Native American Culture Essay

Before the Europeans came across the Atlantic Ocean, the Native Americans were the first true inhabitants of North America. When the Europeans came, they wanted the land that the Native Americans already had settled. To get this land there were many gun battles and removal of the Indians. If any of the Indians survived they were moved out west. Over the years there have been many different Federal Policies that have been put in place to help preserve the Native American culture. One major mechanism to Native Americans lives would be their economic development. When we look at the Native Americans we see that they are impoverished. Some find that this is not right that they are living this way, but others feel that they have been living this

In the 1990 US census 369,000 people identified themselves as Cherokee. The Cherokee have been identified as one of the most sociably and culturally advanced of all of the Native American tribes. In the 1830s gold was discovered in Georgia where the Cherokee were living. The Cherokee people were forced to relocate on the Trail of Tears. Because of this thousands of Cherokee families were rounded up for their removal by the order of President Andrew Jackson. With their rebuilding in Oklahoma the Cherokee built new communities; they also established a new constitution in September 1839. The Cherokee’s have always been involved in farming and hunting. They were also very involved in trading with others. When the trade declined in the 18th century they turned to more intensive forms of agriculture. During the 18th century, they women did most of the farming, cooking, making clothes, and raising the children while the men were hunting, fishing, and clearing the fields. Today, most of the women continue to work in the home while the men are working

The Choctaw Indians are native to the southeast and through the Trail of Tears; they were relocated to parts of Oklahoma. In the 19th century the Choctaws were one known as one of the “Five Civilized Tribes.” The Choctaws agreed to man different treaties, but they were the first Native Americans who were forced with the Indian Removal Act. The Choctaw were pushed out because the European Americans wanted to expand their settlement. In 1831, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, some of the Choctaws were part of the first major non-European ethnic groups to become US citizens. Their economic situation has varied since the beginning. In the beginning they were trading with the French; they were known for their high quality farming. At one point they were known as the poorest in the country. In 1945 the US government federally recognized them. Later in 1960, there had not been much improvement in their situation. Their unemployment was remaining at 80 percent. Then in 1969, the Choctaws opened their first company where they built houses for tribal members. After this they began to open many other companies. Some of these companies were nursing homes, and hotels and casinos. Since opening all of the different the Choctaws are continuously working on bringing new career opportunities to their