"Indian" questions and answers
1) Who are the Indians?
There are millions of people of Indian descent, but that does not make them Indians in the eyes of the tribes or the federal government. Federal government
considers an Indian as a member of a federally recognized tribe. Individual tribes have the exclusive right to determine their own membership. The tribal government sets specific criteria for registration. Some of which require careful study of the origin, and some simply provide evidence.
According to the definition of the US Department of the Interior, a person who has a certain percentage of Indian blood in his veins and who is recognized as an Indian by one of the tribes and / or the US government is usually considered an Indian. There is no single federal or tribal criterion for classification as Indians. Government agencies use a variety of criteria to determine an individual's eligibility to participate in programs and to receive services. Different tribes also have different eligibility criteria. It is important to understand the difference between ethnological and political and legal aspects of the meaning of the term "Indian". The protection and services provided by the US government to tribal members are not due to an individual's status as an American Indian in the ethnological sense, but to the fact that he is a member of a tribe that is recognized by the US and with which the US maintains a special relationship of trust. This special relationship of trust entails certain enforceable obligations and responsibilities.
2) What is the origin of the Indians?
Most anthropologists believe that the Indians made the transition from Asia to North America through the Bering Strait about 35,000 years ago. However, most tribes have their own origin story based on the fact that the indigenous people of the continent have always lived in America.
3) Why are Native Americans called Indians?
The indigenous population of the United States was first called by the Indians by Christopher Columbus, who mistakenly believed, having set foot on the continent, that he reached India. Nowadays, many Native Americans choose to call themselves American Indian to avoid stereotypes associated with Indians.
4) Which is correct: Native American or American Indian?
Any of these terms are acceptable, although preferences exist. The term "Native American" was first used in the 1960s. to identify Indians and Alaska Natives. Over time, the term has become widespread to include all the indigenous peoples of the United States and their territories, including the Hawaiian Aborigines, the Chamorro (the indigenous population of the Mariana Islands), and the American Samoa (the 7 eastern islands of the Samoa archipelago) (Native Americans and American Indians are interchangeable in this document).
5) How many Alaska Indians and Aborigines are there?
According to the 1997 US Census, there were 2.3 million people. This is approximately 1 percent of the total population. Before the arrival of Europeans in North America, the indigenous population, according to some rough estimates, was over 10 million. By the time the colonists began to keep records, the population of the peoples had dwindled significantly due to war, famine, European disease and forced labor. Approximate number of people who are American Indian and Alaska Native only or American Indian and Alaskan Native combined with one or more other races: 4.4 million (as of July 1, 2003).
6) Do the Indians have families?
Almost two thirds of the total indigenous population are married, and 27% of families are headed by single women. The birth rate among Indians is significantly higher than in families living in America, and this is despite the fact that the average annual income of an Indian family is significantly lower than the average annual income of other Americans. Number of American Indian and Alaska Native families: 484,000
7) Is the number of the indigenous population declining?
The indigenous population is getting younger and growing steadily. Since July 1990, Alaska Indians and Natives have grown by 12 percent, while the white population has grown by only 3 percent.
8) What are the reasons for this growth?
Health care has been greatly improved and life expectancy has increased. In addition, many want to identify themselves as Indian or Alaska Native.
9) Why does the government define Alaska Native peoples as Alaskan Native people and not as Indians?
The natives of Alaska are the Eskimos (Inupait and Yupik), the Alaskan Indians (Athapaski, Haida, Tlingit and Timshian) and the Aleuts. They have their own culture and prefer to call themselves Alaska Natives.
10) Are indigenous Hawaiians considered Indians?
No, the native Hawaiians known as the Kanaka Maoli trace their ancestry and language back to the Polynesians, including the Tahitians, Samoans, and Maori. Since 2000, the federal government has not recognized Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders as a separate group. Native Hawaiians often ally with Native Americans in matters of self-government and self-determination.
11) What is a tribe?
Initially, tribes are a society of people connected by blood ties, family ties and common languagehaving their own religion and political system. When members of various tribes were forced to live together on a reservation, some new tribal groups formed.
12) How many tribes are there?
As shown by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1998, there were 554 federally recognized tribes in the United States, (in 2003 - 562), which included 226 villages of Alaska Natives. Federal recognition of the tribe gives it government status and provides certain federal subsidies.
13) Indian tribes do not belong to the same group?
Indian tribes are as different as, for example, Irish and Italians. Tribes have their own culture, language and traditions. Some of them were once sworn enemies.
14) Which of the tribes is the most numerous?
In 1990, the Cherokee population was 308,132, the largest of the American tribes. Most of the Cherokee live in Oklahoma and the North Carolina State Reservation (more than 5,000). The largest tribal group of Alaska Natives: the Eskimos, number 37,000.
15) Are the concepts of the Indian people and the Indian tribe identical?
Yes, federally recognized tribes are self-governing, and the federal government deals with political entities, not races. The political status of the tribes is spelled out in the Constitution: "Congress has the right ... to regulate trade with foreign states ... and with Indian tribes."
16) How is the tribe recognized at the federal level?
They are approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the US Department of the Interior. Many peoples were recognized as tribes, at the federal level, by treaties in the 18th and 19th centuries, although several groups are applying for recognition as such today.
17) Which of the last tribes was federally recognized?
In 1996, the Potawatomi Hurons from Michigan were granted federal status as a Native American people. In 1998, 14 more tribes applied to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
18) What powers do tribes have as peoples?
As a national, they have all the powers of government, except those that are in conflict with fundamental provisions of Congress or overruled by the United States Supreme Court. Tribes have the right to form their own government, determine its composition, collect taxes, administer justice, and have the right to commercial activity. The tribal people regulate the issues of Indian land, its resources and questions regarding the conduct of tribal members on Indian land.
19) How is the tribal government formed?
Most of the tribal governments have a developed democratic system for electing government members, which was formed long before the arrival of the European colonialists. Although structurally similar to that of the American government, tribal governments are significantly smaller and have much less authority.
20) What is a tribal council?
The tribal council is usually the governing body of the tribe. The head of the council - the elected chairman, president, chieftain, or governor - is the recognized leader. The council fulfills the legislative aspects of the tribal government.
21) Are Reservation Governments and Tribal Governments the same thing?
Not. Tribal governments existed long before the reservations were established. However, the tribal council is the governing body of the reservation. In cases where different tribes are on the same reservation, governments operate separately, such as the Shoshone and Arapaho, in Wyoming.
22) What is a reservation?
Indian reservations are plots owned by the federal government as tribal land. The United States developed a reservation policy for the Indians in 1787. Some reservations were created on the basis of contracts, while others - in accordance with laws or government orders. Today there are 314 reservations.
23) Why are they called reservations?
The term "reservation" has its origins in the federal government's acts on lands held for federal purposes. In the United States, there are two types of such lands: military and Indian.
24) Do all Indians live on reservations?
Not. According to the census, more than 60 percent live off-reservations. However, many visit reservations to visit relatives and participate in ceremonies.
25) How much land has been allocated to the Indians?
About 56 million acres on reservations and trusts. The Navajo Reservation is the largest at 16 million acres, covering portions of the states of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Most reservations have less than 1,000 acres.
26) What do you mean "are in trust"?
Nearly all of the trust land is on reservations and is owned by the United States. Their status is aimed at using and for the benefit of the Indian tribes. The tribes have the right to acquire this land, petition the federal government for trust, protect it from encroachment or arrest. Actions taken in relation to a trust, including sale, are subject to the approval of the Secretary of State of the Interior.
