indian scenes from a renaissance: countering centuries of oppression and neglect, american indians...
TRANSCRIPT
Indian scenes from a renaissance: countering centuries of oppression and neglect, American
Indians Travel the road to renewal
By Joseph Bruchac
Presented by Derick Schneibel
10 Largest Native American Groups
Cherokee – 729,533: Oklahoma, California, Texas, North Carolina
Navajo – 298,197: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico Latin American – 180,940: Spread throughout
U.S. with highest concentration in California Choctaw – 158,774: Oklahoma Sioux – 153,360: Scattered throughout the
northern great plains
10 Largest Native American Groups
Chippewa – 149,669: Concentrated in the upper Midwest
Apache – 96,833: Arizona, New MexicoBlackfeet – 85,750: MontanaIroquois – 80,822: New York, WisconsinPueblo – 74,085: Arizona, New Mexico
U.S. Indian Reservations
Background
American Indians make up 1.5% of the total U.S. population2000 Census total: 4,119,3001900 Census total: 240,000
Only 13% of American Indians live on reservations
43% of people living on reservations and trust lands are not Indian
Comparisons
Per Capita Income General Population: $21,587 American Indian Population: $14,267
Living below the poverty line General Pop.:12.4% American Indian Pop.: 22%
Unemployment General Pop.: 3.7% American Indian Pop.: 6.6%
High school graduate or higher General Pop.: 80.4% American Indian Pop.: 74.7%
Sioux; Cheyenne River Reservation South Dakota
Goal: Reestablish buffalo culture on reservation
Largest tribally owned buffalo herd in America with over 3,000 animals
Seeking a federal loan to buy back 22,140 acres of land taken by the government between 1887 and 1934
The “New Buffalo”
224 federally recognized tribes have gaming operations ranging from bingo to casinos
Generate about 15 billion dollars annuallyThe Foxwoods in Connecticut operated by
the Mashantucket Pequot will gross over 1billion
Accounts for only 3% of Cherokee income
Oneida Nation; Wisconsin
Directed casino profits to tribal development Buying new land, paving roads, and building a
new elementary school Founded Four Fires, a business consortium,
with three other tribes $43 million hotel near the National Museum of
the American Indian in Washington D.C.
Chippewa; Bois Forte reservation Minnesota
During the 70’s and 80’s wild rice production fell Pressure from outside
growers Nett Lake became
overgrown with aquatic vegetation
2003 $500,000 of casino profit was invested Motorized barges and
cutters cleared the lake
Mohawk Nation; New York
By 1997 only 5% spoke their native language Mostly in their 70’s and 80’s
Formation of Kanatsiohareke meaning “place of clean pot” “Carlisle School in reverse” Graduates now teach other Mohawk
Cherokee Nation; Oklahoma
Well established language schools
Effecting political change Dynamic Lobbying
program Use of large
numbers to influence politics
Discussion Questions
In what ways will returning to a buffalo culture help the Sioux?
Do you think it is important to preserve American Indian culture, including language? Why or why not?
Do you think American Indian history should be a greater part of American History?
What do you think should be done about lands promised to the American Indians and then expropriated by the Federal Government?
Picture sources
Cheyenne River reservation map, http://daschlevthune.typepad.com/daschle_v_thune/mapEB.bmp , accessed 11/25/06
Lakota Sioux Flag, http://www.american-native-art.com/publication/oglala-lakota-sioux/foto/Oglala-flag.jpg, accessed 11/25/06
Oneida Flag, http://www.crazyhorse.org/museum/flags/OneidaNationOfWisconsin.jpg , accessed 11/25/06
Chippewa Flag, ttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Bandera_Chippewa_Minnesota.png , accessed 11/25/06
Bois Forte reservation, http://www.maquah.net/general_MN/Bois_Forte-map.jpg , accessed 11/25/06
Mohawk Flag, http://www.the-flag-center.com/store/images/Mohawk.jpg , accessed 11/25/06
Cherokee Flag, http://www.atlasgeo.net/fotw/images/u/us-cher2.gif , accessed 11/25/06