Re: craftsperson

Krista J Anderson (krista@ihlpf.att.com)
Thu, 6 Feb 1992 05:29:00 CST

Speaking of anthropologists, there have been some Native American
anthropologists of note. D'Arcy McNickle was a member of a tribe
that was once called Flathead, now called Salish. He wrote a
number of novels, none of which, unfortunately, I have read. He
also wrote books on history, in particular _The AmerIndians_; I
think that's the title. This is one of the very few books easily
found that chronicles the early Spanish explorations of the Tampa
Bay area, and the fascinating people who were native to the area,
with their feathered robes and yards and yards of fresh-water
pearls.

I think there was another Native American anthropologist who was
killed by headhunters in the Philippines.

And, I believe the Omaha, Francis LaFlesche was an anthropologist.
I read his book _The Middle Five_ which was a memoir of 5 boys in
his reservation boarding school. It was written from the heart.

I think modern anthropologists have learned from the mistakes of
the past. Hopefully _Custer Died for Your Sins_ is required
reading for them.

I still think some of the best social comments on Native
understanding versus white man understanding are in Dr. Charles
Eastman's _From the Deep Woods to Civilization_. Although he was
an M.D., I think he did a bit of studying the white people in
anthropological style. :-) Well, I think Vine Deloria studies us
critically also and with great insight.

-krista

Oh, and if you call the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC, they
can tell you how to get a free booklet of native craftspeople. Then I
suppose you could write to someone to see if they're amenable to interviews.
The booklet is for some official thing; their branch of the BIA insures
that no one is allowed to label items American Indian made unless they
really are. The booklet is to match art collectors with Native craftspeople
for the benefit of both.