The Native The Native AmericansAmericansPopulation & StatisticsPopulation & Statistics

DiversityDiversity

CultureCulture LanguageLanguage Kinship systemKinship system Political - economicPolitical - economic In 1500 Native American population stood at In 1500 Native American population stood at

10,000,000 and by 1900 declined to less than 10,000,000 and by 1900 declined to less than 250,000250,000

Eurocentric Eurocentric and Native and Native American American Views of Views of

ExpansionismExpansionism

Formerly Terminated Native American Tribes Now Restored

Native American Lands and Native American Lands and CommunitiesCommunities

Ten Largest Ten Largest American IndianAmerican Indian

Tribal Groupings, Tribal Groupings, 20002000

Reservation Life & Federal Reservation Life & Federal PoliciesPolicies

Approximately 25% of the Native American Approximately 25% of the Native American population live on reservations with population live on reservations with approximately 75% living in Urban areasapproximately 75% living in Urban areas

There are slightly over 557 recognized There are slightly over 557 recognized reservations in the United Statesreservations in the United States

Native American Legal ClaimsNative American Legal Claims

From 1836 to 1946 Native Americans could From 1836 to 1946 Native Americans could not bring a claim against the government not bring a claim against the government without an Act of Congresswithout an Act of Congress Only 142 claims were heard during this periodOnly 142 claims were heard during this period

In 1946 Congress established the Indian In 1946 Congress established the Indian Claims Commission to hear claims against the Claims Commission to hear claims against the governmentgovernment

Led to an increase in claimsLed to an increase in claims Commission was extended until 1978 - now Commission was extended until 1978 - now

cases are heard by U.S. Court of Claimscases are heard by U.S. Court of Claims Amount of awards and setoffsAmount of awards and setoffs The case of the Black HillsThe case of the Black Hills

Desire to recover land over financial settlementDesire to recover land over financial settlement

Native American Legal ClaimsNative American Legal Claims

Employment Assistance ProgramEmployment Assistance Program

Program led to the relocation from Program led to the relocation from reservations to urban areasreservations to urban areas Provided educational and business assistanceProvided educational and business assistance Impact on the economic development of the Impact on the economic development of the

reservation and the brain drainreservation and the brain drain Return to the reservationReturn to the reservation

SovereigntySovereignty

While collaborative action gathering cannot be While collaborative action gathering cannot be minimized, there continues to be a strong minimized, there continues to be a strong effort to maintain tribal sovereignty or tribal effort to maintain tribal sovereignty or tribal self-ruleself-rule

Native Americans - Still ExploitedNative Americans - Still Exploited Today, many people in the U.S. are oblivious to Native Today, many people in the U.S. are oblivious to Native

Americans’ problems and consider them quaint relics of Americans’ problems and consider them quaint relics of the past; others find them undesirable and some want the past; others find them undesirable and some want their land and will use almost any means to secure it. their land and will use almost any means to secure it.

Native Americans still encounter discrimination in stores, Native Americans still encounter discrimination in stores, bars, and housing, particularly in cities and near the bars, and housing, particularly in cities and near the reservations. They have been beaten or killed and their reservations. They have been beaten or killed and their property rights infringed on.property rights infringed on.

Of all the minorities in the United States, according to Of all the minorities in the United States, according to government statistics on income, Native Americans are government statistics on income, Native Americans are the “poorest of the poor.”the “poorest of the poor.”

Present-Day Native American LifePresent-Day Native American Life

By 2002 the Native American and Alaska native population was 2.8 million.– The Native American birth rate is almost twice the national

average.

– Half the population of Native Americans live on reservations that provide inadequate economic support.

Chronic unemployment is a serious problem. Some tribes have succeeded through their own

efforts.

Present-Day Native American LifePresent-Day Native American Life

The average life span in some tribes is 45 years.– Nationally, the average life span is about 10 years

less than the average. Deaths by suicide among Native American

males aged 15 to 24 is 50% greater than among the general population’s youth.

The most serious problem facing Native Americans today is alcohol abuse.

Still Exploited (continued)Still Exploited (continued) Encroachment on Native American land continues. Encroachment on Native American land continues.

Water and energy needs have led government and Water and energy needs have led government and industry to look covetously at reservation land once industry to look covetously at reservation land once considered worthless.considered worthless.

Poor, but with large tracts of isolated land, Native Poor, but with large tracts of isolated land, Native Americans in recent years have seen their reservations Americans in recent years have seen their reservations recommended as toxic-waste dumping grounds.recommended as toxic-waste dumping grounds.

Urban sprawl and agribusiness have prompted whites to Urban sprawl and agribusiness have prompted whites to sink deep wells around reservations in Arizona, sink deep wells around reservations in Arizona, siphoning off the water reserves of several tribes.siphoning off the water reserves of several tribes.

A growing number of sacred Native American sites are A growing number of sacred Native American sites are under threat from housing developments and industrial under threat from housing developments and industrial plants.plants.

Present-Day Native American LifePresent-Day Native American Life

The Educational Amendments Act of 1978 gave substantial control over school programs to the Native American communities.

Bilingual Native American language programs in 17 states help preserve ancestral language and teach English to children who were raised in homes where only their tribal language was spoken.

One of the most visible signs of Native Americans’ economic deprivation is reservation house.

Urban Native AmericansUrban Native Americans About 70 percent of all Native Americans live in

urban areas or away from the reservations. Twice as many urban Native Americans live in

poverty compared to all other racial and ethnic groups combined.

Although urban Native Americans are more likely to be employed than those who remain on the reservation, they do not achieve any improved income earnings, on average, until after five years of residence in the city.

Social Indicators About Native American Progress(in percentages)

Socioeconomic Characteristics of Native Americans, 2000

The CourtsThe Courts

In the late 20th century legal efforts to force the government to honor tribes’ treaty rights were more numerous and successful.– Legal action occurred in

South Dakota Maine

Washington Wyoming

Colorado New Mexico

New York

Intergroup Relations ContinuumIntergroup Relations Continuum