Bad Indians Summary

Joy Harjo’s poem “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” is written with the intent to reveal the Native American struggle of having to find a way to submerge themselves into a culture that had been forced upon them. In this poem Harjo an Okmulgee Native has trouble when adjusting to the city of Los Angeles; all while still trying to hold on to her Native American heritage. This displacement of culture is what constitutes the separation between a person and their culture. Removing the art and other manifestation from a group that know nothing other than their own teachings will only cause what we see as pre-existing; which is the whitewashing of a culture. The sacredness of the Native culture is quickly overturned when the

This section highlights that history has created a false narrative depicting the natives as a victimized people, which they were to some extent but only in the fashion that they did not possess the same technology for warfare, immunity of communal diseases transmitted, and they were not anticipating combat. All other factors considered, the natives stood to be a potential threat. In regards to knowledge obtained by Spaniards prior to arrival and knowledge gained from observation, it would be remiss had they not prepared for battle. This argument is not to be misconstrued in approving their actions; I do recognize colonization as an evil for both the reasons employed and its damaging effects, but rather to change the narrative surrounding that of the native people. While they did experience a tragedy, I feel that it is erroneous to write them into history as being incompetent resulting from their

The indigenous people of California had existed on the lands as hunters-gathers before the arrival of the Spanish who were the first Europeans to reach this part of the Americas. These settlers who began surveying the area since 1530, helped introduce the mission system around 1697 as part of an effort to set up permanent bases for new arrivals and as a bulwark against other European powers. This establishment caused the natives to transition from their original lifestyle into agrarian farmers to help bring in revenue for the Spanish crown which led to them being exploited economically in the process. To establish order in this new land, the Spaniards used harsh punishments for rooting out defiance within the Indian population. However, eventually the natives would begin to die off in such large quantities that it echoed what else was happening what was happening in the rest of the continent. Overall, the effect on the indigenous population was predominantly negative due to contributing towards loss of culture, experiencing callous treatment at the hands of the Spanish, and forced population decline.

In Deborah Miranda’s memoir “Bad Indians”, she uses documents, images, and drawings to expose colonial violence and provides evidence of a history of conquest. There are different types of colonial violence that are depicted throughout her memoir, such as: physical, emotional, sexual, and cultural violence. Additionally, Miranda exposes the nature of colonial violence by providing evidence by implementing particular sources to contribute in confirming the history of conquest throughout the lives of California Mission Indians.

California Indian historians currently engage in proving that Genocide occurred on the California Frontier. When historians attempt to prove the existence of a larger, seemingly indefinable concept they often lose track of regional history in California, citing primary sources from different time periods, all around the State. In order to better understand white-native relations on the California Frontier, it is important to first understand these relationships in specific areas of California that can be properly researched. Rather than engaging in a semantic argument regarding Genocide’s many definitions or its existence in the State as a whole, this manuscript offers a focused study in white-native relations in Northern California’s Round Valley from 1848-1860. By studying a

The Pilgrims brushed their lips against the land of Cape Cod and thanked their Lord when the furious storm released them from its’ fury. The sea troubles left them far from home with no warm welcomes. After scrutinizing the bare land they had located barbarian-like aliens. They formed their judgments and ideas about their companions on Cape Cod. Seeking gold and silver the Spaniards explored unfamiliar territory. Although, they did not discover their hidden treasures they did stumble upon unfamiliar Native American cultures they did not understand. Their misunderstandings led to the formation of judgements towards the Native Americans.   Although both “Plymouth Plantation” by William Bradford and “La Relacion” by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca discuss early settlers and attitudes toward native peoples.  Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca’s attitude toward Native Americans reveals a sense of relief to discover friendship among an island. While, William Bradford displays a fearful and belittling tone.

