Native American Identity and Theory

by Peter, Alex, and Laura

Learning Outcomes

1. To gain an understanding of Native American/American Indian student through a foundation of theory and perspective

2. To educate ourselves and others about a marginalized identity in universities and colleges

3. To apply knowledge to a functional area of student affairs

“There is no such thing as a monolithic American Indian entity” (Horse, 2005)

Two Identities and Two Nationalities“Indian people must develop two identities-- one that is at home looking up at the sky through the poles of the medicine lodge, and one that is comfortable in a business suit in a conference room”(La Counte, 76).

*Dual Citizens*Inter Tribal identity*Identity rooted in colonialism

Five influences on American Indian Consciousness

• The extent to which one is grounded in one’s Native American language and culture, one’s cultural identity

• The validity of one’s American Indian genealogy• The extent to which one holds a traditional American Indian general philosophy or worldview (emphasizing balance and harmony and drawing

on Indian spirituality)• One’s self-concept as an American Indian

• One’s enrollment (or lack of it) in a tribe

In their words:

In their words:“That's how I do this life sometimes by making the

ordinary just like magic and just like a card trick

and just like a mirror and just like disappearing.

Every Indian learns how to be a magician and

learns how to misdirect attention and the dark

hand is always quicker than the white eye and no

matter how close you get to my heart you will

never find out my secrets and I'll never tell you and

I'll never show you the same trick twice. I'm

traveling heavy with illusions.” ― Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

In their words:

“A significant number of people believe tribal

people still live and dress as they did 300 years

ago. During my tenure as principal chief of the

Cherokee Nation, national news agencies

requesting interviews sometimes asked if they

could film a tribal dance or if I would wear

traditional tribal clothing for the interview. I doubt

they asked the president of the United States to

dress like a pilgrim for an interview.” ― Wilma Mankiller

Theory: LaFromboise Trimble and Mohatt’s Five Categories of Indianess

Traditional

Transitional

Marginal

Assimilated

Bicultural

Traditional:-speak and think in native

language-know little english- “old time” traditions and values

Transitional:-speak english and native language-question traditionalism and

religion-but cannot fully accept dominant culture

Marginal:-may be defensively Indian-unable to live in cultural heritage

of tribal group

-unable to identify with dominant problems

Assimilated:-accepted by the dominant

society for the most part

-have embraced the dominant culture and values

Bicultural:-accepted by dominant society for

the most part

-also know and accept tribal traditions

and culture-able to move in either direction

with ease

Case Study

Criticisms

Jeopardy!

Let’s Apply it to Student Affairs!*Assessment

*Develop Trust

*Native American Student Affairs Professionals

*Recruitment and Retention

*Liaisons and Advocates

ReferencesGuillory, R. M., & Wolverton, M.(2008). It’s about family: Native American student persistence in higher education. The Journal of Higher Education, 79, 58-87.

Horse, P. (2005). Native American Identity. In M. Fox, S. Lowe, & G. McClellan (109), Serving native american students: new directions for student services (pp. 61-68). Wiley Publishing

LaCounte, D.W. (1987). American Indian students in college. Responding to the Needs of Today’s Minority Students, 65-78.

Lowe, S. (2005). Native American Identity. In M. Fox, S. Lowe, & G. McClellan (109), Serving native american students: new directions for student services (pp. 33-40). Wiley Publishing

Shotton, H. (2013). Beyond the asterisk.Virginia: Stylus Publishing

Torres, V. (2003). Identity development of diverse populations. Wiley Publishing