27) Who owns the reservations?
The United States owns the tribal lands, acting with the Department of the Interior as a trustee. The tribe or owner is the owner of the land in trust. Non-Indians also own a significant portion of the reservation lands, although tribes may exercise jurisdiction over them.
28) What is the federal government's responsibility to Indians in relation to trust?
The federal government's responsibility to Indians for fiduciary relationships is a legal obligation whereby the United States has “committed itself to the highest moral responsibility and trust” to Indian tribes (Seminole v. USA, 1942). The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, John Marshall, first spoke about him in the Cherokee v. Georgia case (1831). Over the years, the doctrine of trust has become the cornerstone of many other cases before the Supreme Court. This is one of the most important principles set forth in federal Indian law. The federal government's responsibility to Indians in relation to trusts is the US government's enforceable obligation to protect tribal lands, assets, resources, and treaty rights, and the obligation to comply with federal mandates with regard to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In a number of trust liability cases, the Supreme Court has used language that implies that it entails legal obligations, moral obligations, and the fulfillment of understandings and expectations arising from contacts between the US government and tribes.
29) Did the government try to take away tribal lands?
From the 1880s to the 1930s, Congress traded in tribal lands, with the result that the reservations lost two-thirds of their lands. In 1950, the Eisenhower administration implemented a policy of closing reservations in order to assimilate Indians into white society.
30) Do tribal lands have a reserve of minerals?
The reserves contain: 5 percent of the country's oil and gas reserves, 50 percent of uranium and 30 percent of coal with a low sulfur content. Other mineral reserves include phosphates, crystalline quartz, gravel, sand, potassium and sodium. Even if the tribes do not have a reserve of minerals, they can rent land with them.
31) What is Indian Territory?
"Indian Territory" is the legal term used in Title 18 of the United States Code. It broadly defines federal and tribal jurisdictions for crimes involving Indians on reservations. But the term is also widely used, denoting reservations and areas with Indian populations.
32) What are the living conditions in the Indian territory?
Despite improvements in health, education, and economics over the years, Amerindian communities continue to lag behind the rest of the country across all industries. Their income level is significantly lower and the mortality rate significantly exceeds the indicators for the whole country. On the reservations, people die from accidents, alcoholism, diabetes, pneumonia, suicide, homicide and tuberculosis.
33) What is tribal sovereignty?
Just like states, tribes have sovereignty in the management of territories and internal affairs. This status of the tribes is confirmed by a number of agreements, case law and the Constitution. Scientists believe that tribes are independent from the very beginning, i.e. their origin was before the formation of the United States.
34) How does sovereignty work?
The doctrine of tribal sovereignty was confirmed by three Supreme Court rulings in the 1800s. They recognize the right to self-government and internal affairs of the so-called “internal, dependent nations,” which discourages state intervention, but allows Congress to redefine Native American powers.
35) Is sovereignty largely symbolic today?
There is nothing more important to the Indian government and people than sovereignty, tribal leaders say. This is a fundamental principle of the US Constitution. Recently, tribes have sought to regain control over their economies and resources, claiming their rights as sovereign, while often clashing with neighboring states.
36) What is sovereign immunity?
It is the ability of the government to determine the conditions on the basis of which a claim may be brought. The tribes use sovereign immunity in claims concerning their territories. Congress tried to limit sovereign immunity, however, these attempts did not bring the desired results.
37) Does US jurisdiction extend to Indian territories?
The United States has neither civil nor criminal jurisdiction over Indian territory. Since 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, passed by Congress, requires tribes and states to enter into treaties or agreements before opening a gambling establishment in Indian territory.
38) Should Indians follow the same laws as non-Indians?
Local, state and federal laws apply to Indians outside of the reservation. On reservations, they are subject only to federal and tribal laws. Under federal law known as the Assimilative Crimes Act, any felony is a federal offense.
39) Are Indians American Citizens?
Indians hold dual citizenship as members of the tribe and as American citizens. Congress gave American citizenship to the Indians in 1924.
40) Do Indians pay state or federal taxes?
They pay the same taxes as everyone else, but there are exceptions: Native Americans living on reservations do not pay government taxes on income. Indians living in trust areas do not pay local and state property taxes. State sales taxes are not levied if transactions are concluded on the territory of the reservation. Indians do not pay income tax on income received from trust lands for the right to graze and drill for oil wells.
41) What is the relationship between tribal and state governments?
Since the Constitution gives the federal government the power to deal with Indian relations, the states generally do not have power over tribal governments. Tribal governments retain the right to enact and enforce laws and regulations that are stricter or more lenient than those of their neighboring state (s). However, while tribes have the right and power to regulate their land independently of the government of a neighboring state, in practice they often cooperate and interact with states through treaties and other agreements. Relations between tribes and states are also intergovernmental relationships.
42) What are contracts?
From 1777 to 1871, treaties were concluded between the United States and the Indian peoples. These treaties or agreements between tribal governments and the United States formed the property rights and obligations of the parties. There are 371 treaties establishing rights for Indian tribes, mainly relating to their land.
43) What's in these contracts or agreements?
In the treaties, the Indians were promised protection, property, services, the right to self-government and tribal territories in exchange for cooperation and land.
44) Why did the tribes agree to treaties?
Faced with land grabbing, war losses, disease and a flood of immigrants, the Indians were forced to enter into treaties and viewed them as serious moral obligations.
45) Have the contracts been fulfilled?
Inconsistent federal policies and court decisions have resulted in indigenous peoples losing some of their civil rights and lands. An early example of this was the Trail of Tears, the 14,000 Cherokee march from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to Oklahoma, although the 1791 treaty had already defined their land of residence. About 4,000 Cherokee - mostly children, old people and children - died of hunger, cold and disease along the way.
46) What is fiduciary responsibility?
This is one of the most important principles in federal Indian law. It legally establishes a fiduciary obligation on the part of the United States to protect tribal lands, assets, resources, and treaty rights. The rulings of the Supreme Court indicate that fiduciary responsibility entails both legal and moral obligations.
47) Do treaties guarantee special rights to Indians today?
On the Pacific Northwest coast, tribes have the rights to hunt, fish, and forage, just as their ancestors did. On all reservations, tribes are entitled to free education and medicine from the federal government.
48) Are contracts trampled upon?
Such attempts have been repeated. More recently, Congress has tried to limit tribal self-government and expand state authority over tribes.
49) What is the American Indian Movement (AIM)?
AIM was formed in 1968 as an Indian rights movement. AIM leaders staged sit-ins and other protests, so in 1972, AIM members from different states marched across the country in a protest march "Trail of broken treaties." Now AIM continues to work actively.
50) What does the Bureau of Indian Affairs do?
The Bureau is the federal tribal agency. Its task is to provide services and / or funds for services to the tribes. In the 1800s, the Bureau's main goal was to help tribes self-determine. The Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior is responsible for the management of 55.7 million acres (22,540,990.27 hectares) of land held in trust by the US government for the benefit of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives.
51) Who can apply for BDI services?
Only persons belonging to federally recognized tribes.
52) What services does BDI provide?
