Post on 08-Jan-2018
description
Culture Cultivates Proud Individuals and Aids
the Onondaga Nation through Inhumane Treatment
from the United States
Prepared by: Brooke RuggieroDecember 8th, 2014
1.) What importance does culture play in our nation?2.) How have government intervention and regulations impacted natural social practices? 3.) how can we change and improve the social world to make it a more just place for all people?
Guiding Social Theoretical Questions
Chapter 1: What is ‘Humane’Background
United States SystemsIndian Law
Inhumane Treatment of the Onondaga Nation
Human Rights (a widely adopted definition)
“The science of human rights is defined as a particular branch of the social science,
the object of which is to study human relations in the light of human dignity while determining those rights and faculties which are necessary
as a whole for the full development of each human being's personality.”
–Rene Cassin
World War II: Violations of Human Rights on a Massive Scale
Corpse of Starved Infant, Warsaw Ghetto Australian and Dutch Prisoners of War at Tarsau in Thailand, 1943
OAS-IACHROrganization of American States
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is the institutional embodiment of an ideal. Its establishment in 1959 as an expression of the
commitment of the American states ‘to a system of freedom for the individual and of social justice based on respect for fundamental human
rights’ translated the ideal into action.”
–definition by OAS
Indian Law & Taking Land1784, 1789, 1794: Treaties made between the Onondaga Nation and
U.S. Federal Government1788-1822: Illegal takings of Onondaga Lands1831: America’s Indians are defined as both separate nations and part of the United States1924: Citizenship Act- granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans who had not already acquired it1953: Congress endorses a House Concurrent Resolution- ALL rights pertaining to American citizenship must be granted to Indians
“It would be wise to bring them to adopt, gradually, our forms... I would use neither Belts nor Strings [of wampum] in any communications. Instead, all
messages or communications should be signed and sealed or both... I would never suffer the word ‘Nation’ or ‘Six Nations’ or ‘Confederates’ or ‘Council Fire at Onondaga’ or any other form which would revive or seem to confirm their former ideas of independence. . . Treat them as though they were your
citizens–therefore–subject to your authority. . . The style by which the Indians are to be addressed is of moment also. They are used to be called Brethren, Sachems and Warriors of the Six Nations. I hope it will never be repeated...
They should rather be taught [that] . . . they have become wretched and destroyed themselves, and that public opinion of their importance had
long since ceased.“ –James Duane
Inhumane Treatment of the Onondaga
Chapter 2: What is ‘Culture’Background
United States CultureOnondaga CultureLand and Culture
Defining Culture
1.) learned beliefs, values, rules, norms, symbols, and traditions that are common to a group of people2.) shared qualities that makes a group unique and different from other groups3.) passed down to different generations.
Levels of Culture
American Culture
• American Exceptionalism• Nationalism• Pride in National Culture
• Multiculturalism• Pride in Ethnic/Group
Culture
Onondaga Culture
• Ceremonies• Food• Dance• Dress• Sports• Language• Homes
Nature-Culture Divide
Nature • Bio-physical entity• The “sciences” • Self-serving entity
Culture • Social entity• The “humanities”• Artifacts of existence-
human superiority over land
Westernization of Onondaga Lands
1.) Chemical Pollution of Onondaga Lake2.) Salt Mining in Tully Valley3.) Channelization of Onondaga Creek4.) Damage to the Other Tributaries of Onondaga Lake5.) Hydraulic Fracturing
Chapter 3: Importance of Preserving Culture
Culture Aids the Onondaga Nation through Inhumane Treatment
Preserving Culture
“‘Natural social practices’ would appear to mean the cultural ceremonial practices of the Haudenosaunee and Onondaga,
which celebrate the steps in the annual cycle that supports all life. Onondaga is in the harvest ceremony now, and their Mid-Winter, strawberry, green corn, etc. ceremonies are repeated every year… There was nothing ‘natural’ about the theft of
Onondaga land by NY State, which was in knowing violation of federal treaties, the constitution and law. The theft of the land, the removal of the people and the continued attempts at forced assimilation were part of a consistent pattern of violations of
international human rights.” –Joseph Heath
1.) Cultural Cooperation is Equality Oriented2.) Culture is Tightly Connected with Identity3.) Culture Helps Make Policies that are Serious about Human Rights4.) Culture Helps with Development Goals5.) Cultural Cooperation puts an Emphasis on Multicultural Dialogue6.) Culture Aids with Peace and Reconciliation in Politics
Preserving Culture
Methodical Approach to ResearchWhy the Onondaga Nation?
2 hour and 25 minute drive from home in Saratoga Springs to the Onondaga Nation in Nedro, New York.
2 hour and 18 minutedrive from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy to the Onondaga Nation in Nedro, New York.
Methodical Approach to ResearchReaching Out to the Nation
Homepage of the Onondaga Nation's Website showing the Drop Down Menu of Land Rights
Regular Tweets from the Onondaga Nation- Available
Directly on their Website
Methodical Approach to ResearchA Survey on American Culture
Facebook Page Blasting Survey on American Culture
• Created on Survey Monkey• Shared via Facebook and E-mail• Multiple Choice Questions• Limits the inherent
confusion of American culture
• Ensured trends
THANK YOU!