Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo

Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jacobs, Michelle R.
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2012
Subjects:
Ethnic Studies
Native Americans
Sociology
race
ethnicity
American Indians
identity
Indian mascots
ethnography
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1342364012
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent13423640122021-08-03T05:38:02Z Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo Jacobs, Michelle R. Ethnic Studies Native Americans Sociology race ethnicity American Indians identity Indian mascots ethnography <p>Despite the post-1970s resurgence of American Indian identity, American Indians remain largely invisible in contemporary society. Racial formations, including "common sense" notions of race and place, contribute to the racial misidentification (and further invisibility) of American Indians who live in urban spaces – approximately 60% of the U.S. American Indian/Alaskan Native population. This dissertation explores the effects of macro-historical racial projects on the formation of urban American Indian racial/ethnic identities, as well as the meso and micro level strategies utilized by American Indians as they negotiate these identities in the urban sphere of Northeast Ohio. Specifically, I delineate two pathways – reclamation and relocation – to urban American Indian identity. Utilizing an ethnographic approach, I illustrate how these pathways manifest in different experiences of American Indian identity for the members of two NE Ohio Native community organizations: Native People Reclaiming Indian Identities (NatPride, Reclaimers) and the Relocated Indians of Ohio (RelOH, Relocators). In addition to participating in and observing these community groups, I conducted formal interviews with 39 self-identified Native residents of NE Ohio. </p><p> My comparative analysis of NatPride and RelOH members' experiences reveals that pathway to urban Indianness affects (1) the process of becoming Indian, (2) the ability to accomplish Indianness intrapersonally and in interactions with others, and (3) the organizational priorities and strategies of urban Indian communities. The dissertation also explores NE Ohio Natives' perceptions of the Cleveland Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise's pseudo-Indian mascot, "Chief Wahoo." Although pathway does not map neatly onto Native respondents' views regarding the mascot, the respondents who most vehemently resisted Chief Wahoo lived in reservation environments prior to moving to the urban environment of NE Ohio. Ultimately, this research investigates American Indian racial/ethnic identity as a macro, meso, and micro level phenomenon, and in doing so, reveals the multi-tiered effects of racial formations on the day-to-day lives of urban American Indians.</p> 2012-07-23 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1342364012 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1342364012 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Ethnic Studies
Native Americans
Sociology
race
ethnicity
American Indians
identity
Indian mascots
ethnography
spellingShingle Ethnic Studies
Native Americans
Sociology
race
ethnicity
American Indians
identity
Indian mascots
ethnography
Jacobs, Michelle R.
Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
author Jacobs, Michelle R.
author_facet Jacobs, Michelle R.
author_sort Jacobs, Michelle R.
title Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
title_short Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
title_full Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
title_fullStr Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
title_full_unstemmed Negotiating American Indian Identity in the Land of Wahoo
title_sort negotiating american indian identity in the land of wahoo
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2012
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1342364012
work_keys_str_mv AT jacobsmicheller negotiatingamericanindianidentityinthelandofwahoo
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