The development of forest lands, the leasing of assets on these lands, the management of agricultural programs, the protection of water and land rights, the development and maintenance of infrastructure, and the provision of economic development are all part of the BDI's remit. In addition, BDI provides educational services to 48,000 Native American students. On 56 million acres of land held in trust by the US government, BDI manages more than 100,000 leases with individual Indians owning more than 10 million acres of land and with tribes owning nearly 45 million acres. In fiscal 2003, the trust earned $ 195 million in lease, use, sales and interest income for 240,000 Indian individual accounts and $ 375 million for 1,400 tribal accounts. The Office of the Special Representative for American Indian Fiduciaries (ADRT) administers $ 2.9 billion in tribal trust fund investments and $ 400 million in individual accounts. USPOI staff meet with tribal representatives to identify investment objectives, constraints and preferences to maximize returns.
53) Do other federal agencies work with the tribes?
Almost all federal departments work with Indian tribes. The Department of Health and Human Services, for example, works with the Indian Health Service, which provides medical assistance on or near reservations. The Department of Justice works with the Tribal Justice Department, which coordinates law enforcement in Indian territory.
54) Can Indians hold elective office?
Indians have the same rights as all other US citizens. Charles Curtis, Crow, was Vice President under Herbert Hoover, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado Republican, Northern Cheyenne. Campbell also served three terms in the US House of Representatives as a Democrat.
55) Are Indians in the US Army?
In the 20th century, among the soldiers awarded the highest US military award - the Medal of Honor - five were Indians. Every fourth Indian is a military veteran. The heroism displayed by the Indians in World War I pushed the government to pass the Citizenship Act in 1924. During World War II, the Navajo Marines used their language as a cipher that the enemies could not decipher, no matter how they tried. Number of American Indian and Alaska Natives who are veterans of the US military: 159,000
56) Who regulates Indian casinos?
The Indian National Gaming Association, approved by Congress, oversees bingo, casino and certain other forms of gambling in tribal lands. It sets the licensing rules, reviews the annual audit, and approves the ordinances that tribes develop to run gaming operations. The US Department of the Treasury, Justice and Home Affairs has its own definite influence on the gambling business. Indian tribes have their own gambling commissions, tribal police and judicial system.
57) What is the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act?
A law passed in 1988 allowed tribes to open gambling establishments on reservations if the state in which the reservations were located had already legalized gambling. The law requires states to enter into treaties with tribal governments that plan to open casinos, including installing slot machines and blackjack. Treaties are approved by the Secretary General of the Interior.
58) Does the gambling business bring a lot of income?
In 1997, casinos made a total of $ 6.4 billion in revenues. But not all tribes got rich. More than half of this income came from the six tribes, whose territories are located near major cities. (In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, agreed with 10 Indian tribes to build new casinos on the reservation territories. The Indians gave their consent and now 25% of the profits from these casinos go to the state treasury).
59) What is the place of the Indian gambling business in the industry of gambling places?
The Indian gambling business is growing at a fast pace, but it accounts for only 8% of the total profit of the US gambling business. (Many casinos located in Indian territories are bait for the underworld and are controlled by the gambling mafia).
60) Do all tribes have their own gambling business?
About a third of the 554 tribes are gambling businesses, and many of that third are limited to bingo only.
(The Masfi Wampanoang tribe is doing everything possible and impossible to get the opportunity to build a casino in northeastern Massachusetts. Now the Indians have no land for construction. The tribe managed to coordinate the issue with local authorities, but the federal government refused the Indians the right to build the institution.
In a desperate attempt to implement their project in Massachusetts, which recently legalized gambling resorts on their territory, the tribe turned to a 250-year-old treaty with King George III of England, who granted the Indians liberties and rights to their land.
To build their casino, Indians must obtain land on lease from the federal government, and then obtain approval from local authorities if they want to see Indian casinos in their region.
In a complaint filed by the Indians against the feds, it is said that the United States “constantly forgets its responsibility to protect the Masfi Wampanoang by making the tribe poor and landless”).
61) Do tribes pay tax on their income?
Not. As sovereign governments, they do not pay taxes on their income to the state or federal government, but casino employees deduct income tax on their salaries, like all Americans. States have the right to charge tribal fees for gambling regulation and administration costs. Some states, such as Michigan, Connecticut and Washington, have formal agreements with tribes to levy additional fees.
62) Did the gambling business help the tribes to get rich?
The gambling business has helped tribes such as the Ottawa Grand Traverse Band and the Chippewa, but the Indians are still one of the poorest.
(Casinos built on Indian reservations generate large incomes for some tribes, and for some they do not bring substantial profits. A popular casino like Mysterious Lake feeds the entire Mdevacanton tribe, and the Seminole Indians became the owners of the popular Hard Rock cafe chain. American politicians have an ambiguous attitude towards Indian casinos, some treat them negatively, motivating their attitude by religion and the narrow specialization of young Indians, the latter propose to deprive the Indians of all benefits in order to replenish the US treasury, and still others are in favor of keeping the situation the same. it is impossible to give an exact answer to how the gambling business will develop in the future on the territories of the Indian reservations, only time will tell).
63) Did some of the Indians get rich?
The Indian Reservation Gambling Act requires tribal governments to spend revenues on social, economic, and philanthropic purposes. Only after that, with the permission of the Minister of the Interior, the leftovers can be distributed among specific individuals. Forty-seven tribes practice this.
64) Why are casinos popular among tribes?
Gambling is a common tradition that has figured in celebrations and ceremonies long before Europeans. For many reservations, gambling is one of the few sources of employment and income. (Indians for the most part are not subject to gambling. More than 90% of casino revenues come from white visitors).
(From the history of the emergence of casinos in the Indian territories: "In the state of New York, the Oneida people live. In the mid-70s of the 20th century, they lived very poor. To somehow improve the financial situation of the tribe, one of its members opened a salon with a bingo in a trailer. The Indian decided to raise the game rates above the level specified by the law. The authorities became interested in this salon and wanted to close it. But the Indian graduated from Harvard and knew his rights. He said that on the reservation, these laws do not apply. While the bickering was going on, a new Seminole Indian casino was opened in Florida, with mostly whites playing in this casino, and the tribe's income increased significantly.
The state district attorney decided to close the Seminole gambling house. In response, the tribe filed a lawsuit against the attorney, and the famous lawsuit began, which the Indians won. Thanks to this lawsuit, all Indians living in the United States received the right to open casinos on the territory of their reservations. Moreover, the authorities passed a law according to which income from gambling on the territory of reservations is not taxed.
So the bigwigs of the gambling business of Nevada and New Jersey have new competitors. Owners of luxury casinos began lobbying for their interests in Congress, and already in 1988, an act was passed to regulate Indian gambling. According to this act, permission to open a new casino was issued to the Indians by the state government. In some regions, Indians were forbidden to open casinos, but after numerous trials, a compromise solution was found. They agreed that the Indians should share their income with the state. Since then, the Indians have been able to open casinos, only they have to give significant profits from the business to the state treasury).
65) Do all Indians support casinos?
Not. Some argue that the gambling business undermines the foundations of the culture and those tribes that already have their own casinos are moving away from the traditional way of life.
66) What are tribal schools?
Since the early 1800s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has taken over the function of raising reservation children in Indian schools. Since 1978, the federal government has transferred the administration of schools to the tribes while maintaining control and funding. Today there are 187 tribal schools with 50,000 students.
67) How many Native American children attend public off-reservation schools?
Approximately 480,000 Native American children attend public off-reservation schools. In some states with large populations, Native American students are given time to study Native American language and culture.
