Margaret Mead's study of Balinese culture reveals the sociocentric nature of their society, where community and collective identity overshadow individualism. Mead's initial encounters, characterized by the constant bustle of community life, highlighted the Balinese preference for crowds and communal activities. Their calendar is tied to ritual and community-based activities, and children are raised with an emphasis on community over self. Scholar Michel Stephen's concept of Extra Semantic Knowledge (ESK) suggests that imaginal memory presents feelings and thoughts not captured by semantic memory, as seen in premonitory dreams, such as those preceding the Tegallalang mudslide in Bali.

The post explores psychoanalytic concepts and their manifestations in daily life, using Freud's Map of the Self, Piaget's schemas, and Berne's transactional analysis. It also discusses cultural variations in the perception of self, comparing the individualistic focus in some societies to the communal emphasis in others.

Ridley Scott’s film "Alien" (1979) is analyzed using Jungian psychoanalytical techniques, exploring how protagonist Lt. Ellen Ripley represents the ego and other characters represent dissociated parts of her self. The film’s storyline symbolizes Ripley’s reintegration of these aspects as she overcomes the alien threat, becoming a fully realized self.

In Hitchcock's Spellbound, protagonist J.B.'s suppressed memory of a murder is revealed through dreamscapes. The manifest content of his dreams, such as a man falling off a roof, provides clues to the murder's location and details. Free association helps analysts decode these dreams, but J.B.'s guilt and alternate personality complicate the investigation. In Melford E. Spiro's essay, Ms. B.'s depression is linked to conflicting selves: a modern feminist and one with masochistic desires. Her dreams and fantasies reveal this internal conflict, and reconciling these aspects helps her overcome depressive moods.

In 1959, anthropologist Francis L.K. Hsu from Northwestern University identified self-reliance as the core value in American society, around which other conflicting values, such as monogamous marriage and freedom, revolve. These values are often in tension, creating a unique collective American conscience shaped by individualism from the Enlightenment. Hsu's analysis ties these values to the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment, explaining the competitive and insecure nature of American society.

Haitian Voodoo is a blend of African tribal religion and Catholicism, influenced by the African slaves and 15th-century colonizers. Voodoo rituals incorporate both African and Catholic elements, such as death rites and the use of Voodoo dolls. Spirits known as lwa, like Ezili, Ogou, Danbala, and Gede, represent a synthesis of African and colonial religious figures. Annette, a Haitian woman interviewed by Erika Bourguignon, experienced these spirits advising her through dreams and rituals, reflecting the cultural and religious complexities of Voodoo.

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, combined with the study of genetics, has revolutionized science. It explains human origins, the biological processes of the mind, and human behavioral patterns. Evolutionary biology and evolutionary psychology are key fields that apply evolutionary theory to behavior and the mind. Research by anthropologists like Joan B. Silk on primates' altruistic behaviors underscores the role of natural selection. These developments raise questions about free will and impact disciplines like sociology and politics, illustrating the enduring influence of evolutionary theory.

Life history theory seeks to explain aspects of organisms' anatomy and behavior through natural selection. In this context, sexual selection theory uses the metaphor of the "cost of reproduction" to understand sexual motivations. This theory commoditizes women based on reproductive value, as seen in the practice of bridewealth. The study of the Kipsigis people of Kenya shows that factors such as physical condition, age, and economic value influence a bride's reproductive value. Similar practices exist in North America, indicating that sexual selection behaviors are universal. While natural and sexual selection play roles in human mating behavior, there is no consensus on the nature versus nurture debate. Human cooperation and culture have uniquely impacted human life, making humans ecologically successful.

Sexual preference is driven by biological imperatives from our evolutionary history, with fitness and symmetry being key indicators for partners. Women's long pregnancies and lack of ovulation signaling may have evolved to protect their children. Both men and women look for traits that can provide advantages to their offspring. Sexual selection is evident in American media, such as reality shows like "The Bachelor," which highlight these traits for entertainment.

House Bill 1495, proposed by Washington State Representative John McCoy and tribal leaders, aimed to improve Indian education by addressing various challenges such as teacher preparation, lack of appropriate textbooks, and racism in schools. Initially conceived in 2003, the bill was signed into law in 2005, but underwent significant revisions and delays. By 2015, Senate Bill 5433 mandated some of the Indian studies curriculum proposed earlier. Despite hesitations and delays from stakeholders, implementation is now underway.

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation faced a tragic conflict with federal authorities over a lone orca, Tsu-xiit, believed to embody their deceased chief's spirit. Western science viewed the orca as a wayward member needing relocation, while the tribe saw it as a spiritual presence. The incident highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives in decision-making and underscored differing scientific worldviews.

Actor Don Cheadle discovered that his ancestors were slaves owned by the Chickasaw Indians in Oklahoma. The Chickasaw adopted slavery to maintain an economy with white settlers. After relocation and assimilation, the Dawes Act provided land allotments to Freedman, including Cheadle's ancestors. Today, Freedman descendants seek citizenship in displaced nations to preserve ancestral graves and participate in sacred rites. Sovereignty issues remain, but historian Alastair Bonnett hopes for recognition of the historical connection and respect for Native American autonomy.

