Indians and Anthropologists: Vine Deloria, Jr., and the Critique of Anthropology

by Larry Zimmerman (Author), ThomasBiolsi (Author)

New
Paperback
1997
$32.55

In 1969 Vine Deloria, Jr., in his controversial book Custer Died for Your Sins, criticized the anthropological community for its impersonal dissection of living Native American cultures. Twenty-five years later, anthropologists have become more sensitive to Native American concerns, and Indian people have become more active in fighting for accurate representations of their cultures. In this collection of essays, Indian and non-Indian scholars examine how the relationship between anthropology and Indians has changed over that quarter-century and show how controversial this issue remains. Practitioners of cultural anthropology, archaeology, education, and history provide multiple lenses through which to view how Deloria's message has been interpreted or misinterpreted. Among the contributions are comments on Deloria's criticisms, thoughts on the reburial issue, and views on the ethnographic study of specific peoples. A final contribution by Deloria himself puts the issue of anthropologist/Indian interaction in the context of the century's end. CONTENTS-Introduction: What's Changed, What Hasn't, Thomas Biolsi & Larry J. Zimmerman-Part One--Deloria Writes Back-Vine Deloria, Jr., in American Historiography, Herbert T. Hoover-Growing Up on Deloria: The Impact of His Work on a New Generation of Anthropologists, Elizabeth S. Grobsmith-Educating an Anthro: The Influence of Vine Deloria, Jr., Murray L. Wax-Part Two--Archaeology and American Indians-Why Have Archaeologists Thought That the Real Indians Were Dead and What Can We Do about It?, Randall H. McGuire-Anthropology and Responses to the Reburial Issue, Larry J. Zimmerman-Part Three-Ethnography and Colonialism-Here Come the Anthros, Cecil King-Beyond Ethics: Science, Friendship and Privacy, Marilyn Bentz: The Anthropological Construction of Indians: Haviland Scudder Mekeel and the Search for the Primitive in Lakota Country, Thomas Biolsi-Informant as Critic: Conducting Research on a Dispute between Iroquoianist Scholars and Traditional Iroquois, Gail Landsman: The End of Anthropology (at Hopi)?, Peter Whiteley-Conclusion: Anthros, Indians and Planetary Reality, Vine Deloria, Jr.-

Synopsis

In 1969 Vine Deloria, Jr., in his controversial book Custer Died for Your Sins, criticized the anthropological community for its impersonal dissection of living Native American cultures. Twenty-five years later, anthropologists have become more sensitive to Native American concerns, and Indian people have become more active in fighting for accurate representations of their cultures. In this collection of essays, Indian and non-Indian scholars examine how the relationship between anthropology and Indians has changed over that quarter-century and show how controversial this issue remains. Practitioners of cultural anthropology, archaeology, education, and history provide multiple lenses through which to view how Deloria's message has been interpreted or misinterpreted. Among the contributions are comments on Deloria's criticisms, thoughts on the reburial issue, and views on the ethnographic study of specific peoples. A final contribution by Deloria himself puts the issue of anthropologist/Indian interaction in the context of the century's end. CONTENTS-Introduction: What's Changed, What Hasn't, Thomas Biolsi & Larry J. Zimmerman-Part One--Deloria Writes Back-Vine Deloria, Jr., in American Historiography, Herbert T. Hoover-Growing Up on Deloria: The Impact of His Work on a New Generation of Anthropologists, Elizabeth S. Grobsmith-Educating an Anthro: The Influence of Vine Deloria, Jr., Murray L. Wax-Part Two--Archaeology and American Indians-Why Have Archaeologists Thought That the Real Indians Were Dead and What Can We Do about It?, Randall H. McGuire-Anthropology and Responses to the Reburial Issue, Larry J. Zimmerman-Part Three-Ethnography and Colonialism-Here Come the Anthros, Cecil King-Beyond Ethics: Science, Friendship and Privacy, Marilyn Bentz: The Anthropological Construction of Indians: Haviland Scudder Mekeel and the Search for the Primitive in Lakota Country, Thomas Biolsi-Informant as Critic: Conducting Research on a Dispute between Iroquoianist Scholars and Traditional Iroquois, Gail Landsman: The End of Anthropology (at Hopi)?, Peter Whiteley-Conclusion: Anthros, Indians and Planetary Reality, Vine Deloria, Jr.-

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 226
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
Published: 15 Feb 1997
ISBN 10: 0816516073
ISBN 13: 9780816516070

Media Reviews

North American anthropology can be divided into two ages: BD and AD--Before and After Deloria. In 1969 cultural anthropology was shaken by Vine Deloria's witty diatribe, Custer Died for Your Sins. Twenty years later, cultural anthropologist Tom Biolsi and archaeologist Larry Zimmerman organized a symposium on the subsequent relationship between anthropologists and American Indians. Indians and Anthropologists assembles several of these papers and some new ones in what will certainly be an often-cited collection. --Great Plains Quarterly

In this volume, which constitutes a multifold, thought-provoking, and articulate effort to assess the effects of Deloria's challenges, several authors suspect that the reasons anthropologists shy away from Indian Country have less to do with the real transformation of the discipline Deloria advocated and more to do with the ongoing problems Deloria denounced.
--Journal of Anthropological Research

This excellent collection features an impressive array of scholars, all of whom have clearly taken Deloria's critique to heart. --Annals of Iowa

A provocative reassessment of reaction to Deloria's 1969 challenge, this collection of essays raises further questions about the debate, suggesting that the controversy will continue to challenge both the academy and Native America. --New Mexico Historical Review

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to become more fully aware of Vine Deloria, Jr.'s impact on American academia. --Oregon Historical Quarterly

A watershed . . . An excellent book for the general reader and for classroom supplementary studies. --Chronicles of Oklahoma

Author Bio

Thomas Biolsi is an associate professor in the Anthropology Department at Portland State University. Larry J. Zimmerman is an adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Iowa and research associate in the Office of the State Archaeologist of Iowa.