raise the issue of gambling to the U.S Supreme Court.

Aerial Archaeology

Technological advancements such as aerial photography and Google Earth are making finding sites a lot easier for archaeologists these days. From the sky, one has an overview of the landscape and can better view topographical features which might indicate a site. In addition, archaeologists are gaining access to previously restricted locations. For instance, aerial archaeology would bode well for archaeology of the Ancient Near East because tells (mounds created by repetitive occupation) would be distinct in the landscape. Shown in the picture above are some of the Nazca lines. This also reminded me of the intaglios I saw out at field school made by the Colorado River tribes, but I'll discuss this later.

Stated in the following article are the new discoveries made by Dr. David Kennedy at the University of Western Australia due to aerial photography: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/5675744/Aussie-makes-discoveries-from-his-office. Kennedy discovered stone structures that span across the Arabian peninsula from northern Syria to Yemen. These types of findings are called geoglyphs and vary in depiction - animals, humans, etc. What's really exciting is that these geoglyphs are prehistoric and from around 9000 years ago, whereas the Nazca lines are only about 1000 years old. The area was fruitful in regard to dwellings as well, which led to tomb discoveries.

As I said, these findings reminded me of the intaglios at Blythe, Arizona (man, was it hot there!). The intaglios were created by the Colorado River tribes. These intaglios, as well as the Topac Maze in Needles, Arizona, were formed by desert pavements, which are gravel terraces formed by wind and deflated by water. The Topac Maze (above right) was a series of parallel routes and aboriginal trails, whereas the Blythe intaglios depicted mainly anthropomorphic figures (pictured left). The process entails removing the surface pavements to show earlier and lighter stones/sand. Interestingly, anthropomorphic figures like this are rare and there are several different styles of depiction.

The Mi'kmaqs

Concluding the Northeastern section of Native Nations, Bonvillain writes about the Mi'kmaqs in Chapter 5. The Mi'kmaqs are an Algonkian speaking people who reside in what is now eastern Canada, up near the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Nova Scotia. The Tuft's Cove settlement is pictured to the right, which is in Nova Scotia. Mi'kmaqs are the northern most Algonkian speakers. As I began reading this chapter, I immediately thought of the environment and how it drives culture - along the lines of Julian Steward's theory of cultural ecology. Since Mi'kmaqs live in a colder environment with limited resources, this was reflected in their choice of band congregation, which was more territorial than social. As would be expected, migration and settlement patterns revolved around food source. The Mi'kmaq way of life consists primarily of foraging, but also of hunting. I think moose are the most interesting animal they hunt - it made me think how they are sort of the like wooly mammoth of our day, up there in the harsh, cold climate. During these moose expeditions, Mi'kmaqs hunted in parties, but even more interesting, is that men primarily hunted alone. It's not clear as to why, but perhaps territorial issues and masculine achievement are safe inferences. Mi'kmaqs were not farmers (until they were forced to be by Europeans) and in fact, they only cultivated tobacco, which was used in ritual and to stave off hunger for all members of the community.

I enjoyed reading about Mi'kmaq religious beliefs and practices, and one thing that I've always been interested in were shapeshifters, or skinwalkers. I'm only familiar with this in regard to the Navajo and Hopi, however. Bonvillain does not directly referenced this here, but she does refer to a powerful people who practice witchcraft called the "buoin". Bonvillain does, however, state than a further manifestation of their power is to change from one form into another, so to me this implies shapeshifting.

I've always been fascinated by birthing rituals, and last year in my anthropological theory class, we watched the documentary The Business of Being Born. The documentary reveals the nature of midwifery and how the medical industry and hospitals essentially stole this intimate experience away from women. Bonvillain's description of birthing reminded me of this parallel. Mi'kwaqs kneeled on the ground or squatted and held onto something while giving birth, which makes sense as to not fight the force of gravity by lying down on a hospital bed. The mother would be surrounded by a few women who would console her and make her feel comfortable, as well as burn tobacco to ease pain and quicken birth. Babies were given oil from a bear or seal to swallow after being washed in the river and then wrapped in animal fur - sounds a lot better than dangling you from your feet, slapping your ass to make you breathe, and squirting silver nitrate into your eyes.

The Mohawks

In Chapter 4 of Native Nations, Bonvillain discusses the Mohawk people of the Northeast. The Mohawks currently inhabit parts of Canada such as Quebec and Ontario, but also New York state. When I read about such things as the Tyendinaga community and Six Nations being granted land by Europeans like King George III, I can't help but laugh. How nice of the British to grant the Native Americans with their own land! It's just oxymoronic! Time after time we're enlightened about the injustices of loyalty and allegiance that Native Americans endured, and the Mohawk people were no exception. Having already established allegiances, Mohawks were attacked by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Just the same, Mohawks were attacked during the French and Indian War, in which they pledged allegiance and aided Great Britain. Europeans would rope in Native Americans with promises of protection and land rights, but as expected, no one ever upheld these promises. What else could Native Americans do but comply? They were outnumbered. They were rendered helpless to superior technology. They were losing people rapidly. Some Europeans allied with the Mohawks such as John Norton (pictured to the left), who was a Mohawk leader in the War of 1812 as he was part Cherokee, part Scottish.

Along these same lines, I think it's interesting to read what Europeans used to call Native Americans. Mohawks called themselves "Kanyenkehaka", which means "people of the place of flint", whereas Europeans called them "Mohawks", which means "human-eaters". Interesting how there was no record of Mohawks eating humans, but European ethnocentricity tends to run rampant with imagination.

Again we run into the respected position of women in society. Bonvillain states that if a woman was the victim of murder, her family would be given more wampum belts as restitution as opposed to a man. It was thought that women could not as easily defend themselves and because women replenish the earth with people, they're more valued as a part of the public. Also, Mohawks left wishes to the woman in sexual matters. This reflects the fact that rape and beatings were unheard of in Mohawk society.