The article “Violence, Sexual Abuse, and Health in Greenland” reveals high rates of violence and sexual abuse among Inuit people, correlating with health problems and suicide rates, especially among the Inukjuak. The film I am Inuk, I am Alive highlights the theme of youth suicide and detachment from elders. The Kitigaaryuit Declaration of 2014 aims to counteract the negative impacts of western civilization on Arctic First Nations by promoting culture, education, social development, and economic self-reliance. Despite ongoing challenges, the Inuit in Canada are taking steps to improve health and well-being, with a vision for economic prosperity.

In the late 1990s, Kenneth Frank of the Gwich'in "People of the Flats" Gwichyaa band donated photographs from the 1950s-1980s to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. The Gwich'in have lived in Venetie, Alaska for about 20,000 years. In 2000, anthropologist Bill Burke recorded Kenneth's recounting of events depicted in these photos. The images offer insight into a remote Alaskan community maintaining a traditional lifestyle amid changing times, showcasing expert moose hunting, early 20th-century settlement life, and the band council in 1954.

Salmon play a crucial role in the Yakama Tribe's well-being, providing significant daily caloric intake and cultural value. The Yakama Tribe has engaged with the U.S. Geological Survey to mitigate climate change effects on fishing and sustainability. Historically, contact with Europeans in 1805 led to devastating outcomes for the Yakama, but they continue to set examples of environmental and cultural stewardship.

Following is a timeline reviewing the events in American history that have established and defined Native American sovereignty in the United States. Prior to this, relationships with Indian tribes were maintained through traditional treaty documents that generally allowed for independent governance.

Both Thomas King in "The Inconvenient Indian" and Neil Diamond in "Reel Injun" explore the portrayal of indigenous peoples in North American film. They highlight various stereotypes and their impacts, from the depiction of Native women as victims to the portrayal of Native peoples as daemons, saviors, savages, and more. These stereotypes often originated from historical figures, incidents, and social norms.

Keith H. Basso’s ethnography Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache introduces Dudley Patterson, a lore keeper who helps Basso map the Cibecue region using Apache place-names. This project reveals the cultural significance of place-names, which serve as descriptions of both places and wisdom. The Western Apache use place-names to convey moral teachings, offer advice, and heal spirits. Basso learns that acquiring wisdom involves developing a smooth, resilient, and steady mind. The ethnography highlights the deep connections between landscape, language, and cultural wisdom among the Apache people.

The film No More Smoke Signals explores the history and present-day experiences of the Oglala Lakota Sioux people through the lens of KILI, a locally run radio station on the reservation in South Dakota. The film highlights the deprivation faced by the Oglala Lakota, including low services and unemployment, and the impact of historical injustices. It features interviews with activists like John Trudell and portrays the struggles with drug and alcohol abuse on the reservation. The film critiques the lack of effective solutions and the influence of Christianity on the community.

Anthropologist Horace Miner's 1956 article "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" uses an etic perspective to describe American culture's focus on personal hygiene and health rituals. Miner presents the Nacirema as self-obsessed and burdened by these rituals. However, his etic-only analysis highlights the pitfalls of observing cultures from a singular viewpoint. Anthropologist James Lett suggests combining emic and etic perspectives provides a more holistic understanding of cultures, capturing both face-value analysis and objective cause-and-effect relationships.

The Omaha Tribe's 1854 treaty with the federal government has been upheld in recent court cases, affirming their authority over reservation lands despite challenges from the State of Nebraska and local businesses. The tribe's 2004 liquor-control law, which includes a 10% tax on liquor sales, faced legal opposition, but courts have so far supported the tribe's jurisdiction. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the case. The Omaha people are leveraging this legal success to engage new businesses and combat alcohol and drug impacts on the reservation. This case reflects a shift towards honoring treaty obligations and supporting tribal sovereignty.

Watching the film "We Still Live Here" (Makepeace 2010) highlighted the participation divide in the Wampanoag language program, reflecting a broader tension between preserving the past and focusing on the future. In my History of American Indian Sovereignty course, we discuss the evolving sovereign status of indigenous people, noting the judiciary's inconsistent application of liberal construction principles. Sandra Day O’Connor's 1997 lecture on Indian Tribal Courts explores community justice, while Jill Norgren's "The Cherokee Cases" inadvertently uses colonial language when comparing indigenous people to ethnic minorities. I ponder whether modern language and technology will eventually erode historical traditions.

The 1863 Treaty of Rose Valley between the U.S. Government and the Western Shoshone was intended for safe passage, not land cession. However, in 1962, the Indian Claims Commission deemed the Western Shoshone lost 24 million acres due to "gradual encroachment." In 1979, the Secretary of the Interior began taking ownership of the land, leading to a 30-year legal battle involving the Dann sisters, who grazed livestock on these lands. The Supreme Court's 1985 decision in United States v. Dann ruled the Shoshone lost their land after compensation, despite subsequent mining and environmental degradation. The inconsistency in upholding treaty obligations highlights the need for Congress to respect indigenous treaty rights.

In 1996, the discovery of the "Kennewick Man" sparked a lengthy legal battle over the remains, involving various stakeholders including the Umatilla Tribe, scientists, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) played a central role in determining the custody and treatment of the remains. Initial scientific examinations suggested Polynesian ancestry, but DNA testing later linked the remains to the Colville tribe. The case highlights the tension between indigenous sovereignty and scientific inquiry, with broader implications for cultural preservation and human rights.