A Chemehuevi song : the resilience of a Southern Paiute tribe / Clifford E. Trafzer ; foreword by Larry Myers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Trafzer, Clifford E., author.

Myers, Larry, author of introduction, etc.

Series:

Indigenous Confluences

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chemehuevi Indians--History.

Chemehuevi Indians.

Chemehuevi Indians--Government relations.

Chemehuevi Indians--Ethnic identity.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (352 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Scattle, Washington ; London, [England] : University of Washington Press, 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Chemehuevi of the Twenty-Nine Palms tribe of Southern California stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. This small, nomadic band of Southern Paiute Indians has been repeatedly marginalized by European settlers, other Native groups, and, until now, historical narratives that have all too often overlooked them. Having survived much of the past two centuries without rights to their homeland or any self-governing abilities, the Chemehuevi were a mostly “forgotten” people until the creation of the Twenty-Nine Palms Reservation in 1974. Since then, they have formed a tribal government that addresses many of the same challenges faced by other tribes, including preserving cultural identity and managing a thriving gaming industry. A dedicated historian who worked closely with the Chemehuevi for more than a decade, Clifford Trafzer shows how this once-splintered tribe persevered using sacred songs and other cultural practices to maintain tribal identity during the long period when it lacked both a homeland and autonomy. The Chemehuevi believe that their history and their ancestors are always present, and Trafzer honors that belief through his emphasis on individual and family stories. In doing so, he not only sheds light on an overlooked tribe but also presents an important new model for tribal history scholarship. A Chemehuevi Song strikes the difficult balance of placing a community-driven research agenda within the latest currents of indigenous studies scholarship. Chemehuevi voices, both past and present, are used to narrate the story of the tribe’s tireless efforts to gain recognition and autonomy. The end result is a song of resilience.

Contents:

The Chemehuevi way

Invading and defaming the Chemehuevi

War, resistance, and survival

The Chemehuevi at Twenty-Nine Palms

Unvanished Americans

Willie, William, and Carlota

Cultural preservation, ethnogenesis, and revitalization

Glossary.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780295805825

029580582X

OCLC:

910823896