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