Presentation for 11.18.13 AIS class with descriptions of: Conference papers accepted; themes in indigenous history, presentation sample (RSA's Animate); guiding discussion questions, and next team steps...

1. A bunch of good stuff today…
1. Your resume
2. Rich Indians, New Capitalists
3. Course Correct (wikis, ??s, etc.)
Nancy Van Leuven, Ph.D. – AIS 230 – Fall 2013 – University of Washington

2. 1. YOUR RESUME
It’s growing.

3. SURPRISE!
THREE CONFERENCE PAPERS
ACCEPTED
American Indian Workshop
May 21-May 25, 2014
University of Leiden (Netherlands)

4. Activist Strategic Communications and American Indians:
“People Are Not Collateral Damage”
Today’s networked American Indian is a beacon of critical
consciousness, as seen in the Idle No More movement and
other messages about tribal gaming and sovereignty. As
seen in Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, social
networking has the potential to transform small activist
groups, previously on the margins of formal networks, into
powerful agents of change. The once-silent have become
indigenous digital-activists, utilizing memes, texts, video,
and social media as platforms for storytelling. In this
research by undergraduates at the University of
Washington, we examine how the tribal media of activism
harnesses the power to engage audiences about indigenous
issues in ways that encourage deeper thinking and create
behavior change.

5. The Law Giveth and the Law Taketh Away:
Tribal Law and the “Indian’s Right to Game”
Laws affecting how American Indian tribes operate gaming
operations offer no black-and-white verdict. This paper, part of
a project by undergraduate students at the University of
Washington, focuses on two policy and legal topics: First, an
analysis of U.S. tribal casinos compares mandates of
membership; specifically, how are individual tribes
determining who, exactly, is a member? Second, we look at
which sovereignty rights were ceded for gaming. The message
focuses on the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in the hope
that gaming would improve the quality of life on reservations
and strengthen tribal governments by using gaming revenues to
aid tribal and non-tribal members. We find that tribal gaming
continues to be discussed in terms of legal disputes,
controversies, and historical revisions.

6. The “Language of Things” from Gaming Cha-Ching:
How Casino Profits Fund Tribal Self-Representations
Much is written about the material culture of tourism and how consumers
crave take-aways such as souvenir post cards, t-shirts, and coffee mugs.
Add to this list the indigenous “language of things” that includes cultural
artifacts of nostalgia to ignite public understanding of colonial histories.
As part of a three-prong research project by undergraduate students at the
University of Washington, we posit that tribal museums and cultural
centers focus on tourism discourse, with language and communication
‘reworked’ in the context of American Indian marketing. Drawing upon
cultural theorists, including Stuart Hall, who states that, “Identity is
always a structured representation which only achieves its positive
through the narrow eye of the negative,” our study includes analyses of
how the culture of indigenous tourism reframes gambling from its sinful,
seedy reputation to a vibrant, restorative tribal commodity. Similar to Las
Vegas casinos, tribal gaming establishments offer gift shops and resort
activities; however, casinos run by American Indian nations are often
historically accurate and framed so that non-Natives might better
understand tribal collective and public life.

7. How this looks on your resume.
5/14
American Indian Research Workshop, University of
Leiden/Netherlands. Researcher for three papers:
Activist Strategic Communications and American
Indians: “People Are Not Collateral Damage”
The Law Giveth and the Law Taketh Away:
Tribal Law and the “Indian’s Right to Game”
The “Language of Things” from Gaming Cha-Ching:
How Casino Profits Fund Tribal Self-Representations
And what I hope you’re feeling right now.

8. Presentation example
RSA Animate: The Empathic Civilisation
“Empathy is grounded in the acknowledgement of death and the celebration of life”

9. 2. Rich Indians,
New Capitalists
DISCUSSION

10. Why we acknowledge our heritage
Cultural constructions of race and ethnic heritage
+
Cultural identifications and classifications
-----------------------------------------------------------------Specific historical experiences

11. Themes in indigenous history
Creation of apparatus of colonialism
implemented by Europeans that took control of
indigenous lands for:
• Economic,
• Territorial,
• Political, and
• Religious gains.

12. Understanding/producing
respectful histories
• Knowing your historical/social context
Knowing
• Appreciating multiple perspectives
Appreciating
Acknowledging
• How they survive in
evidence/interpretation (ways of knowing)

13. Everybody talk now!
Why the idea of ‘rich Indians’ and their
participation in corporate America disrupts
dominant assumptions and attitudes about:
Indigenous peoples,
Their cultural authenticity, and
Their place in mainstream urban society.

14. TEAM WORK RIGHT NOW:
1. Wiki or ?
What, exactly, will give your
team what you need?
2. Agenda for 22-minute meeting
Roles and assignments –
Draft scripts due MONDAY

15. BEFORE CLASS
ON WEDNESDAY!
Now:
Pick up your
papers!
1) Email approved questions
to your tribe/casino, Bcc'ing
NVL
2) Help out the economics
team!
3)Prepare for 22-minute
meeting!