(In January 2013, in the small American town of Shawano in northeastern Wisconsin. 13-year-old 7th grade student Miranda Washinawatok, Menominee dared to pronounce three phrases in her native Indian language and then translate them into English for These words - "I love you", "Hello" and "Thank you" ... After that the girl was expected by the most real repression ...
When her mother Tanais began to question the offended and upset girl what had happened, it turned out that the teacher Julia Gurta roughly grabbed her by both hands and, hitting them hard on the table, loudly said that she should not speak the Menominee language, that is, the native language of her tribe, and that doing so is very bad ... In the next lesson, another teacher told the girl that she had done wrong, and, in addition, she was deprived of the opportunity to play basketball: Miranda sat on the bench for the whole game. The mother's attempt to find out why her child was suspended from the game ended in nothing: the coach said that he knew nothing about this decision ... Richie Plass, Miranda's great-uncle, knows well what racism is. He said: "This is ignorance and a form of national intolerance, this is closer to fascism ..." Teacher Julia Gurta, who punished Miranda, assistant director of the school for education Dr. Joseph Bound, assistant coach for women's basketball team Billy Joe Decuen and head Dan seems to be even wrote a letter of apology, but ... As Miranda's mother says, in this letter they did not apologize at all, but tried ... to justify their actions! For example, Julia Gurta argued that students have a responsibility to respect other students, and behavior that creates a sense of elitism "can increase racial and cultural tensions." And the punishment of Miranda, according to this lady, was undertaken in response to the girl's disrespectful comments and behavior throughout the day ...)
68) How many Indians graduated from high school?
According to the 1990 US Census, 66% of Indians in their 25s graduated from high school. Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 25 and over among those with at least a school leaving certificate or diploma high school: 75 %.
69) How do tribes use their sovereignty?
In New Mexico, for example, the pueblos require residents of the city of Albuquerque to comply with standards for clean water, which are more stringent and demanding than government ones. In the Pacific Northwest, tribes work with the states and the federal government to address salmon fisheries and protection issues.
70) What are tribal colleges and how do they function?
More than 30 colleges have sprung up since the 1960s. They are located directly on or near the reservation areas and provide a 2-year education. Some of them were built with money from the gambling business. Teaching in this type of college meets the needs and demands of the indigenous population and is aimed at those students who then continue their education off-reservations. The first college fully controlled by tribal authorities was established on the Navajo reservation in 1968. The reason for the creation of this Indian college was the large number of Navajo students who did not graduate from non-reservation schools. That is why the tribal authorities decided to establish their own two-year college, the Navajo Community College. Among the advantages of this type of educational institution was called the fact that "students experienced fewer financial and psychological problems, and also studied the culture and system of life values \u200b\u200bof the Navajo tribe." Other tribes followed the example of the Navajo. By 1990, there were already 24 Indian colleges in the United States where students could obtain an associate's degree. Two colleges - Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska College - provide undergraduate study opportunities. A modern Indian college is usually housed in several buildings that were donated to the Indian community or rented by the tribe. Sometimes other premises are adapted for educational institutions. For example, Little Big Horn College is based in a former sports center, one of the premises of Fort Berthold College is the former post office, Sinte Gleska College rebuilt a bookstore under classroom... And only a few Indian colleges have spacious structures at their disposal. On the Navajo reservation, students study at a college located in the heart of the reservation: a six-story administrative building built in the national style and surrounded by other university divisions (dormitory, gym and student center).
However, despite the fact that in the second half of the twentieth century, Native Americans were able to establish their own educational institutions and to place them on the territories of reservations, the number of students that these colleges could accept was limited - primarily due to the fact that the colleges themselves were small. A distinctive feature of tribal colleges is that, along with the general education program, they teach traditionally Indian subjects, which, in the opinion of the reservation population and teachers, will prepare students, on the one hand, for reservation life, and on the other hand, for communication with non-reservation life. external environment. Thus, there are three main characteristics of Indian colleges. First, the curriculum in these colleges is always based on traditional Indian culture. Students learn tribal language, art, and philosophy not as complementary subjects, but as core subjects. Secondly, the main emphasis is placed on teaching such disciplines that are most in demand in the life of a particular reservation. As a result, most graduates have little difficulty finding work in one or another Indian community. Third, college-based research studies are often conducted that meet the pressing needs of the community and are sponsored by tribal authorities. This leads to the fact that Native American educational institutions combine the functions of a college and a research center.
The already mentioned Navajo Community College can be cited as an example. Its statutory document says that the main task of the college is to improve the educational level of students based on Indian traditions. Among the most important disciplines are the study of the philosophy of the tribe, language, history, culture, vocational training that allows graduates to successfully exist in a multicultural and technological society, research that contributes to the social and economic development of the reservation community.
71) How many Indians have higher education?
In 1960, only about 3.5 thousand Indians studied at universities and colleges in the United States, then in 1970 more than 14.4 thousand Indians were enrolled in colleges. However, the percentage of Native American youth enrolled in tertiary education is still low: in 1970, only 12% of Indians aged 18-24 were enrolled in colleges in the country, compared with 15% of African Americans and 27% of white Americans. In the period from 1970 to 1980, the number of Indian students in various types of higher educational institutions in the United States increased by only 12 thousand people. At present, there are a relatively large number of Indians who have even achieved advanced degrees. By the mid-1980s, for example, at the University of South Dakota, 200 Indians had received a master's degree and 23 had a PhD. Characteristically, they all specialized in the field of school pedagogy and methodology (problems of primary, secondary and higher education, the specifics of adult learning, the specifics of work on the staff of the school administration, etc.).
The need for Indians to diversify their occupations was clearly expressed at the forum of Indian scientists, which took place in the early 1970s, by an Indian from the Northern Cheyenne group D. Wu-Denlegs. Denouncing the fact that on many reservations almost all positions, from nurses, doctors, teachers and school educators to managers, IDU personnel, etc., etc., were occupied by non-Indians, he said: If a non-Indian can be trained in how to manage and control Indian affairs, why shouldn't an Indian be in charge of himself and other Indians? " ... Despite the fact that Native Americans enjoy significant benefits in admission to higher education, the level of education among the Indians is extremely low. 28 percent of Americans have a college degree, compared with just 16 percent for Indians. Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 25 and over who hold a graduate degree (MSc, PhD, MD, or JD): 50,500.
72) Do Indians speak their native language?
The vast majority of Indians speak english language as the main language, although some know their own native language... When Europeans first arrived on the American continent, there were 350 Native American languages.
73) What languages \u200b\u200bdo the Indians speak?
The exact number has not been calculated, but approximately 200 languages \u200b\u200bare known to be spoken. Amerindian languages \u200b\u200bare classified geographically, not linguistically, as they do not belong to the same language family. Number of people aged 5 years and over who speak the language of one of the indigenous peoples of North America: 381,000. The most spoken of all indigenous languages \u200b\u200bin North America is Navajo, spoken by 178,014 people.
74) Indian languages \u200b\u200bcontinue to die out and how are they preserved?
Yes. Basically, only the elders speak their native languages. Communities are committed to introducing native Indian language teaching into school curricula, books and teaching aidssome languages \u200b\u200bare taught at universities. Recently, researchers are increasingly talking about the revival of the interest of Indian youth in the culture and languages \u200b\u200bof their ancestors.
75) Did the Indians have writing?
Before European colonization, writing among the Indians existed in the form of pictography.
