A renaissance among the Native Americans has been brewing since the 1960’s, building economic, cultural and social revival. Financial support from casinos has helped, together with a civil rights focus on preserving language, spiritual traditions and political independence (IndiaCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com). The number of Native American Indians has been steadily increasing through recent decades, at least according to US Census statistics. Gambling is not an economic venture for OIN alone, approximately forty percent of the 562 tribes have established gambling businesses that contribute to a total of about 15 billion dollars each year. Similar to the Turning Stone Casino, the other casino and bingo operations also spurs the purchase of motels, resorts and manufacturing (113). The OIN has moved into the 21st Century with technology, information, embracing cultural roots and connecting with their community. The OIN has opened a cultural center on the reservation near Syracuse which houses historical and live exhibits of music, art, baskets, pottery, language and traditional dress (Gage). There is a weekly newspaper, distributed throughout the Reservation and Turning Stone properties. A college scholarship fund has been established for OIN students (Gage). A work to learn program is available at the reservation for students to have hands-on vocational training. Efforts are ongoing to reduce pollution, protect wetlands and responsibly handle recycling. Indian Country Media Network Today is an online newspaper devoted to issues and interests of OIN (13). One can find classified ads, genealogy articles, links to health programs, local businesses, news articles, politics, sports, environment, shopping and obituaries. T... ... middle of paper ... ...cts of American Indian stereotypes. Web. . 8. Ripples of Renewal. (2004). National Geographic, 206(TheOneida.com), 88-89. 9. Schaefer, Richard T. Racial and Ethnic Groups. 13. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print. 10. Vargas, Theresa & Shin, Annys, The Washington Post, 11/16/2013. Oneida Indian Nation is the tiny tribe taking on the NFL and Dan Snyder over Redskins name. Web. . 11. "Wikipedia the free encyclopedia." Matrilineality. 2014. Web. 2014. . Wikipedia. Arthur Raymond Halbritter. Web. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Raymond_Halbritter>.
O’Brien concludes by explaining the struggle for official recognition for Indian nations in Southern New England. The records needed to apply and get approval for official government recognition is the culmination of the process that started with “firsting.” The documents were meant to bureaucratically make Indians disappear. The fight still continues for Indians, but they will continue to seek recognition. The trend continued past the eighteenth and nineteenth
Banks, D., Erodes, R. (2004). Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement. Ojibwa Warrior. Retrieved January 20, 2005, from http://www.oupress.com/bookdetail.asp?isbn=0-8061-3580-8
People have been living in America for countless years, even before Europeans had discovered and populated it. These people, named Native Americans or American Indians, have a unique and singular culture and lifestyle unlike any other. Native Americans were divided into several groups or tribes. Each one tribe developed an own language, housing, clothing, and other cultural aspects. As we take a look into their society’s customs we can learn additional information about the lives of these indigenous people of the United States.
While I am not sure if I truly am, or if I could actually trace my roots, the issue of Native Americans has always been a prominent one to me. It is especially important now that my son is confirmed Native American through his father, whose heritage traces back to the Chippewa tribe. However, I have always been interested in Native American culture, heritage, issues, and the like. In history, I have always found the story of Native Americans to be one of the most interesting. I also feel that through researching Native American problems in the past and present, I am contributing to the solution by becoming more educated, giving myself the ability to educate others because I am more understanding of the Native American concerns. Native American issues are very rarely touched upon, even in schools, where the story of Native American’s is often summarized into a page or two in history books, as well as being grossly misconstrued to reflect the “pilgrims and Indians” ideal held by America today. The way for Native Americans to move forward from the current issues of unemployment, poverty, and so much more, is to begin with educating the public on their history and bring light to these issues. Too often, people assume that Native Americans have the ultimate pardon from the government, going untaxed and rolling in riches because of the abundance of casinos they own. These
Historical trauma has brought psychological effects on the Native American community. Many suffer from alcohol and drug abuse, depression, and poverty. I wondered why they do not get help from the government and after watching the documentary California’s “Lost” Tribes I began to understand that in any reservation the tribe is the government, so they do not have the same rights as a city outside the reservation. Many of the the reservations were placed in areas where they could not do any form of agriculture, so they did not have a source of income. Many of this reservations have to find ways to get themselves out of poverty and many of the reservations within California have found a way to get out of their poverty by creating casinos
The Mohawk called themselves Ganiengehaka, or "people of the flint country." Their warriors, armed with flint arrows, were known to be overpowering; their enemies called them Mowak, meaning "man eaters." The name Oneida means "people of the standing stone," referring to a large rock that, according to legend, appeared wherever the people moved, to give them directions.
