Native American Indians, Research Paper Example

According to History.com, Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America is under debate by many, particularly Native American Indians. History accounts show that over 12,000 years ago, long before Christopher Columbus made his journey, ancestors of the Nomads inhabited Alaska. These people are now known as the Native American Indians. Millions of these inhabitants settled along land areas into distinct culture segments. These areas included the Arctic, the Subarctic, the Northeast, the Southeast, the Plains, and the Southwest (Native American Cultures, 2013).

These culture segments make up the different tribes of Native American Indians. Settlers of the Artic were the Inuit and Aleut Indians, nomads who created fishing villages as they migrated and followed and hunted game such as seals and polar bears. They made clothes and other necessities from the skins and furs of these animals. The population of these people dwindled to fewer than 2,000 when the United States bought Alaska in 1867.

Some of the tribes that temporarily settled in the Subartic were Algonquin, Cree and Ojibwa. This population was small and had difficulty traveling; however, they kept moving in groups following caribou herds. This group became dispersed in the 17^th and 18^th centuries when they became suppliers in the fur trade.

The Northeast culture segment settlers were made up of Iroquoians and Algonquians and included tribes such as the Seneca, Oneida, Erie, Shawnee, Fox and Wampanoag. They fished and grew corn, beans and other crops. With unrest in this area and the event of white settlers moving inward, these indigenous people were often forced to fight against each other and were eventually displaced from their land by the white settlers.

In the Plains, more white settlement introduced weapons and disease, causing proud tribal people such as the “Crow, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Comanche and Arapaho” to be pushed to government reservations. These tribes are known for their bold feathered war bonnets and cone-shaped teepees.

The Southwest culture area was home to tribes such as the Navajo and Apache. They made their living by raiding neighboring villages for crops. This area was also home to many Mexican farmers. After the Mexican War, this area became part of the United States where many of the Native American Indians were enslaved by Spanish ranchers, and during the 19^th century, what was left of them was put onto reservations (Native American Cultures, 2013).

Push/Pull

During these times, migration of the Native American Indians included push/pull events where they were either pushed away from their homes or pulled to other places to settle. As stated by Peopling Pennsylvania (2005), people migrate away from their homes if they are being made uncomfortable for some reasons such as not having enough resources, war, or by force. Additionally, people look for new homes by being attracted to some better way of life. With the Native American Indians, being pushed from their land was a result of forces that eventually took them over, with the onset of the white colonists and settlers encroaching on their land. This caused suppression of much of their identities, which included their strong views on religion and culture.

American Indian Identity

According to Grounds, Tinker & Wilkins (2003), part of Native American identity is reserving ground as sacred sites to pray and these sites should be respected. In the 19^th century the U.S. government banned some of the indigenous people’s sites and religious dances and many of the Native Americans were killed such as at Wounded Knee in 1890. This was later ratified by the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978. Another act, the Native American Grave Protection Repatriation Act of 1990 also gave protection to sacred sites, which is very much a part of Native American Indian identity and heritage. Additionally, the Supreme Court upheld the religious freedom of the Native American Indians in another effort to protect their identity rights.

Additional to Native American Indian identity is their strong bond to the heritage, and much of their history and stories are misrepresented in scholarly texts of religion and anthropology. Their identity is also characteristic of dance rituals such as the Sun Dance. This is a dance that involves fasting and self-mutilation and is misunderstood by people of other cultures. Many other Native American rituals are meant for purification and soul bonding.

Assimilation and Amalgamation

The goal of the Westerners was to westernize the indigenous people, and this effort aimed at assimilating them into societies unlike their own tribal societies. This movement, in the 1950’s, was proposed to make the Native American Indians subject to the countries laws and give them entitlement to the countries privileges. However, this concept was abandoned for more liberal assimilation. The formation of the Indigenous Rights Movement resulted, and over the past few decades has sought to establish rights for the indigenous people. The Native American Indians are proud of their bloodline and to oppress them is torture.

As it relates to the Native American Indian bloodline and assimilation and amalgamation, there are some problems with race relations when Native American Indian men marrying into other cultures. According to Ellinghaus (2006), decultured Indians were a result of much of the assimilation initiatives and were looked at by their peers as marrying socially inferior people such as white and black people. However, the consensus of Americans on this is that it is not a problem if the Indians are adequately assimilated and amalgamated. With this, it is stated that Native American men still held on to their pride and sense of superiority as warriors. This also relates to how educated Native Americans felt. Ellinghaus (2006) states that mostly educated Native American men married interracially in American society.

Native Americans and Value to America

One of the most notable prosperity contributions that Native Americans have made to the United States is the wealth from their gaming industries and casino conglomerates. These enterprises account for more than $77 million in revenues in the United States (Indian Gaming, 2012).

Additionally, many famous Native Americans, throughout history, have contributed much to the United States. Most notably: (1) Pocahontas (14^th – 15^th centuries), who befriended a U.S. captain and married an Englishman and help to smooth relations between the English and the Indians; (2) Sacajawea (16^th – 17^th centuries), who travelled with Lewis and Clark on their expedition; (3) Jim Thorpe (18^th – 19^th centuries), a sports star who won an Olympic gold medal in 1912 as well as notoriety playing in the major leagues; (4) Buffy Saint-Marie (20^th century), who won the award for the 1997 Native American Philanthropist of the Year; (5) Jimi Hendrix (20^th century), who was of Cherokee descent and one of the greatest music artists of all time. These are but a few of notable Native Americans that are well known for their contributions to American society.

In conclusion, Native American Indians are a significant part of American culture and they deserve the protection and care of this nation. According to the American Indian Movement of the United States, perceptions have changed about Native Americans, and they receive government funding to help them build homes, schools and to help maintain their communities and culture. They also have more employment and educational options in this country, which is only fair (American Indian Movement).

References

Peopling Pennsylvania. (2005). (Johnstown Area Heritage Association ) Retrieved from Education: Heritage Discovery Center: http://www.jaha.org/edu/discovery_center/push-pull/peopling_pa01.html

American Indian Movement. (2012). Retrieved from Indians.org: http://www.indians.org/articles/american-indian-movement.html

Indian Gaming Cost of Doing Business . (2012). Indian Gaming Cost of Doing Business Report.

Native American Cultures. (2013). Retrieved from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-cultures

Ellinghaus, K. (2006). Taking Assimilation to Heart: Marriages of White Women and Indigenous Men in the United States and Australia, 1887-1937 . University of Nebraska Press.

Grounds, R. A., Tinker, G. E., & Wilkins, D. E. (2003). Native Voices: American Indian Identity and Resistance . University Press of Kansas.

Some Famous Native Americans. (n.d.). Retrieved from United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Iowa: www.iasb.uscourts.gov/v2_community/chpt4.pdf