76) Do Indians have a religion?
There is no single religion. Each nation has its own religion, its own traditional practices. Many Native Americans believe in a Great Spirit that manifests itself through nature and affects all life. Everyday life is filled with numerous spirits. In the 19th century, Native Americans lost many of their religious practices, colonists converted them to Christianity by force, sending their children to missionary schools, forbidding many rituals.
77) How many Christians are there among the Indians?
In the 1990s, more than two-thirds of Native Americans indicated they were Christian. Others combined Christian beliefs with their own religion. There are also Muslims among the Indians.
78) Are Indians free now to practice their religions?
Until the 1930s, the United States prohibited Native American religious practices, including the Dance of the Spirits, the Dance of the Sun, and the cult of the peyote. In 1978, Congress passed the Indian Religious Freedom Act. Its first section states that it will henceforth be United States policy to protect the traditional religions of "American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians" in several areas, "including unrestricted access to places of worship. the storage and use of sacred objects and the freedom to pray through traditional ceremonies. " Section two obliges the government to monitor its policies and practices by consulting Native American traditionalists and report annually to Congress on how the act is being carried out.
79) Where do the Indians pray?
Followers of Indian spirituality do not consider their practice to be a religion at all and they do not need any buildings to send their prayers, because prayers have various forms, including songs and dances, tobacco and corn flour offerings.
80) What is Pow-Wow?
The word "pow-wow" comes from the language of the Narragansetts. It is a celebration of honoring sacred Indian traditions through dancing, drumming, singing and gathering. Pow-wows can be performed to honor individuals or for special occasions. More often than not, power-wow is a social event.
81) Can non-Indians attend the pow-wow?
There are ceremonial powwows that are closed to others, but on public powwows, non-Indians are welcome.
82) Where do the Indians get eagle feathers?
Eagles are under government protection, but feathers are available for religious Native American practices from eagles that die naturally or by accident.
Translation and additions: Alexander Caksi * Two Wolves *. Text revision: Kristina Makhova.
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What do the children of the whole world have in common with the Indians? Chocolate, popcorn, gum and the ability to run freely with war cries in any space! All of these delicacies were invented by the Indians: popcorn - having discovered the ability to "explode" in the grains of maize, chewing gum from the juice of hevea (rubber), and the word "chocolate" was first heard from the Mayan tribe.
Despite such funny inventions, the eyes of the Indian are always sad, they are a sad people, and even when looking at photos in search engines, you will rarely find a smiling indigenous American. But an incredible natural depth and an amazing desire to preserve its history - this can be found in any Indian.
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Many nationalities in modern world are gradually losing their traditions. Many of them do not know the history of their families. The efforts of folklorists to restore bit by bit the scripts of the holidays, songs, epics, legends, folk recipes "go into the sand": nothing goes further than writing books and talking, traditions do not return to everyday life.
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And the look of an Indian from any portrait or photograph speaks of his pride in his great people, because his greatness is in knowledge, in that they, in spite of everything, pass on to their grandchildren and thus preserve every action and skill.
Indians today
Indians are settled throughout South and North America, from Alaska to Argentina, some of them live on reservations (example: the Navajo tribe), some are a full-fledged citizen of the country (Maya, 80% of the population of Guatemala), and others still since then they live in the Amazon jungle (Guarani) and have no connection with civilization. Therefore, the way of life is different for everyone, but the traditions of raising children and attitudes towards adults are preserved in an amazing way.
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The Indians of North America are mainly Catholics and Protestants, the Indians of Latin America are mainly Catholics. For most of the Indians of South and Central America, pre-Hispanic beliefs are inseparably merged with Christianity. Many Indians have traditional cults. Now these are, as a rule, theatrical performances accompanied by mask dances, including during Catholic and Protestant holidays.
Each tribe has its own dialects, many speak two languages, their own and English, but some tribes do not even have their own written language, therefore the elders are the most respected adults and beloved children in the tribe. They teach wisdom, preserve and tell stories and legends, know the subtleties of any skill - weaving carpets, making dishes, fishing and hunting. They monitor the observance of all rituals, and in wild tribes even the daily routine.
The Indians have preserved the tradition of sitting down, forming a circle, and sharing with everyone what is in their hearts. Some tribes gather in a circle on certain days, while others daily share everything that happened during the day, ask for advice, tell stories and sing.
A song for an Indian from childhood is like air, they can talk to nature through songs, express their emotions and convey the history of a whole nation. There are ritual songs, holiday songs, and the Kofan tribe has its own song for everyone.
The same "figVam" that drew Sharik from the cartoon "Prostokvashino" on the stove and which we build by playing Indians, in fact not a wigwam, and a portable tipi dwelling used by the steppe nomads.
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A wigwam is a hut on a frame, covered with straw. Visually, this dwelling looks like a large haystack and is traditional for the Indians of North America. The tribes of the Amazon live in such wigwams or houses on stilts covered with thatch or leaves. The peoples of the Indians on the US reservations, for example, the Navajo tribes, who are closer to civilization, live in houses similar to our usual Russian log cabins or huts.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that women and children usually build wigwams. In the wild tribes, almost all work in the village is considered female - cooking, sewing, raising children, all agricultural work, searching for firewood. The male task is to hunt, to train daily in military affairs in order to confidently use a spear, a bow and a tube with poisonous arrows. Because the jaguar fang necklace is a document, the only document of the Indians living in the jungle, attesting to his fearlessness. Only boys become shamans, the shaman teaches many in the village and transfers his knowledge, but after his death one of his young patients becomes a shaman, and not a disciple, because it is believed that together with the energy of treatment, all the shaman's knowledge is transferred to the patient.
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The main food is that obtained from hunting, and in families who are engaged in agriculture, the main dishes are potatoes, cereals, rice, chicken, turkey and, of course, all types of legumes, favorite dishes of pumpkin and corn. Sweet maple syrups and dried wild berries occupy a special place in the diet of the Indians.
The attitude towards strangers in the tribes differs, only "white" for all Indians are definitely unwanted guests. As for inter-tribal and clan relations, for example, for kofans there is no concept of their own and other people's children at all. Kofan parents take the name of their firstborn and use it until their wedding. Then they take the name of the next unmarried children. The study of family relationships in this case becomes a rather difficult task.
Even those Indian women who live in large cities adhere to the natural course of childbirth. More often they give birth at home, sometimes in the presence of an obstetrician or in a hospital, observing the basic principles of natural childbirth - without cesarean section, stimulants and anesthesia. Tribes in which the standard of living does not allow giving birth with the help of an obstetrician, and even more so in a hospital, childbirth takes place in sand or water, often a woman gives birth alone. The Indians feel a great affection for children and take great care of them. According to people who have studied Indian manners and customs for a long time, "in the attitude of parents to children, the best character traits of the Indians are manifested."
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From the very birth, children are present at any activity of their parents, the baby is worn in a scarf, a mantle (a special sling for wearing not only children, but also products, any things), or in a portable crib made of wood or reed made by the father.
According to the researchers, some tribes did not allow children to drink colostrum and only gave the breast when a steady stream of milk appeared. Children always have access to milk, at any time of the day or night they are not denied feeding and they drink the mother's milk until the milk runs out. Even if an Indian woman has given birth to several children in a few years, the older ones are not weaned.
