"A Glimpse at the Indian Congress - There are forty-two tribes of North American Indians represented in the Indian Congress. Three of the most noted chiefs are seen in this group. To the extreme left is Chief Lone Elk, Sioux, and in the center is Chief Red Cloud, the fierce war chief of the Sioux, fiery orator and bitter enemy of the whites. To the right is Chief Hard Heart, another noted Sioux warrior." Original Caption by C. D. Arnold in his book Official Views of Pan-American Exposition (1901), Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, image is in the Public Domain
iN COnclusion
The history of European colonization has immeasurably and irrevocably affected the lives of the indigenous people who first called North America home. From forcing Native Americans out of their homeland, to the spread of lethal diseases, the history of colonization in North America has been characterized by disrespect and mistreatment. The cultural oppression of Native Americans can specifically be seen through the forced religious conversions, and the overall goal to assimilate Native Americans into white European culture, and later "American" culture. Whether from the Spanish, English, or French colonizers, the idea that white men were superior to an entire civilization of people sparked centuries of conflict that still ripples through the United States.
For the Native American people today who still care deeply about preserving their culture and ancestry, life on reservations has been fraught with conflict and marginalization. Native American reservations make up some of the poorest communities in our country. The federal government is "responsible for managing Indian affairs for the benefit of all Indians", but in many ways, this has had a negative effect on the reservations. The Native People generally do not own their own lands on the reservations, which causes extreme difficulty in starting businesses that they would not face outside of the reservations. In conjunction with this, restrictions on natural resources, mismanaging of Native American assets, and an overall hindrance on economic growth, the Native American people living on reservations feel the shadow of control and oppression by a government founded by colonizers. [1] All of these continuous difficulties and hardships can be attributed to one starting point: the initial colonization of Native land. Unfortunately, Native American people today are treated as foreigners and outsiders in a country that was theirs long before European ships ever breached their shores.
For the Native American people today who still care deeply about preserving their culture and ancestry, life on reservations has been fraught with conflict and marginalization. Native American reservations make up some of the poorest communities in our country. The federal government is "responsible for managing Indian affairs for the benefit of all Indians", but in many ways, this has had a negative effect on the reservations. The Native People generally do not own their own lands on the reservations, which causes extreme difficulty in starting businesses that they would not face outside of the reservations. In conjunction with this, restrictions on natural resources, mismanaging of Native American assets, and an overall hindrance on economic growth, the Native American people living on reservations feel the shadow of control and oppression by a government founded by colonizers. [1] All of these continuous difficulties and hardships can be attributed to one starting point: the initial colonization of Native land. Unfortunately, Native American people today are treated as foreigners and outsiders in a country that was theirs long before European ships ever breached their shores.
Citations
1.Regan, Shawn. “5 Ways The Government Keeps Native Americans In Poverty.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 13 Mar. 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/03/13/5-ways-the-government-keeps-native-americans-in-poverty/#53228bd02c27.
1.Regan, Shawn. “5 Ways The Government Keeps Native Americans In Poverty.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 13 Mar. 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/03/13/5-ways-the-government-keeps-native-americans-in-poverty/#53228bd02c27.