Since the authors who explored cultural decimation through colonization mainly analyzed the situations of native Americans, native Hawaiians, and the Maori natives of New Zealand, these case studies are incorporated in this literature review to contextualize the authorsʻ arguments. In the literature discussing the methods that colonizers employed to acculturate the native peoples they came into contact with, each of the authors assert that these actions were initiated by the colonizersʻ intention to improve the lifestyles of the natives. Each of the authors explain that the colonizers condemned native practices and traditions, and believed that the natives would willingly abandon their inferior ways to adopt their superior western values.
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As Dr. Lilikala Kameʻeleihiwa discusses in Native Land and Foreign Desires, the European settlers introduced their customs and religious practices to the native Hawaiians and condemned the culture of the natives, which convinced them that the settlers were god-like beings (Kameʻeleihiwa, 192). As a result, the settlers were able to establish their credibility among the natives, which allowed them to gain their trust and exploit them for their land and resources. According to Graham Smith, these practices were similar among the colonization of the Maori Natives and their land, as their cultural practices were also abolished by the western settlers, which instilled a sense of inferiority among the natives (Smith, 80). He also explains that this colonial agenda has been sustained through oppressive structures and institutions such as the education system, which is how the westerners were able to disadvantage the natives and continue to do so today. These arguments for cultural decimation explicate the process in which colonizers were able to convince the natives to succumb to their leadership as well as how this cycle has been perpetuated over time, which the other arguments …show more content…
While some authors argue that coercion and economic development are the most effective, these assertions do not demonstrate how colonizers were able to persuade the natives to abide by their leadership as well as preserve this leadership over time, which the arguments for cultural decimation do. In concluding the research for this literature review, the main hypothesis has been developed to, if colonizers were able to successfully assimilate the natives, then colonization was successful because the natives viewed themselves as inferior and perpetually sought the leadership of the colonizers. Future research should be conducted to investigate the presence of these colonial practices in todayʻs society within oppressive structures and institutions that continue to marginalize native peoples. One example would be to analyze the education system to link the oppressive techniques that Dr. DeJong and Graham Smith discuss to elements of todayʻs education system that may unnoticably continue this colonial agenda. Another idea for future research would be to assess how native peoples continually struggle to protect their land as well as government responses to these efforts. Evaluating the methods of achieving colonization historically, allows the current
As Dr. Lilikala Kameʻeleihiwa discusses in Native Land and Foreign Desires, the European settlers introduced their customs and religious practices to the native Hawaiians and condemned the culture of the natives, which convinced them that the settlers were god-like beings (Kameʻeleihiwa, 192). As a result, the settlers were able to establish their credibility among the natives, which allowed them to gain their trust and exploit them for their land and resources. According to Graham Smith, these practices were similar among the colonization of the Maori Natives and their land, as their cultural practices were also abolished by the western settlers, which instilled a sense of inferiority among the natives (Smith, 80). He also explains that this colonial agenda has been sustained through oppressive structures and institutions such as the education system, which is how the westerners were able to disadvantage the natives and continue to do so today. These arguments for cultural decimation explicate the process in which colonizers were able to convince the natives to succumb to their leadership as well as how this cycle has been perpetuated over time, which the other arguments …show more content…
While some authors argue that coercion and economic development are the most effective, these assertions do not demonstrate how colonizers were able to persuade the natives to abide by their leadership as well as preserve this leadership over time, which the arguments for cultural decimation do. In concluding the research for this literature review, the main hypothesis has been developed to, if colonizers were able to successfully assimilate the natives, then colonization was successful because the natives viewed themselves as inferior and perpetually sought the leadership of the colonizers. Future research should be conducted to investigate the presence of these colonial practices in todayʻs society within oppressive structures and institutions that continue to marginalize native peoples. One example would be to analyze the education system to link the oppressive techniques that Dr. DeJong and Graham Smith discuss to elements of todayʻs education system that may unnoticably continue this colonial agenda. Another idea for future research would be to assess how native peoples continually struggle to protect their land as well as government responses to these efforts. Evaluating the methods of achieving colonization historically, allows the current