Indian women rarely punish children, but they early involve them in work, believing that there is no better way to learn about life. From an early age, children are taught that being noisy and noisy is very bad, that they must respect their elders. Therefore, the children of the Indians are not capricious, not loud and not crying, very independent and friendly.
Nothing is forbidden to children, and adults are so confident in them that nothing happens to children. The relationship between parents and children is so close that they really are one whole. The kids themselves know what they need, and Indian parents allow them to receive and taste life, to live in unity with nature and its laws.
Now Indian "natural parenting" is a whole science that gained popularity in America and Europe in the 70s. Jean Ledloff, who made an expedition to the Indian tribes, was so amazed by what she saw that she devoted her whole life to studying the Indian “methods” of raising children, wrote the book “How to Raise a Happy Child” and became the founder of the so-called “natural parenting”.
Before Ledloff, Dr. Benjamin Spock reigned in the world of pedagogy, everyone read his work and "raised the children according to Spock" - fed by the hour, talked about the lack of connection between the child's health and the type of feeding, did not indulge, observed the daily routine, much prohibited and restricted the child believing that the child should have authority. Jean Ledloff's new theory turned the idea that with a child you need to be strict and restrained, wean early, not indulge in whims and establish your own adult rules. Ledloff watched the Indians and saw that they had the opposite, and there were no happier children.
Native American proponents of "natural parenting" adhere to the basic rules:
natural childbirth;
during the so-called "tame period" until the child has learned to crawl, he can be in the mother's arms as long as he wants. For this, slings or other devices are used to facilitate carrying;
frequent breastfeeding, at the request of the child, and at least two years;
the presence of the child in all the affairs of the mother, and later of the father, it is important that the child gets used to and watches the activity, socializes faster;
indians believe that it is not necessary to patronize the baby too much. Overly caring mothers are taught to treat the world with fear, as if there are many dangers in it and only them;
most Indian languages \u200b\u200bdo not have words for time. Until old age, the Indians know only the concept of "now". As, however, all the children of the world. Therefore, it is necessary to treat their requests with understanding, not postponing until tomorrow or for some "later";
Edilbaeva Botagoz Amanzholovna,
Psychologist
State communal treasury
enterprise "Children's preschool organization
№3 of Aksai city of education department of Akimat
Burlinsky district of West Kazakhstan region
LESSON - TRAINING
"WE ARE BRAVE INDIANS!"
Form of work: lesson - training"We are brave Indians!"
Group: senior group "Romashka"
Purpose:
Tasks:
Preliminary work:
Visual material:
Bilingual component: people - ate -nation
Courage - batyl -daring
Traditions - dәstүr- tradition
Activity stages
The actions of the teacher - psychologist
Children's actions
Motivational and incentive
You kids today
Waiting for a game-lesson
There will be many transformations
Very different adventures
We'll play Indians
We learn a lot
Chica, chica, chicka boom, boom
Chica, chica, chica boom
Chica, chica boom, boom!
Ha! Ha!
AAA ... .. !!! Oooh …… !!!
And I!!! AND I!!! AND I!!! U !!!
Children answer in chorus "Yes!"
Organizational and search
Slide number 1 - Slide number 2 Slide number 3
Slide number 4
Slide number 5
Slide number 6
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
Once upon a time there were three cyclops
Three cyclops on the mountain
In a very small hole
Zappa-sappa-ishedusha
They wanted to eat
Hunting with an ax
The worst came out
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
There are two cyclops left
With a tomahawk and a spear
The eldest went out!
Zappa-sappa-ba-wuroka
Middle crying at the doorstep
Emits a groan behind a moan
Just don't go out!
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
The Mystery of the Third Cyclops
That he is she -
Younger Cyclops Mom
And for the elder - a wife!
Ishedush - on the top of the mountain
Slide number 7
Slide number 8
The music of world drums of Indians sounds, children play drums
Children sit in a semicircle on the carpet around the sacred fire
Children look at the screen
Children dancing ritual dance of indians
The driver is selected, all together recite the countdown of the Dakota Indians
The child pointed to by the driver must hide in the wigwam, listen carefully and name who called him.
Children string elements (made of salt dough) onto laces
Children call positive features a child sitting on a throne
Children lie down on individual rugs, close their eyes, relax
Children talk about their feelings
Reflexive-corrective
And now the guys will thank each other for a great game. Join hands, look into each other's eyes, say thank you with your eyes. Let's end our lesson with the words:
We are all friendly guys
We are preschool children.
We do not offend anyone. We know how to take care.
We will not leave anyone in trouble. We will not take away, but ask.
May everyone be good, It will be joyful, light!
Children recall what games and exercises were carried out with them in class and discuss what they liked the most.
They say goodbye to the guests, leave the hall to the cheerful music.
Expected Result:
Know: about life, about everyday life, about the folk music of the Indians.
Have: Interest in Indian life and culture.
Be able to: co-empathize, get rid of psycho-emotional clamps, express oneself through dancing, be tolerant towards their peers, increase self-esteem.
LESSON - TRAINING
"WE ARE BRAVE INDIANS!"
Routing
organized learning activities
Form of work: lesson - training"We are brave Indians!"
Group: senior group "Romashka"
Purpose: to acquaint children with the life, way of life, folk music of people living in North America - Indians, education of tolerance, arouse interest in the life and culture of Indians.
Tasks: to form positive relationships in the group, to remove psycho-emotional clamps, to develop a sense of cohesion, the ability to empathize, to teach children self-expression in dancing through musical and rhythmic movements, to develop imagination, empathy.
Preliminary work: conversation "Where did the Indians come to America?", "Myths and legends of the Indians",viewing illustrations, photographs, slides depicting Indians, listening to ritual music, tricks from salt dough for amulets.
Visual material: a hat with feathers, a wigwam, a tambourine, drums (made from cans), an Indian costume, crafts made of salt dough (multi-colored), masks, a fire (made of wood and corrugated paper), paints, wet wipes. Tape recorder (music video clips "Ethnic music of Indians", "Dance of the Spirit", "Flight of the soul", "Latin America", "Shaman drums", multimedia projector
Bilingual component: people - ate -nation
Courage - batyl -daring
Traditions - dәstүr- tradition
Guests came to us today! Turn to them now! Smile! Make friends!
You kids today
Waiting for a game-lesson
There will be many transformations
Very different adventures
We'll play Indians
We learn a lot
My friends, do you want to turn into real Indians?
And for this we must perform the rite of reincarnation. Repeat after me the ancient spell of the tribe
Uh! AND! Uh! AND! Chica, chica, chica boom
Chica, chica, chicka boom, boom
Chica, chica, chica boom
Chica, chica boom, boom!
Ha! Ha!
AAA ... .. !!! Oooh …… !!!
And I!!! AND I!!! AND I!!! U !!!
And when the Indians greet each other in a special way, what do they say? ("O metako ash") What does this mean? (all around brothers)
Greeting: pronouncing the words "About metaco ash" and performing the gesture - raising the right open palm)
What's your mood? Is everyone of that opinion? All without exception? Are we Indians nothing? We are Indians - Wo! I am the leader of the tribe Black and white feather salute you valiant warriors!
What should a real Indian be like? (smart, quick, dexterous, courageous, strong, persistent, accurate, quick-witted, attentive and observant) If you agree with this and are not afraid of trials, then I ask you
Children, accompanied by cheerful (ethnic music of Indians), enter the hall, greet guests in three languages \u200b\u200b" Good morning, friends! Armysyndar, old enough! Goodmorning!
