Southern Indians and Anthropologists: Culture, Politics, and Identity

by Lisa J. Lefler (Contributor)

Ranging in setting from a children's summer school program to a museum of history and culture to a fatherhood project, these eleven papers document some of the many ways in which anthropologists and Native Americans are striving to work together at higher levels of accountability, reciprocity, and mutual enrichment. The Native American groups discussed in the volume include the Yuchi of Oklahoma, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in western North Carolina, the Powhatans of Virginia, the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Waccamaw Siouan community of coastal North Carolina.The volume's contributors consider such issues as education, community development, funding, and the preservation of languages, sacred texts, oral traditions, and artifacts. At the same time, they offer personal insights into the pressures that can bear on working relationships between anthropologists and Native Americans. Not only must all concerned find a balance between their official and informal, individual and group selves, but Native Americans, especially, often feel caught between history and the present. One contributor, for instance, discusses the problems that arose from the discovery of Native American graves on land owned by the Cherokees--on the site of a planned casino parking lot.

The anthropological work discussed here suggests strong potential for continuing research partnerships. It also illustrates the potential benefits of such partnerships, for anthropologists and for Native Americans.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Dr. Lisa J. Lefler is a distinguished medical anthropologist. She is committed to the intersections of health, culture, and indigenous knowledge. She is widely recognized for her work with Native American communities, particularly the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).

Dr. Lefler's research often emphasizes the importance of understanding traditional healing practices and the role they play in the well-being of communities. This focus has led her to advocate for the integration of these practices into mainstream healthcare, ensuring that indigenous perspectives are respected and included in medical settings.

Dr. Lefler's contributions to the field of medical anthropology have made her a respected figure both in academia and within the communities she serves. Her career is marked by a blend of rigorous academic research and a passionate commitment to cultural preservation, making her an important voice in the fields of anthropology and healthcare.