Who really are the Cheyenne Indians? According to historians, they were Indian people who became nomadic and moved to the Great Plains in the 18th century (Berkin 366). Another tribe, the Souix, developed the name of "people of a different language" for the Cheyenne. Some people said that the Cheyenne did not exist until the mid-1600s or at least this is when the earliest known records were found. They are one of the most famous and prominent Plains tribes, too.
Like in the article “What’s Offensive? Opinions Differ Even With Native Americans,” Doug Poe executive director of the American Indian Center of Indiana said, “The Native community feels that after all these years that the general population still does not want to accept them as individuals and get acknowledgement for all the wrongdoings.” Another reason why I would agree is that these names are harmful for young Native Americans. In the article “Obstacles Slow Growing National Push to Ban Indian Team Names, in the section No Names Benign” it states that Goldberg a ex professional football player said “American Indian team names are hurtful because American Indian children and teenagers sometimes face the effects of racism when they go to school football and basketball games and hear the crowd yelling, ‘Kill the Chiefs.’” These football team names being from Native American tribes and chiefs, like the “RedSkins” are bring negativism towards Native Americans at schools were the children are supposed to be safe to the stadium where those teams play. These are two of the reasons that I agree that they should change the team's name if it has to do with Native American
"Native American Youth 101." Aspen Institue. Aspen Institues, 24 July 11. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
Although poverty rates on some reservations are getting better because of gambling enterprises and natural resources, most reservations have unusually high poverty rates. In 2000, the poverty rate of the entire United States was about 11.3%. Compare that to a 25.9% poverty rate for Native Americans living on reservations. The poverty rate of Native Americans in 2000 was higher than the peak of the poverty rate of the Great Depression, which was 21.7% (Native American Statistics”). This statistic alone shows that Native Americans are not doing well financially.
Stark, H. K., & Wilkins, D. E. (2011). American Indian Politics and the American Political System. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
A long family tree of mistreatment and undue suffering in addition to present lack of resources and poverty has resulted in considerable distress among tribal members and families living within the majority of reservations today. As a result of such distress and despair, many Native American families living in reservations have been torn apart as alcohol, drugs and family violence have become rampant within their communities. Furthermore, the inaccessibility of most reservations combined with lack of resources proves challenging to provide proper housing for families. In addition, the American Indians make up a minority of the least educated, sickest and poorest people within our country. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Native American youths in the 15-24 age group and 2.5 times the national rate.
"Choctaw" UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes-Volume 1. Sharon Malinowski, Anna Sheets, Linda Schmitroth. Detroit:1994 edition
Sandefur, G. (n.d.). American Indian reservations: The first underclass areas? Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/focus/pdfs/foc121f.pdf
The Crazy Horse monument is important to the United States not only for continuing the Native American Culture, sharing their beliefs, building pride within their Nations, but in supporting their communities. The Crazy Horse Memorial is not only a fascinating monument but an essential NDN (Native term for “Indian”) institution, in a time when it is needed most. The Crazy Horse Monument is privately funded by donations and revenue that the Monument has raised over the last 64 years, through the gift shops and included Museum. It gives NDN’s pride again in NDN’s socially, culturally, ethnically, as strong people, it educates and empowers. Sharing what it means to be NDN, not just in the Indian Nation communities, but with Anglo-Americans and the world.