Native Studies

Recognition for the Need for a Separate Discipline

Acknowledgment for Native studies separate from other disciplines was first shown in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Previously, Native issues had been discussed almost exclusively among anthropologists, ethnologists, and historians. According to Noel Dyck, these early interests included traditional ethnology, acculturation studies, and Native-state relations. Anthropologists and historians first attempted to reconstruct, analyze, and document the precontact life before extensive European incursion. Ethnology consists of the examination of acculturation among Native communities. Native peoples were forced to assimilate and integrate into EurōCanadian and EurōAmerican culture, as well as having to abandon their own culture and languages in order to be a part of the national whole. Fieldwork was conducted concerning the changes that were taking place within the Aboriginal communities brought about by assimilation policies and practices. The third category is studies of Native-state relations, which focus on the characteristics of the relations between Native peoples and the government, institutions, or agencies. A large topic of interest is the difficult issues of land claims, Aboriginal rights, and federal Native policies.

During and after World War II, it became apparent that tensions between Native peoples and governments were problematic. Again, anthropologists began to investigate changes caused by these relationships and state agencies, the Department of Indian Affairs(Canada), and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S.). There was recognition of changes taking place with Native peoples at the community and individual level. Scholars explored the activities, procedures, and administration of Native affairs at all levels of government. Most of the published material on Native peoples before the 1970s was written by anthropologists employed by museums, universities, and the government, and read mainly by these scholars.

...