The development of Native American culture and identity in the United States has been a progress stemming from interactions made nearly five hundred years ago. From the moment that European colonizers set foot on North American ground, Native Americans have had to fight to maintain their sovereignty. The continued efforts of the United States government to assimilate Native Americans into a homogenous American culture have caused a drop in Native self-determination, revealed through consistent levels of poor health in reservations. The assimilation of Native Americans has also undermined their culture through appropriations of Native Americans in American mainstream media. However, Native Americans have been able to adopt methods to preserve their culture despite continued oppression.
The United States government has made it a priority to remove Native Americans of cultural distinctions since the very founding of the nation, which has led to the distrust of the government by Native Americans. Government doctrines such as the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act stripped Native Americans of their land and therefore destroyed essential parts of their culture and identity. The placement of Native Americans onto reservations and the removal of their tribal identities further removed their sense of identity and the links to their culture. Native Americans growing up on reservations, who faced the struggle of identifying their place in American society, have struggled with maintaining their self-determination. Between the United States government’s disregard for Native Americans and their returned contempt, overall health in reservation populations is among the lowest in the nation. Native Americans rarely attend a hospital or even a doctor’s office because the trip is inconvenient and costly, and when they do they are treated by ill equipped and unsuited medical professionals (Dovey). This results in a large number of the Native American population on reservations to die prematurely due to health complications easily treatable outside the reservations. Native American populations also struggle with drug abuse more so than other races in the country. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, patterns of drug abuse begin much earlier in Native American youth than other Americans. The history of negligence by the United States has led to detrimental health conditions in Native American reservations, which reflect their drop in self-determination.
As technology has developed, Native Americans have had to battle the misrepresentations they are given by the cultural appropriation used by American mainstream media. In films such as Disney’s Peter Pan, Native Americans are stereotyped and portrayed as savages. At the time this film came out, the Termination Policy approved by Truman was attempting to eradicate tribal culture and more urgently make Native Americans part of the general American culture. Peter Pan’s portrayal of Native Americans further generated support from the American public that their way of life is undesirable, undermining the true culture of Native Americans. More recently, Native Americans have begun to fight their misrepresentations in media through films such as Smoke Signals. The movie, which is entirely produced by Native Americans, uses self deprecating humor to point out the common stereotypes of Native Americans shown in the media. The films serves as a medium to communicate the inaccuracy of representations of Native Americans, and shows how Native Americans are making an effort to keep their true culture and identity from being misshapen by mainstream American media.
Although they have faced oppression and discrimination, Native American tribes today are finding ways to preserve their culture and history. At the To’hajiilee Community School in New Mexico, students are enrolled in classes that teach their native language and their cultural traditions. They also learn dances and songs that have been passed down and preserved for many years. Preserving native languages facing extinction has become a national movement, supported by organizations such as Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. Living Tongues has partnered with the National Geographic Society to form the Enduring Voices Project, which works to document indigenous languages and cultures (Braun). After years of having their culture suppressed, Native Americans are now taking a stand to preserve their culture and languages for future generations to embrace.
However, Native Americans have incorporated an American identity as part of their culture. The To’hajiilee Community School recites the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States, even though Native American reservations are regarded as separate nations. You would think that the tribe would disregard the pledge in part of the disrespect the United States has showed Native American tribes, but the school takes time out of their day just like every other school in the country to honor the flag. Many Native Americans also are able to participate in the culture of their tribes as well as live as a contributing members of society outside reservations. Native Americans have had a long journey to find their place in American society, and their efforts are no longer ignored.
The United States government has made it a priority to remove Native Americans of cultural distinctions since the very founding of the nation, which has led to the distrust of the government by Native Americans. Government doctrines such as the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act stripped Native Americans of their land and therefore destroyed essential parts of their culture and identity. The placement of Native Americans onto reservations and the removal of their tribal identities further removed their sense of identity and the links to their culture. Native Americans growing up on reservations, who faced the struggle of identifying their place in American society, have struggled with maintaining their self-determination. Between the United States government’s disregard for Native Americans and their returned contempt, overall health in reservation populations is among the lowest in the nation. Native Americans rarely attend a hospital or even a doctor’s office because the trip is inconvenient and costly, and when they do they are treated by ill equipped and unsuited medical professionals (Dovey). This results in a large number of the Native American population on reservations to die prematurely due to health complications easily treatable outside the reservations. Native American populations also struggle with drug abuse more so than other races in the country. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, patterns of drug abuse begin much earlier in Native American youth than other Americans. The history of negligence by the United States has led to detrimental health conditions in Native American reservations, which reflect their drop in self-determination.