Children answer in chorus "Yes!"
Children stand one after another, walk in a circle, repeat after the psychologist
All in chorus pronounce the lingering sound A-a-a-a-a-a-a, rhythmically blocking the air flow with his palm
Children say "Oh metako ash!", Raise their right open palm, after which everyone hugs
- Guests came to us today! Turn to them now! Smile! Make friends!You kids today
Waiting for a game-lesson
There will be many transformations
Very different adventures
We'll play Indians
We learn a lot
My friends, do you want to turn into real Indians?
And for this we must perform the rite of reincarnation. Repeat after me the ancient spell of the tribe
Uh! AND! Uh! AND! Chica, chica, chica boom
Chica, chica, chicka boom, boom
Chica, chica, chica boom
Chica, chica boom, boom!
Ha! Ha!
AAA ... .. !!! Oooh …… !!!
And I!!! AND I!!! AND I!!! U !!!
And when the Indians greet each other in a special way, what do they say? ("O metako ash") What does this mean? (all around brothers)
Greeting: pronouncing the words "About metaco ash" and performing the gesture - raising the right open palm)
What's your mood? Is everyone of that opinion? All without exception? Are we Indians nothing? We are Indians - Wo! I am the leader of the tribe Black and white feather salute you valiant warriors!
What should a real Indian be like? (smart, fast, dexterous, courageous, strong, persistent, accurate, quick-witted, attentive and observant) If you agree with this and are not afraid of trials, then I ask you all together to portray the battle cry of the Indians (Cry).
Brave Indians, to raise morale, I invite you to play the drums while listening to music! Is everyone ready?
And now I suggest that you sit in a semicircle around the sacred fire. My brothers! Who do you think gave the Indians their name?Slide number 1 - In 1492, the famous navigator Christopher Columbus set off on a voyage around the world and reached a new continent. This was America. Columbus himself thought that his ships docked on the shores of India. Therefore, he called the aborigines (local residents) Indians.Slide number 2 - The Indians settled the American continent several millennia ago. Among the tribes in terms of numbers, one can distinguish the Aztecs, Pueblos, Apaches.Slide number 3
For the Indians, Nature is a sacred living book through which the Great Spirit communicates with them. A flying bird, a running animal, a gust of wind, the noise of foliage, a floating cloud - all these are living signs - symbols that the Indian reads, as we do letters and words.
Slide number 4
The most important person in the Indian tribe was the shaman - a person marked with a special gift to communicate with spirits.Slide number 5
The dances were of great religious importance. It was believed that with the help of a dance - a spell, contact with "spirits" is established (the ethnic music of the Indians "Dance of the Spirit" is played)
Slide number 6
All Indians are very friendly, they live in wigwams, which are made of bison skins. Men go hunting, while women are engaged in the household and children. The Indians have very good hearing. They can always guess who is calling them. Now we will play the game "Who called?" And we will choose the driver with the familiar Indian countdown
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
Once upon a time there were three cyclops
Three cyclops on the mountain
In a very small hole
Zappa-sappa-ishedusha
They wanted to eat
Hunting with an ax
The worst came out
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
There are two cyclops left
With a tomahawk and a spear
The eldest went out!
Zappa-sappa-ba-wuroka
Middle crying at the doorstep
Emits a groan behind a moan
Just don't go out!
Wancha-nopa-yamni-topa
The Mystery of the Third Cyclops
That he is she -
Younger Cyclops Mom
And for the elder - a wife!
And now the driver will hide in the wigwam. The one I touch, loudly calls the name of the driver.
Brave Indians! Are you wondering what this counting rhyme means? The calculator was invented based on the words of the language of the Dakota Indians:
Vancha-nopa-yamni-topa - one, two, three, four
Ishedush - on the top of the mountain
Ba-vuroke - a virtuous wife
Slide number 7
All Indians are very fond of jewelry, but they are not easy, and magical, the Indians believe that they protect them from failure, help them to be strong, dexterous and fast, they are called talismans. And now we will make such decorations for ourselves - talismans. Sounds "Latin American Music")
What wonderful jewelry you have made, put on your talismans, and may they always protect you!
Slide number 8
The life of the Indians is very interesting, but every little Indian dreams of growing up and becoming the leader of the tribe, wise, brave, strong, beautiful, kind, I suggest you become a leader for a few minutes. Auto-training "Magic throne"
Hey! Tulu! Yumba! Hey! Tulu! Yumba! Apinau-kay! Apinau-kay, I'm the best Indian! I love humor! I love laughter! In our sunny wigwam everyone has become friends for a long time! Adults and children know the best I am in the world!
It's time to rest and relax.
Relaxation "Magic flower of goodness" (Showing a video accompanied by beautiful music)
Valiant Indians! How did you feel when you closed your eyes? Have you been able to relax?
My brothers! I want to ask you a question. Why did the Indians paint their faces? The Indians used coloring to protect their skin from the sun. The smell of paint drove away annoying flies from people. And the coloring also made it possible to understand which tribe the Indian belonged to, and how many feats he performed. I suggest you fulfill creative work paint masks and present them to your loved ones, as well as our guests. So that the masks bring them good luck and success!
The Navajo is the second largest tribe, the number of Indians in it is about 220 thousand.
Two more relatively large tribes - Sioux and Chippewa, each of them not much more than a hundred thousand.
Not all of the currently existing tribes are officially recognized. For example, the Bureau of Indian Relations from 1978 to 2004 considered more than 150 petitions, but only a few tribes received official recognition.
But together with the recognition, the tribe receives the right to be considered a sovereign nation, which gives a number of rights and advantages. For example, they can appoint their own government, set taxes and pass their own laws, which on the territory of the reservation operate on a par with federal laws.
How Indians live in America today
But even on sovereign reservations, things are not so rosy. Not everyone is able to pay taxes, since the percentage of unemployed among Indians is incredibly high - up to 90%.Considering that in many houses there is not even electricity, not to mention appliances that make life easier. Last but not least, this is a consequence of the low level of education, which residents practically do not receive. And the cost of food is double the prices outside the reservations, which is not surprising, given the barren land on which they are located.
All this leads to another problem - addiction to alcohol. This weakness has become almost a national feature and at the same time another cause of high mortality among Indians, along with diabetes and obesity. Analysts associate all these diseases with a social component - “historical trauma”, isolation of tribes and eviction from their native lands.
Gambling houses are almost the main income. The prohibitions on opening casinos, which are in force in many states, do not apply to the territory of reservations. Add to this the tax breaks enjoyed by the Native American population, it is not hard to understand the popularity of this type of income.
In addition to casinos, some tribes receive income from the sale of their own products and wool. But the revenue is small, so most people living on reservations still live below the poverty line.
That is why more than 60% of Indians prefer to live off the reservations, going there only to visit their relatives.
Fighters for the environment
Many of the Indians, as in the past centuries, are not indifferent to ecology and the environment. They make a lot of effort to preserve nature. For example, the Onondaga tribe has been suing the American government for many years for the right to own land in New York State, an area of \u200b\u200bover a million hectares. However, they do not insist on the eviction of those living in this territory and do not demand the right to build a casino. The only thing they want is to protect the environment. The main requirement for the authorities is to begin work on cleaning Lake Onondaga and the surrounding area.There are many ways to draw attention to the environment, and the Indians try not to miss a single one. Even flash mobs help them a lot in their struggle for nature in its original form.
