Final answer:
The question involves the influential work of anthropologist Franz Boas in the establishment of the U.S. cultural understanding. His methods contradicted the ethnocentric views of the time, and he heralded a more respectful approach to the study of different cultures. The field has since evolved to both critique its colonialist past and seek ways to contribute positively to society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The work of Franz Boas, a prominent anthropologist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was very influential in how the new civilization of the United States understood and represented Indigenous cultures. Boas advocated for direct ethnographical research rather than relying on secondary sources and emphasized the importance of understanding cultures through their own unique developmental paths, rather than comparing them to a fixed European standard of 'civilization'. His approach marked a crucial shift from the ethnocentric and colonialist perspectives that were common in early anthropology, and his insistence on seeing each culture as a product of its own history and interactions with other cultures led to a more nuanced appreciation of cultural diversity.
As anthropology evolved, it was used both as a tool for colonization and as a means of understanding and empowering Indigenous societies. The anthropologist's work had a profound impact on the way Native American cultures were studied, represented, and understood in the context of U.S. society and history. Nevertheless, this field has been critiqued for its role in disenfranchising the very same Indigenous communities it sought to study, a tension that continues to influence the discipline of anthropology today.
Individuals such as Beatrice Medicine worked to promote anthropology as a way to positively contribute to Native societies, challenging the paternalistic narratives of the past. Medicine's groundbreaking approach demonstrated the potential for anthropology to aid in understanding and resolving issues affecting diverse communities.