Homeland of the Lenape people

"Land of the Lenape"

Government (self-governing)

Cultural group

Society

Country

Nation

Myth that Native Americans have gone extinct

The Dutch acquired Manhattan from the Lenape for $24 worth of “goods” (beads) 

A distinct type of colonialism that functions through the replacement of indigenous populations with an invasive settler society that, over time, develops a distinctive identity and sovereignty 

Four elements:

1. Political/military control of a territory 

2. Theft of land/resources 

3. Genocide of Indigenous people 

4. Replacement of Indigenous people with European settlers 

Collecting/using plants in the right way 

Four elements:

1. Never take the first/never take the last 

2. Ask permission and state your purpose 

3. Offer a gift 

4. Only take what you need 

Viola Cordova was the first Native woman to get a Ph.D in philosophy

What tribe is Viola Cordova from?

According to Viola Cordova, we should study Native American philosophy because it has not been explored much

Western culture is (largely) written culture, written by missionaries 

• Much of what is written about Native Americans is wrong, and is motivated by an attempt to Christianize Natives 

*European thought has distorted Native American thought (has treated it in terms of a “parody”) 

Each cultural group has three definitions. What are these? 

The fundamental beliefs of a culture 

Christian, scientific, “modernist” 

Viola Cordova’s people are matrilineal 

Follow’s the mothers line 

Ex. Naming, identity 

Males go to the homes of the wives they marry 

Women bring their males to the house of their mothers 

Property passes through the hands of the maternal line 

Follow’s the fathers line

When a woman becomes the property of her husband 

Male dominated 

Men ought to be the head of the household 

Either/or

Indigenous "two-spirit" people, non-binary

Viola Cordova defines philosophy as an examination of ideas (ideas have cultural contexts)

Some of the assumptions that the Western philosopher brings with him are the view that: 

1. All human beings share common beliefs 

2. Non-Western peoples are less complex than Westerners 

3. Indigenous people are incapable of doing philosophy 

Western agriculture - “advanced,”

Indigenous agriculture - “primitive” 

Western agriculture: Corn rows (single crop)

Indigenous agriculture: "The Three Sisters" (corns, beans, squash)

Mounds

To understand Native American philosophy, we must (first) understand Native American culture 

Native American culture is pre-modern, un-advanced, old-fashioned, and un-developed 

There is a tribal structure 

• Cordova: “Locke doesn’t understand that a tribe is a government” 

”One of the most important factors in creating a Native American philosophy is the inclusion of Native Americans in the activity”

”...it is necessary to know at least how the language works, its structure” 

• In Lenape, non-human animals are a “who” not a “what” 

• Lenape grammar divides the world into “living” and “nonliving,” not genders 

• There is no word for “king” 

Today the field of Native American philosophy is dominated by non-Native Americans 

Philosophy provides the critical framework for a culture’s beliefs and values 

How does the opening line of the story describe the people (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

Why did the people decide to trap the Raven (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

The Raven says that if the people will untie him, he will do what (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

When the Raven was in captivity, how was his health (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

The Raven led the people to a herd of… (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

Who are the “Buffalo People” (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

When coming home from the hunt, the people encountered what (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

What does the Old Raven say about speaking directly to the people (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

The Old Raven says that even though the people and the Ravens speak different languages, they will both experience… (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

Grandfather says to Nasaria that the people call themselves what (In "The Bridge Over Romero Creek")?

How many federally recognized Native American tribes are there in the U.S.?