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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.
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.
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