Impact of Culture and Privilege on Conflict
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Introduction
Conflict occurs between two parties when any party crosses over the other party’s attributes, opinions, and maybe interests. In the context, Idaho had been a province that was inhabited by the Native Americans in the 1980’s long before colonization. The Aboriginal natives claimed the land and the sovereignty of the area having been born in the area and their ancestors lying below the same land. During colonization, foreigners arrived and settled in some Idaho’s territory. In the beginning, the tribes lived a peaceful life without any disputes or confrontations, although, conflict is inevitable, Heschenbrenner et al. (2017). The tribes related to each other well, and the conflicts between them were not substantive. America is known to base conflicts in one perspective, competitive meaning level of skill and knowledge is what causes conflict.
Conflict occurrence, interests and the goals
The disputes in Idaho can be dated back in 1866 during a Civil War when the then President Abraham Lincoln pushed Idaho out of the Dakota Territory and Washington through signed legislation. Aboriginal inhabitants started to conflict with the invading Americans. Their main interest was land they resided. Disagreements can be traced when the Shoshone band signed an agreement, where they surrendered their land stretching down to the Snake River. They gave up in an exchange of 14-miles Bruneau Valley. The forty-one leaders from the Shoshone signed the treaty, but the US failed to ratify the agreement.
After that, 17 miles west of Salmon, there was discovered Gold that prompted many miners to claim the gold mine. Indians came along and were the leading miners, making them a threat of Americans. Hence, conflicts heightened between the Indians and non-Indians in the area. Incongruity and confrontations emerged, which resulted in mass killings and cattle confiscation. The goals of the conflicts were substantive, process, and face goals. Substantively, the land was the leading cause of conflict, and each tribe, including the invaders, claimed a portion of land as benefactors. The ethnic groups then tried to sign treaties to agree on how the conflicts should be resolved, giving the conflict a process goal perspective, McCorkle and Reese, (2015). Aboriginal natives saw their sense of belonging being compromised. Aborigines believed they owned the area. They believed thhey had the right to own since that was where they lived in since time immemorial. Their ancestors owned the land and ,therefore, had the cultural right to be there. Therefore the leaders thought they should be respected and given the sovereignty and jurisdiction to own the land, thus face goals.
Cultural components and their relation to conflict
Culture is critical in inflicting conflicts. Culture forms a base for relationships, which are the root cause of disputes. Culture shape our attributions, perceptions, judgments, and ideas of self and other people. Culture and conflicts are intertwined. Cultural messages that define communities comprises of various components. Some of the members of the population know some things while others don’t. Originally, Idaho territory was inhabited by the Native American people. They had their own culture before the invasion of foreigners. Indians and other Americans came along with their cultures as well. Various components, such as beliefs, race, ethnicity, social-economic class, and language, made them disagree. Tribal sovereignty in America is respected, and different tribes legally claim their rights, including the right to own land, Smith, and Williams, (2018). Indians also had their sovereignty, which is inherent and recognized by the US constitution. Conflicts, hence emerge since each tribe wants to uphold its heritage and to maintain the dynasties.
Privilege and relation to conflict
Privilege is a prerogative advantage, entitlement, or right given to a person or a group of people. It may be gained either through birth, effort, social position, or concession. Privilege means that there is a social imbalance since one side is given an advantage over the other. In the context, privilege is manifested in the two tribes inhabiting Idaho territory, Indians, and the Native Americans. The Aboriginal Native Americans had the privilege over the Indians since they were the original inhabitants of the land. Indians came into the settlement after the discovery of gold mines, Brinton (2019). The Natives asserted an added advantage and right to be considered, and this resulted in civil wars, where many Indians were killed. Indian tribes claim that they dwelled in the area even before the coming of the United States and an Idaho.
How privilege and culture impact conflict.
Mostly, privilege is not gained by good deeds or hard work, rather than cultural considerations. Some people are elevated and given privilege based on how society treats and view them. Once people understand the meaning of privilege, and people granted the advantages, they move towards realizing and pushing for equality of all. When there is no acknowledgment of privileges among ourselves, there is little identification of unequal access to our rights and how this affects our relationships. Cultural privilege is experienced in the Washington Territories, and the Snake Indians were greatly oppressed, which resulted in the Snake War, Michno, (2007). The Indians were fought by the volunteers until 1968. Natives were given the cultural privilege over the Indians and the Southerners who had come for gold mining.
In 1863, some Christians from Wallowa band, disagreed with requirements of the treaty of 1863, for giving up their ancestral land. In 1873, then President, Grant, considered the Wallowa band and created Wallowa Reservation for people who had not signed the Treaty of 1863. This privilege was given to both the Christians and non-Christians who could not agree with the treaty. However, in 1875, due to an influx of settlers, and demand for the land, Grant restored the area to a public domain. This thereof resulted in a fight since Wallowa could not move to their reserved land. Many settlers along Salmon River, were killed by the young Nimiipuu warriors. Meanwhile, the general in charge sent soldiers who silenced the Indians. In this context, the whites and natives were given the privilege based on their culture, and any threat against them could subsequently result in a civil war. Hence, culture directly impacted on conflict and resolution.
In conclusion, conflict is an integral part of our lives. Conflict exists in our daily activities. Culture plays a central role in conflict and conflict resolution. Both culture and privilege affect conflict either directly or indirectly. People’s indifference in choices brings to a conflict. Parties involved in conflicts should come up with clear and equal resolutions that favor no party. Conflicts, if handled peacefully, cannot lead to war. Peaceful resolution of the disagreements between settlers and Aboriginal groups would have avoided the civil war that led to the loss of many lives.
References
Brinton, D. G. (2019). Aboriginal American Natives. Good Press.
Heschenbrenner, J. A. M. E. S., EDWARDS, A. R., HALL-HOLTON, J. O. E., JAEGER, E., JOHNSON, R., & WALTON, C. (2017). The Archaeology of High Prairie, Idaho. IDAHO, 40(1), 21-66.
McCorkle, S., & Reese, M. (2015). Personal conflict management: Theory and practice. Routledge.
Michno, G. (2007). The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864-1868. Caxton Press.
Smith, K., & Williams, J. W. (2018). Native Americans, Tribal Sovereignty, and Unions. International Union Rights, 25(4), 22-28.