This essay presents a brief history of Californian Indigenous people. It also showcases a history behind the evolution of Federal Recognition and the Termination policy. In addition, it presents the history and explains what is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is. It then examines the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria giving a brief history. It also discusses the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria’s termination due to the Termination policy and California Rancheria Act of the 1950s. It also discusses the importance of regaining federal recognition applied to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

The first category presents the Indians way of culture before the Spanish influence. The book goes into the mindset of the natives, letting the reader see the Indians in a different angle than what other presents them. Usually, the Indians are portrayed as unintelligent, uncivilized Indians without a structured society in biased books, however this book gives a more unbiased view. The beginning several pages of the first section reveals how their religion came about and how the Acoma Indians

When Jesus Came, The Corn Mothers Went Away gives an in-depth history of the Pueblo Indians before and after the Spanish conquest. It describes the forced changes the Spanish brought to the Indians, and also the changes brought to the Spaniards who came to “civilize” the Indians. The author's thesis is that the Pueblo Indians and other Indians were treated cruelly by the Spanish, who justified their crime by claiming they were civilizing an

Colonialism has a historical context that has long obscured and distorted the experiences of indigenous people, particularly those who endured the brutalities of the California Missions. Although indigenous people are portrayed in history as docile people, who openly embraced invasion, Deborah Miranda dismantles this depiction in her memoir, Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir, through two stories called “Dear Vicenta” and “Novena to Bad Indians”. Throughout the stories run various narratives of survival and resistance, which form new understandings of colonization and missionization. Miranda practices decolonization through oral history in order to form new and ongoing indigenous identities. Evidently, through decolonial practice and deconstructing dominant narratives about “colonized” peoples and replacing them with stories that use traditional memory and practice, Miranda disrupts the commonly accepted narrative of indigenous peoples by reconstructing the dichotomy between good and bad Indians through acts of resistance and survival.

Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian tells the story of Indigenous people in Canada and the United States, it challenges the narrative on how Indigenous history is taught and explains why Indigenous people continue to feel frustrated. King’s seeks to educate the reader as he provides a detailed accounts of the horrific massacres Indigenous people endured, yet he simultaneously inserts humorous moments which balances out the depressing content and enhances his story. The books highlights the neglect and assimilation that Indigenous were subjected to and how their survival was seen as an inconvenience to western culture. King directs his message at a Euro-centric audience to offer an accurate explanation of Indigenous culture and

Although the California Missions exhibit is a historical display, it can be analyzed through some aspects of religious studies. The motivations behind the missions can uncover the purpose the Franciscan padres had for these institutions. Leader expectations made up most of how the natives were treated and how they served the religion. Through the difference in beliefs between the padres

People come to America in order to seek the freedom to life, speech, education, jobs, and free will. Back in Guatemala, Estevan and Esperanza’s daughter Ismene was “taken in a raid on their neighborhood”(183). This unjust treatment causes Estevan and Esperanza to strengthen their will to escape out of the country. So after many difficulties, they are able to escape out of Guatemala and enter America. However, soon after the entrance into America, they face the American discriminated society.. The Americans negative attitude towards Indians causes them to live in fear and discomfort everyday. But, even after all those hardships, they are still willing to stay in America. Their will to remain in America is so strong that they “sacrifice their

In chapters 8-10 in Tilley’s book Seeing Indians, the first page of this reading starts with a quote

63). Serra knew that in order to convert the Indians he would have to do more than show them what the religion was about, instead he would have to make connections. Hackel illustrates how Serra wanted to build missionaries because of the way he saw the Indians. He believed that he would be able to civilize them, therefore, thought that “they would be on the road to salvation.” (pg. 168). This quote supports Hackel’s main argument because his voyage to California to “save” the Indians resulted in his missionaries being built. It conveys him as being one of the founders of California. Moreover, Hackel’s thesis is convincing due to the fact that the civilization of California was important as it was the introduction to European lifestyles in those areas which helped those who now live in California (and shows where our lifestyle was acquired). However, while Hackel displays the heroic acts that some may associate with Serra, it also shows how he would also be considered a bad colonist. The way that he wants to uproot the Indian’s lifestyle and rule them is associated with colonization. Furthermore, Hackel successfully reveals how this was a hard process for Serra as many Indians did not like the idea and all the changes. Ultimately, his efforts to civilize California outweighs his