Multicultural Psychology - Native Americans - Essay Example

Native Americans What once were a free and successful people, the Native Americans have been subjugatedto third world status as a result of the cultural clash that occurred when the Europeans invaded and took over America. These indigenous people, the descendants that remained from the genocide that occurred during the 1800’s, have been supplanted to distant outposts of despair called reservations. The Native Americans were left with two choices; assimilate into the ‘white culture’ by leaving the reservations or to stay and attempt to maintain their thousands of year-old heritage, a heritage that is quickly and sadly fading into obscurity. This discussion will review the Native American’s present life situation, specifically how casinos built on the reservations and alcoholism are affecting their culture. In addition, it will discuss the various factors and realities of Native American assimilation into white culture and review the possibilities for the future outcomes. Indian Reservations as they are commonly referred are not located near economically prosperous locations. Rather, they were intended to be and the vast majority remains well isolated from white society in terms of more than just distance. It is hardly surprising that from the beginning, the indigenous peoples of America have displayed decidedly observable cultural differences which persist more than a century after the reservations were established. The reservations were formed in the late Nineteenth Century following the preceding racial genocide with its survivors, in most instances, forced to relocate to what to them were foreign lands. Those that survived the mass displacement, the ‘Trail of Tears’ as an example, found themselves in unfamiliar territory, a daunting proposition for a people whose survival was entirely dependent on understanding every aspect of familiar territory. Native Americans were rightly resentful and developed strong prejudices that still exist through their descendents today. This resentment along with the isolated logistical circumstances of the tribal people acts as strong motivation for them to cling to their cultural heritage which, by necessity, implies a natural separation from ‘white’ culture. Geographic remoteness predestines economic isolation which has been physically and psychologically devastating for reservation inhabitants. With little means by which to be self-sufficient, many have become dependent on federal government assistance for the basic necessities of life. “Welfare dependency on reservations dates back to the late 1800’s” (Walker et al, 2003). The divergence in economic standards has further deepened the cultural chasm between mainstream society and the tribal Indians. Today, people of the reservations are viewed by those outside to be oppressed and impoverished, an accurate perception yet few know the extent. Most perceive that the lives of Indians prior to the 1800’s were as carefree nomadic hunters that paid no taxes nor breathed polluted air and now are imprisoned by poverty and isolation. Though tribes did war against each other and life was harsh compared to European standards, their existence has indeed been much less palatable over the past 150 years than it was for thousands of years before the arrival of white settlers. Life on the reservation has been described as ‘desperate,’ ‘degrading,’ and ‘horrible’ with a high rate of unemployment and alcoholism along with poor medical and educational facilities. “Reservations were described as having the worst living conditions in the nation, substandard housing conditions, little medical care, and high rates of unemployment, less than the American norm, much more poverty. Much more unemployment, lots of early death” (Doering, 1998). The degree to which Indians have been able retain to their cultural integrity within this environment varies. It has in many instances been destroyed, in others somewhat crippled or existed under severe assault and in some cases is experiencing a resurgence. Those individuals who have completely assimilated into mainstream culture do not live in the reservation because this would be impossible given the vast difference in economic and geographic distances between the two cultures. Casinos are an anomaly in the world of the Indian. On one hand, they are a tremendous source of income for people who are in desperate need of everything money can buy. On the other, the image of slot machines complete with flashing lights, blackjack tables and roulette wheels hardly coincides with the common image of traditional Native American values. This conflict of image has not been lost on much of the tribal community. The trade-off seems justified, however, if the people that need the Casino profits are actually receiving them. Casinos have provided jobs to people on the reservation but the bulk of the profits generated enhance the economic conditions of the tribal councils who own the Casinos, not the general population. Of course, levels of corruption differ from tribe to tribe. On some reservations, the resulting flow of Casino money has allowed for improved healthcare and a reduction of property taxes in addition to many other improvements such as day-care centers, parks and educational needs. Currently, the number of Casinos/bingo halls operated on reservations exceeds 175 and is growing in popularity. “Indian tribes started offering games similar to those being offered by charities, such as bingo. In order to gain a competitive advantage, some tribes began offering high-stakes bingo, an option that was not available