What the Tribal Peoples Displaced by Development in India Can Learn from the Resilience of the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska

Abstract

The principle of the greater good for the greatest number is cited in arguments supporting the human displacements caused by development. A large number of risks associated with displacement can generate new forms of poverty for indigenous peoples affected by development, if these risks are not mitigated. While tribal displacement in India is quite problematic, tribal peoples such as the Winnebago in Nebraska (one of the states in the USA) have largely succeeded in reestablishing themselves following displacement. Based upon the use of qualitative methods involving archival research and key informant interviews, this article examines the Winnebago case of reestablishment with a view to its relevance to endangered tribal peoples in India.