Circle of Goods

Tressa Berman

Description

Circle of Goods compiles the stories of Native American women and examines their kinship, wage work, and informal economies. Responding to the upheavals of reservation life brought about by federal policies—from commodity rations to welfare reform—Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara women, each with distinct histories and cultural practices, stand at the center of the Fort Berthold reservation economy. Berman introduces the concept of ceremonial relations of production to explain the contradictory effects of economic incentives and cultural commitments, and argues that the historical movement of people and goods through a series of structured dependencies often gives rise to creative strategies for survival and new social identities.

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Preface

1. "Say Commodity Cheese!"

2. Ceremonial Relations of Production

3. Women, Work, and the State

4. Mihe, Mia, Sápat Women’s Ways of Leadership

5. "All we needed was our gardens . . ."
Implications of State Welfare Reform on the Reservation Economy

Afterword

Notes

References

Index

Sujets

• Indigenous peoples

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791487891
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

Circle of Goods w o m e n , w o r k , a n d w e l f a r e i n a r e s e r v a t i o n c o m m u n i t y

Tressa Berman

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Circle of Goods

SUNY series in the Anthropology of Work June C. Nash, editor

and

SUNY series in Anthropological Studies of Contemporary Issues Jack R. Rollwagen, editor

Circle of Goods

Women, Work, and Welfare in a Reservation Community

❂

Tressa Berman

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Judith Block Marketing by Patrick Durocher

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Berman, Tressa Lynn. Circle of goods : women, work, and welfare in a reservation community / Tressa Berman. p. cm.—(SUNY series in the anthropology of work) (SUNY series in anthropological studies of contemporary issues) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5535-1 (alk. paper)—ISBN 0-7914-5536-X (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Mandan women—North Dakota—Fort Berthold Indian Reservation—Social conditions. 2. Hidatsa women—North Dakota—Fort Berthold Indian Reservation—Social conditions. 3. Indians of North America—North Dakota—Fort Berthold Indian Reservation— Government relations. 4. Indians of North America—Public welfare—North Dakota—Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. 5. Public welfare—Government policy—North Dakota— North Dakota—Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. 6. Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (N.D.)—Economic conditions. 7. Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (N.D.)—Social conditions. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: SUNY series in anthropological studies of contemporary issues.

E99.M2 B37 2003 305.897'520784—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002029233

Illustrations

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Contents

Acknowledgments Preface 1. “Say Commodity Cheese!” 2. Ceremonial Relations of Production 3. Women, Work, and the State U 4.Mihe, Mia, Sápat Women’s Ways of Leadership 5. “All we needed was our gardens . . .” Implications of State Welfare Reform on the Reservation Economy Afterword Notes References Index

v

vii ix xiii 1 31 55

81

105 129 133 137 151

vi

Map 1. Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3 Figure 1.4

Figure 1.5 Figure 1.6

Figure 2.1

Figure 2.2 Figure 2.3

Figure 2.4 Figure 2.5 Figure 2.6

Figure 2.7 Table 3.1

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Illustrations

The Road to Fort Berthold.

Ration Tickets (Dancing Bull), 1902.

The Four Bears Bridge.

“A lost ocean in the middle of the prairie.”

Mandan Earthlodge, Slant Village Site, Mandan, North Dakota.

Rental Apartments for the Elderly.

U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rental Homes.

Kate (Hopkins) Star, Daughter Theresa (with quilt), Early Reservation Period.

Quilts Purchased for Public Giveaways.

Preparation for Public Giveaway, White Shield Celebration.

Eagle Woman and Girl Sewing Quillwork.

Contemporary Hidatsa Quillwork, Woman’s Shawl.

Cash in a Market Context.

Cash in a Ceremonial Context.

Monthly Income Limits by Household Size Governing Eligibility for Commodity Food Programs.

vii

xv 5 8 10

14 18

20

41 43

44 49 50 53 53

58

viii

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Figure 3.2

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

Figure 4.3

Figure 5.1

Illustrations

Off-Reservation Jobs in Border Communities Not Subject to Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO).

Formal Tribal Chair Rose Crow Flies High Addressing the North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA) Annual Meeting, Bismarck, North Dakota, 1992.

National Welfare Rights Organization, 1968 Poor People’s March on Washington, D.C.

Shot-up Sign on Indian Land Easement Where a Trench Was Dug to Prevent Passage.

Three Affiliated Tribes and the Community Celebrate Wellness.

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85

90

100

126