Picture of Jeanne Eder

Associate Professor - History

Ph.D. Washington State University
M.A. University of North Dakota
B.A. University of North Dakota

afjme@uaa.alaska.edu

Jeanne Oyawin Eder has always wanted to rewrite the history books. When she earned her doctorate in history from Washington State University, she became one of the few Indian historians in the country to have both a doctorate and generations of stories she wants to put on paper. Eder grew up on the Fort Peck, Assiniboine and Sioux reservation at Poplar, Mont., but graduated from high school in Billings. She remembers reading in textbooks how her people, the "hostile Sioux," killed Col. George A. Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn. "You have to live with that stigma of defeating this great white hero," Eder says. "But when I was older and could study history in depth, I realized Custer deserved what he got."

Through her grandfather, Eder knows her great-grandmother was at the historic battle in 1876. Eder wrote a chapter about it in the recent anthology, "Little Bighorn Remembered." "I came to the realization at age 13 the Indian people had some human rights that had been violated in the history books. Indian students need to have role models and books that reflect a more positive image of Indians." As a young girl on the reservation, Eder knew she wanted to be a college professor. After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in history, she taught at the University of North Dakota, Eastern Montana College, Western Montana College and Montana State University.

But in 1988, Eder decided to pursue the highest history degree. The closest university with a doctoral program in history was WSU, so although her family remained in Montana, Eder has attended WSU in Pullman since 1990. She commuted home every three weeks while taking classes, returning for longer stints to write her dissertation on the Indians of Yellowstone Park. Eder has now accepted a tenure-track position as director of Alaska Native Studies/associate professor at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. In Eder's 40-page book, composed of historical accounts, games, recipes, pictures and legends of the tribe, is part of a 16-volume series that profiles different tribes. She also wrote the volume on the Makah tribe. Eder knows it is easy for Indians to get stalled in reaching for higher education. The expense and the feeling of isolation in the academic world can be over-whelming. "Don't use your Indianness as an excuse for failure," she advises, "And find your Indian warrior inside."

American Indian Education - A History

Book cover of American Indian Education - A History     In this comprehensive history of American Indian education in the United States from colonial times to the present, historians and educators Jon Reyhner and Jeanne Eder explore the broad spectrum of Native experiences in missionary, government, and tribal boarding and day school. This up-to-date survey is the first one-volume source for those interested in education reform policies and missionary and government efforts to Christianize and "civilize" American Indian children.   

The Makah

Book Cover of The Makah     This beautifully illustrated multivolume series explores for the young reader the rich, cultural history of the diverse tribes that comprise the Indian Nations of North America. Each book, written or coauthored by a Native American, opens with a traditional story that has been passed along from one generation to the next. The narrative then describes the nation's origins, wat of life, key historical events - both pre- and post-European contact - religions and traditions, and family life. In the final chapter, the authors looks at contemporary life and the future envisioned for a specific Native American nation. Each book also includes a recipe or game that may still be used or played by the tribe. This issue on the Makah who reside in the state of Washington also explains and describes the importance of whaling in the Makah world.   

The Dakota Sioux

Book cover of The Dakota Sioux     This beautifully illustrated multivolume series explores for the young reader the rich, cultural history of the diverse tribes that comprise the Indian Nations of North America. Each book, written or coauthored by a Native American, opens with a traditional story that has been passed along from one generation to the next. The narrative then describes the nation's origins, wat of life, key historical events - both pre- and post-European contact - religions and traditions, and family life. In the final chapter, the authors looks at contemporary life and the future envisioned for a specific Native American nation. Each book also includes a recipe or game that may still be used or played by the tribe. This issue introduces the history, culture, religion, life, and tribal government of the Dakota Sioux people, Jeanne Oyawin Eder's family.