Research Prospectus: "Territory, Traditions, Culture, and Sovereignty: Indigenous Irredentism and Cultural Resurrection in the 21st Century"

 

Proposed Research Project:

"Territory, Traditions, Culture, and Sovereignty: Indigenous Irredentism and Cultural Resurrection in the 21st Century"

Appeal to: The Native Foundation, https://www.nativehope.org/native-american-history

Abstract

Focused on Native American history, this grant proposal will demonstrate an obligation to examining underexplored aspects of Native American experiences and histories, presenting an appeal for a project that endeavors to engage with contemporary debates and to contest traditional narratives around identity, culture, and the long-lasting impacts of expansionism in existing indigenous communities. This proposal concentrates on highlighting the resilience of Native American communities, by tying their historical land dispossession to their modern struggles for sovereignty and cultural recuperation. Additionally, it intends to magnify the importance of Indigenous voices in reconstructed historical narratives because they are a crucial component in the advancement of academic scholarship and the policy initiatives affecting Native Americans today.

Grant Proposal Title:

"Territory, Traditions, Culture, and Sovereignty: Indigenous Irredentism and Cultural Resurrection in the 21st Century"

Project Overview:

This project will examine the current efforts made for Indigenous land reclamation and its intersectionality with cultural resurgence efforts among Native American tribes in the United States. Focusing on case studies of specific tribes, such as the Lakota and Choctaw, the research will explore how these groups are using legal, political, and cultural approaches to recover their ancestral lands and to reconstruct traditional hierarchies. The project will also consider how land reclamation is connected to broader issues of Indigenous sovereignty, to self-determination, and to cultural revitalization.

Project Objectives:

•           To explore the legal, political, and cultural procedures through which Indigenous tribes are recovering lands and exercising their power to self-govern in the modern era.

•           To examine the relationship between land reclamation and the renaissance of extinct Indigenous languages and of cultural practices.

•           To evaluate the legacy of land dispossession in the shaping of the contemporary Indigenous identity, the community’s well-being, and its resistance to oppressions.

•           To employ an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Native history, property law, and Indigenous knowledge systems to improve our understanding of the implications of land reclamation for Native American communities today.

Guided Research Questions:

·         How have frameworks (such as the Indian Land Claims Commission, land trusts, and treaty rights) helped Indigenous communities in reclaiming ancestral territories in the 21st century?

·         In what ways do these efforts underwrite wider movements for Indigenous sovereignty and self-governance?

·         How does land reclamation impact Indigenous cultural restoration, including language revitalization, traditional tribal practices, and the revival of Indigenous governance systems?

·         What role does the lack of remembrance and the shared history of land dispossession by numerous tribes play in existing struggles for land restitution and the power to self-govern for the Native communities?

Methodology:

The research for this project will utilize a combination of archives, memoirs recorded by affected Indigenous persons in the community, interviews with current Native American leaders, and fieldwork to understand the complex process of land reclamation and cultural rebirth. The methodology will include:

·         Archival Research: Analysis of government documents, legal texts, treaty agreements, and records from Native American organizations involved in land claims and sovereignty movements.

·         Oral History/Interviews: Conducting interviews with tribal leaders, activists, and community members involved in land reclamation and sovereignty efforts, focusing on personal narratives, community practices, and cultural strategies.

·         Fieldwork: Visiting key sites of land reclamation efforts, such as Reservations and former Indian Territories, such as Oklahoma, or areas in California where Native communities have had recent success in recovering tribal lands or with the establishment of land trusts.

·         Comparative Analysis: The project will compare different tribal experiences to understand how unique historical, cultural, and geographical contexts shape land reclamation strategies and cultural resurgence efforts.

Why is this project important?

This project will provide a historical and modern analysis of how Indigenous communities in the United States are using land reclamation as a tool for political, social, and cultural revival. It will contribute to a deeper understanding of the lingering impacts of expansionism and how Native American communities are asserting their sovereignty in the modern world. This work will also highlight the importance of land not only as a physical resource but as a cultural and spiritual symbol that is central to Indigenous identity and survival.

Who does this project influence?

The discoveries of this project will contribute to several fields, including Native American history, Indigenous cultural studies, legal studies, and political science. It will include realistic culturally relative applications for tribal administrations, and legal specialists engaged in land disputes or sovereignty efforts. It will also assist in reconstructing the public perception of Native American resilience and the permanent relevance of land in present day Indigenous engagements.

Funding Justification:

The grant will fund:

·         Travel and Field Research: To visit key locations involved in land reclamation efforts and to conduct interviews with community leaders and activists.

·         Archival Access: Costs related to accessing government archives, legal records, and institutional archives of Native American groups involved in land claims and cultural resurgence efforts.

·         Oral History Transcription and Translation: To transcribe and potentially translate interviews with tribal elders and community members, ensuring the voices of Native peoples are central to the project.

·         Conference Participation and Dissemination: Funding will also support participation in relevant conferences to present research findings and engage with scholars, activists, and policy makers in the field.

·         Research Assistance: Hiring a research assistant or archivist to assist with data organization, transcription, and analysis.

Miles, James. “Historical silences and the enduring power of counter storytelling.” Curriculum Inquiry 49 (2019): 253 - 259.

Richardson, Sydney D. “When Participants Embody the Answer: A Narrative Case Study of Community Leadership.” American Journal of Qualitative Research 2024.

Titon, Jeff Todd. “Orality, Commonality, Commons, Sustainability, and Resilience.” The Journal of American Folklore 129, no. 514 (2016): 486–97. https://doi.org/10.5406/jamerfolk.129.514.0486.

Winichakul, Thongchai. “Michel-Rolph Trouillot. Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History. Boston: Beacon. 1995. Pp. xix, 191. $22.00.” The American Historical Review 102 (1997): 426-427.