Introduction
To examine the meaning of death in the American Indian society, it is neces-sary to know about the general facts of American Indians. First of all, it is not possible, to write about any topic concerning “ the American Indian society”, because there is not one single culture for all those different American Indian nations. The following paper uses examples and explanations from all Indian tribes and, even tough there is a huge diversity, the common endured history and today’s American Indian inner fights between past and tradition unite all North American Indians to some kind of “American Indian society.”
To approach the topic of death after common information, a focus on North American Indian statistics concerning death will follow. These statistics will show the differences in life expectations literally and metaphorically. Whereas some specific forms of American Indian death, like infanticide, disappeared through the centuries, others, well known likewise in “white” and “black” society, such as homicide and suicide, changed their causes, but consist within and outside the reservation boundaries.
As the causes of death altered since the colonization of America, death has also become a new face for the American Indians. Skirmishes between tribes changed to extinguishing wars between “new” Americans and “native” Americans. The surviving American Indians were forced to leave their homelands and move to special reservation areas. Thereby, the traditional death rites modified through a change of living conditions, surroundings, and environment.
To recall all the gathered aspects of “American Indian death ways”, the Na-vajo nation as today’s largest American Indian tribe, will serve as example to re-view and explain old rites, changes their gone through, and history’s effects on their present day appearance.
At the end of the journey through various aspects of the meaning of death for the American Indian society, examples from four American Indian authors shall highlight the importance of death as well in American Indian daily life, as in their history and their philosophy.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- AMERICAN INDIANS – GENERAL FACTS...
- American Indian Statistics concerning Death
- FORMS OF AMERICAN INDIAN DEATH
- American Indian suicide
- American Indian Homicide/Parricide.
- American Indian Infanticide
- DEATH IN AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY.
- AMERICAN INDIAN DEATH RITES
- Tradition
- Present Day.
- EXAMPLE: THE NAVAJO NATION
- DEATH IN AMERICAN INDIAN LITERATURE
- Mythologies.........
- Modern literature.........
- ENDING.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the meaning of death within the American Indian society by examining its history, cultural practices, and literary representations. It delves into the general facts of American Indian life, including their unique challenges and experiences.
- The diverse cultural practices and traditions related to death among various American Indian tribes.
- The impact of colonization and forced assimilation on American Indian deathways.
- The influence of history, environment, and living conditions on American Indian death rites.
- The role of death in American Indian literature and mythology.
- The differences in life expectancy and causes of death between American Indian and general American populations.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction lays the groundwork for the paper, emphasizing the diversity of American Indian cultures and the shared experiences of oppression and survival. It also highlights the significance of understanding the American Indian perspective on death in the context of their unique history.
The section on "American Indians - General Facts" provides an overview of the demographic characteristics and historical circumstances of American Indians in the United States. This section delves into topics such as citizenship rights, population trends, and the impact of colonization on their traditional ways of life.
The "American Indian Statistics concerning Death" section explores the disparity in life expectancy and causes of death between American Indians and the general population. It examines the factors contributing to these differences, such as access to healthcare, nutrition, and living conditions.
The "FORMS OF AMERICAN INDIAN DEATH" section provides insights into specific forms of death prevalent within American Indian societies, including suicide, homicide, and infanticide. It highlights the historical context and social factors influencing these occurrences.
The "DEATH IN AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY" section examines the evolution of death practices and their significance in the context of American Indian history, including the impact of colonization and forced assimilation.
The "AMERICAN INDIAN DEATH RITES" section explores the traditional death rites and rituals practiced by various American Indian tribes, highlighting the cultural and spiritual aspects of death in their societies.
The "EXAMPLE: THE NAVAJO NATION" section uses the Navajo Nation as a case study to illustrate the historical evolution of deathways, the impact of changing living conditions, and the persistence of tradition in the face of modernity.
The "DEATH IN AMERICAN INDIAN LITERATURE" section explores the themes of death in American Indian literature, analyzing both traditional mythologies and contemporary literary works. It examines the ways in which death is portrayed as a central motif in their narratives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The core concepts and keywords explored in this paper include American Indian history, cultural diversity, colonization, assimilation, deathways, death rites, tradition, modernity, life expectancy, causes of death, suicide, homicide, infanticide, American Indian literature, and mythology.
- Quote paper
- Claudia Casagrande (Author), 2000, American Deathways: The Meaning of Death in the American Indian Society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/3435
