James Verne Dusenberry
Encyclopedia
James Verne Dusenberry was a Montana educator and advocate for Native Americans.
He was also known as a colleague of Robert M. Pirsig
at Montana State, making appearances in Pirsig’s books Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals
. Dusenberry was probably instrumental in introducing Pirsig to Native American philosophy; see also Pirsig's metaphysics of Quality
.
He was born in Carl, Iowa, but moved with his family to Montana three years later. He seems to have had an interest in ‘Indians’ from an early age. After working his way through college and dealing with tuberculosis, he landed a job located on the Flathead Indian Reservation
. Despite obstacles, he made contact with local Indians and was soon (1937) adopted by a Pend d’Oreille
chief and given the name “Many Grizzly Bears”.
He taught in the English Department of Montana State College/University from 1947 to 1962, where he initiated the first courses in Native American studies
and mentored many Native American students. But his interest in Native Americans diverged more and more from those of his English colleagues. He eventually did a Ph.D. thesis “The Montana Cree: A Study in Religious Persistence” (1962), receiving his degree from the University of Stockholm.
He then taught in the anthropology department of University of Montana for two years and moved to Calgary, Alberta to become the first Director of the Indian Studies Institute of the Glenbow Foundation. But he died of cancer soon after.
More details about his life can be found in the Preface to The Montana Cree, written by his daughter, Lynne Dusenberry Crow.
He was also known as a colleague of Robert M. Pirsig
Robert M. Pirsig
Robert Maynard Pirsig is an American writer and philosopher, and author of the philosophical novels Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals .-Background:...
at Montana State, making appearances in Pirsig’s books Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values is a 1974 philosophical novel, the first of Robert M. Pirsig's texts in which he explores his Metaphysics of Quality.The book sold 5 million copies worldwide...
and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals
Lila: An Inquiry into Morals
Lila: An Inquiry into Morals is the second philosophical novel by Robert M. Pirsig, who is best known for his classic text, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Lila: An Inquiry into Morals was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992...
. Dusenberry was probably instrumental in introducing Pirsig to Native American philosophy; see also Pirsig's metaphysics of Quality
Pirsig's metaphysics of quality
The Metaphysics of Quality is a theory of reality introduced in Robert Pirsig's philosophical novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and expanded in Lila: An Inquiry into Morals . The MOQ incorporates facets of East Asian philosophy, Pragmatism, the work of F. S. C. Northrop, and...
.
He was born in Carl, Iowa, but moved with his family to Montana three years later. He seems to have had an interest in ‘Indians’ from an early age. After working his way through college and dealing with tuberculosis, he landed a job located on the Flathead Indian Reservation
Flathead Indian Reservation
The Flathead Indian Reservation, located in western Montana on the Flathead River, is home to the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes - also known as theConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation...
. Despite obstacles, he made contact with local Indians and was soon (1937) adopted by a Pend d’Oreille
Pend d'Oreilles (tribe)
The Pend d'Oreilles, also known as the Kalispel, are a tribe of Native Americans who lived around Lake Pend Oreille, as well as the Pend Oreille River, and Priest Lake although some of them live spread throughout Montana and eastern Washington...
chief and given the name “Many Grizzly Bears”.
He taught in the English Department of Montana State College/University from 1947 to 1962, where he initiated the first courses in Native American studies
Native American Studies
Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America, or, taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas...
and mentored many Native American students. But his interest in Native Americans diverged more and more from those of his English colleagues. He eventually did a Ph.D. thesis “The Montana Cree: A Study in Religious Persistence” (1962), receiving his degree from the University of Stockholm.
He then taught in the anthropology department of University of Montana for two years and moved to Calgary, Alberta to become the first Director of the Indian Studies Institute of the Glenbow Foundation. But he died of cancer soon after.
More details about his life can be found in the Preface to The Montana Cree, written by his daughter, Lynne Dusenberry Crow.