As technology has developed, Native Americans have had to battle the misrepresentations they are given by the cultural appropriation used by American mainstream media. In films such as Disney’s Peter Pan, Native Americans are stereotyped and portrayed as savages. At the time this film came out, the Termination Policy approved by Truman was attempting to eradicate tribal culture and more urgently make Native Americans part of the general American culture. Peter Pan’s portrayal of Native Americans further generated support from the American public that their way of life is undesirable, undermining the true culture of Native Americans. More recently, Native Americans have begun to fight their misrepresentations in media through films such as Smoke Signals. The movie, which is entirely produced by Native Americans, uses self deprecating humor to point out the common stereotypes of Native Americans shown in the media. The films serves as a medium to communicate the inaccuracy of representations of Native Americans, and shows how Native Americans are making an effort to keep their true culture and identity from being misshapen by mainstream American media.
Although they have faced oppression and discrimination, Native American tribes today are finding ways to preserve their culture and history. At the To’hajiilee Community School in New Mexico, students are enrolled in classes that teach their native language and their cultural traditions. They also learn dances and songs that have been passed down and preserved for many years. Preserving native languages facing extinction has become a national movement, supported by organizations such as Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. Living Tongues has partnered with the National Geographic Society to form the Enduring Voices Project, which works to document indigenous languages and cultures (Braun). After years of having their culture suppressed, Native Americans are now taking a stand to preserve their culture and languages for future generations to embrace.
However, Native Americans have incorporated an American identity as part of their culture. The To’hajiilee Community School recites the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States, even though Native American reservations are regarded as separate nations. You would think that the tribe would disregard the pledge in part of the disrespect the United States has showed Native American tribes, but the school takes time out of their day just like every other school in the country to honor the flag. Many Native Americans also are able to participate in the culture of their tribes as well as live as a contributing members of society outside reservations. Native Americans have had a long journey to find their place in American society, and their efforts are no longer ignored.
Works Cited
Braun, David Maxwell. “Preserving Native America's Vanishing Languages – National Geographic Blog.” National Geographic Blog, National Geographic Society, 15 Nov.2009,blog.nationalgeographic.org/2009/11/15/
preserving-native-americas-vanishing-languages/.
Dovey, Dana. “Healthcare On Native American Reservations Is 'Horrifying:' In The US, Who You Are Affects How You're Treated.” Medical Daily, Newsweek Media Group, 5 Feb.2016,www.medicaldaily.com/native-american- reservations- healthcare-terrible-372442.
Smoke Signals. Directed by Chris Eyre, Miramax, 1998
“Substance Use in American Indian Youth Is Worse than We Thought.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11 Sept. 2014,www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras- blog/2014/09/substance-use-in-american-indian-youth-worse-than-we-thought.
Peter Pan. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney, Walt Disney, 1953
Braun, David Maxwell. “Preserving Native America's Vanishing Languages – National Geographic Blog.” National Geographic Blog, National Geographic Society, 15 Nov.2009,blog.nationalgeographic.org/2009/11/15/
preserving-native-americas-vanishing-languages/.
Dovey, Dana. “Healthcare On Native American Reservations Is 'Horrifying:' In The US, Who You Are Affects How You're Treated.” Medical Daily, Newsweek Media Group, 5 Feb.2016,www.medicaldaily.com/native-american- reservations- healthcare-terrible-372442.
Smoke Signals. Directed by Chris Eyre, Miramax, 1998
“Substance Use in American Indian Youth Is Worse than We Thought.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11 Sept. 2014,www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras- blog/2014/09/substance-use-in-american-indian-youth-worse-than-we-thought.
Peter Pan. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney, Walt Disney, 1953