The Indians of North America, at one time brutally driven by the European colonialists from their native lands, have been forced to live in reservations for several generations. However, thanks to this, many tribes managed to preserve their culture and traditional way of life. The correspondent of "Lenta.ru" found out how the representatives of the indigenous population of the North American continent live today.
The first acquaintance with the Indians happened unexpectedly. In Anza, Southern California, I came across a stall with merchandise from a nearby reservation. Among the ethnographic trinkets lay solid T-shirts with the inscription: "Terrorism since 1492!" (the year America was discovered). Intrigued by this statement, I decided to go to the reservation itself.
"The survivors will be shot again!"
At the entrance there is a casino and a cigarette shop. In the Indian lands (unlike other regions of the United States, with the exception of Las Vegas), the gaming business is allowed, which the Indians actively use. Another stable income is the sale at bargain prices of cigarettes produced on reservations.
I parked in the tribal parking lot and went straight for cigarettes. The prices were really pleasantly surprised. In San Diego, a pack costs six dollars, while the Indians have only two fifty. True, only members of the tribe can buy cigarettes. But this problem was quickly resolved. An Indian woman, fragrant with alcoholic vapors, was sitting near the store - for a small overpayment, she bought several blocks for me.
The few Indians that I happened to see in a casino and a tobacco shop did not in any way resemble the legendary heroes played by Goiko Mitic.
Alas, it was not possible to continue acquaintance with representatives of the indigenous population of America that day. At the entrance to the reservation, an imposing poster was towered: “Do not invade! Violators will be shot. The survivors will be shot again! " I didn't want to tempt fate.
Perfume translator
Back in San Diego, I tried to "go the other way": to make contacts with the urban, Americanized Indians and get into the reservation with their help.
I soon met the beautiful blonde Rebecca Howard. She has only one-eighth of Indian blood, but the girl strongly disagrees to consider herself white. The call of the ancestors haunted her, and, despite her mother's despair, she abandoned Christianity, becoming a rather famous "translator of the language of spirits" among the Indians.
“The Indians still do not like whites and that is why they do not allow them to enter their territories. Personally, I share these feelings. Yes, now we are no longer killed like wild animals, but for whites we are still second-class people! For example, the US military called the operation to destroy Bin Laden "Geronimo". And by the way, Geronimo is our national hero, the legendary leader of the Apaches who fought against the American troops! " Rebecca almost yells at me. Her tone is such as if I, personally, were to blame for the problems of the Indians. However, the girl relented: “However, you are Russian. I read an interesting book "Dersu Uzala" and understood from it that the Russians were much more tolerant of their aborigines than our whites. Don't be discouraged - the largest reservations are available for visiting. Take, for example, to the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the United States near the Grand Canyon. Other Indians live next to it - Hopi, who are close in culture to the Aztecs. So in one trip you will get an almost complete snapshot of the life of various Indian tribes. " Practical advice, it was a sin not to use it.
Not a tribe, but a nation!
The area of \u200b\u200bthe reservation, which the Indians proudly call "Navajo Nation" and are very offended when they are considered a tribe, is larger than the territory of a country like Latvia. And the reservation really has signs of a state: it has its own government, parliament, flag, police.
Today the Navajos are about 250 thousand - this is the most numerous Indian people in North America. The Navajo are very proud of their history. Before the arrival of the whites, their tribes were considered perhaps the most powerful on the continent. One of the weapons of these Indians was a long knife resembling a sword. Today Mexican bandits love him very much. In Latin American Spanish it is called “Navajo”.
The fighting qualities of the Navajo, albeit from a somewhat unexpected side, were used by the American military during World War II. The Navajo language is so unusual that it is almost impossible for a person, if he did not belong to this tribe, to learn it. Therefore, the Yankees willingly took the Navajos into the army as radio operators, and they simply communicated in their native language.
Meat for astronauts
In addition to the famous Navajo knives, there is another Indian signature product on the reservation - jerky meat. it english word - a slightly modified name for jerky in the language of the Quechua Indians, but the Navajo insist that it is their know-how here. This Native American delicacy is very popular with white Americans. It is even sent into orbit for American astronauts: this is beneficial, since the product is very high in calories and weighs extremely little. Today, most of the "Indian meat" is produced in factories, and then in sealed packaging goes to supermarkets throughout the country. But the Indians consider this jerky to be a pathetic fake.
"We get drunk too quickly!"
Alas, I managed to enjoy the exotic not too long. The very first relatively large Indian settlement I met, Tuba City, was practically no different from a small town somewhere in the American outback: the same shops, gas stations, restaurants and even the ubiquitous McDonald's.
It was possible to feel the special Navajo flavor only in a local restaurant. Meat fried on charcoal (very much like a shish kebab) is served on a special "plate" of freshly baked Navajo bread, which looks like our donut. I wanted to fix such a pleasure with a glass of beer, but the waiter sadly replied that the Navajo lands are dry: “This rule is observed on other reservations as well. We, the natives, shouldn't drink - we get drunk too quickly! "
Peaceful people
Having fed up with the almost primitive romance of the Navajo lands, I decided to get acquainted with the other side of Indian culture: not warlike nomads, but peaceful farmers. And he went to the Hopi.
Photo: Jeff Robbins / AP Photo / East News
Hopi (literal translation - "peaceful people") are close in culture and language to the Aztecs. They are very proud of their ancient agricultural culture. “Potatoes, tomatoes and corn. Do not forget that it was the Hopi who gave you these products so beloved in America, ”says an inscription in a restaurant at a local cultural center.
By the way, the Hopi cuisine is noticeably different from the Navajo cuisine and is more reminiscent of the one that is common in the villages of the Maya Indians in Guatemala: meat is unpopular here, but there are a lot of vegetables, hottest sauces and a wide variety of corn dishes. Hopi corn is a staple food. According to ancient beliefs, it was from this grain crop that the first people originated.
Traditional Hopi villages are located on the tops of the hills - thus, in the old days, "peaceful people" were protected from the raids of the Navajo. Houses are usually two- or three-story and always have a flat roof. Rough boulders are used as building material.
Another local exotic is the outlandish wooden figures in masks. When I asked the seller how much a doll costs, he was offended: “These are not dolls, but perfume that helps people in various matters. We call them kachina. This one, for example, saves women from infertility. "
Unlike other North American Indians, Hopi very rarely convert to Christianity. They have many religious holidays, which are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. All rituals are certainly accompanied by lighting a pipe. Hopi tobacco is the most important and absolutely necessary thing in everyday life.
Photo: Lawrence Jackson / AP Photo / East News
Some Hopi religious rites are described in the famous novel Brave New World by the English writer Aldous Huxley, and this is probably why their religion arouses a burning curiosity among some Americans who are disillusioned with modern civilization. The Yankees are especially frightened by the prophecy of local shamans about the imminent end of the world, published in 1959: “A white brother will appear on earth, not the white brother that fights, that is evil and greedy, but the one that will return the lost text of ancient scriptures and mark the beginning end ".
Indian reservations will hardly seem attractive to those Russian tourists who have come to the country in order to join the benefits of civilization. But this part of the United States can be very interesting for those who would like to study America of contrasts, to see a country where the latest achievements in an amazing way coexist with an almost primitive world. And, apparently, there are such tourists in our country. So, in the town of Tuba City there is an ATM that communicates with customers only in Russian. As the locals explained, he was jammed after a large group of tourists from Russia took money here.