to the charities because of state laws” (Dunstan, 1997). It is suspected that the indignity suffered by the majority of tribal peoples by having the tackiness of Las Vegas associated with their spiritual culture is not balanced by the positive effects of the enormous flow of money generated by Casinos. Because the powers and finances of the tribes are principally unchecked, corruption runs rampant among the tribal elders of many reservations. Even on reservations, absolute power corrupts absolutely. “Resources intended for the benefit of the general Indian populace often end up as the personal assets of tribal leaders and administrators” (Walker et al, 2003). The life expectancy of tribal Indians is estimated to be up to ten years less than that of mainstream Americans because of poor sanitation conditions and lack of adequate health services. The tuberculosis, diabetes and suicide occurrence rate amongst reservation inhabitants is the highest in the nation. The inflated suicide rate, three times the national average, has been connected to the intense alcoholism problem that is present on most if not all reservations. Tribal Indians die from alcoholism at a rate seven times higher than that of the average U.S. citizen due, in large part, to the acute economic depression which leads to physical depression and persistent feelings of utter hopelessness. The astronomical unemployment rate contributes both to the rate of alcoholism and the impoverished conditions on reservations. Few employment opportunities exist on or near reservations causing between 50 and 90 percent unemployment (Salter, 2002). When comparing the cultures of Indians and mainstream America, it must be acknowledged that the term ‘culture’ has different meanings to these two societies. Indians speak of culture as being of the individual, an all-encompassing concept. To mainstream Americans, culture is something that is added to the character of the individual, an optional feature. Therefore, mainstream Americans do not understand why Indians who live on the reservation cannot simply adapt to their culture. Culture, to them, is not an accessory that can be easily exchanged. “America, in its attempts to correct what it perceives as a rampant injustice in Indian America, creates a greater injustice by forcing its culture upon Indian peoples” (Vicenti, 1995). From the first landing of the Europeans in America to the present, Indians have desperately attempted to retain their land and culture. However, as there was then, there are now some Indians who learned the white mans’ customs well enough to be able to use this knowledge as an advantage benefiting both personal and tribal interests. Throughout the history of the nation, Indians have learned to speak English well enough to articulate their beliefs, art, folklore and culture to those outside the Indian reservation. It is because of this effort to at least partially assimilate into white society that Indian culture, religion and traditions have become of interest and widely respected among mainstream Americans. Some have become good students of capitalism as evidenced by the success of the casinos (Hoxie, 1992). A number of Indians have gone to great lengths to be equally adept in both Indian and non-Indian cultures over the past quarter century. These individuals have been able to express the concerns of tribal society at the congressional and judicial level thus positively effecting reservation society. “Over the past two decades [Indians] have been successful in litigating and in gaining passage of federal legislation ultimately to create a wide enough path for the distinct culture in Indian society to reemerge” (Vicenti, 1995). The future of Native American culture can be determined by examining the past. The culture, customs, language, religious and other traditions of many tribes has already died out. What most mainstream Americans know of the Indian culture was written in the history books which consist of stories regarding the heroic U.S. Cavalry fighting the savage Indians so that America could grow into the prosperous, freedom loving nation it is today. Little importance is placed on learning about the Indian’s heritage by the public school system which has allowed for little interest to be generated regarding the culture of the people that have lived in America long before Stonehenge was built on the Salisbury Plain in England. To most, Indians are thought of in the past tense, not the present, their culture dismissed as primitive and well outdated. The lack of crossing cultural lines has been a two-way street. As precarious as is the destiny of Native American culture, there are steps that the government could take that could allow the culture on the reservations to not only survive but to thrive, the same government which committed the greatest of harm imaginable to these native peoples. First, if there are no employment opportunities on reservations, no other efforts will be fruitful. The lack of employment is driving many young Indians to seek work outside the reservation which causes a reduction of population, eventually resulting in tribal nations losing their sovereignty status thus disappearing into obscurity. “Genocide would occur again at the hand of any tribal government that fails to see the need for change. Integrity, generosity and respect are the values of many Native American nations, and it would be a sad day when these are no longer practiced, let alone acknowledged” (Whiteman, 2006). It is in the interest of both cultures to learn the values and merits of the other. If Indians completely assimilate into white society, the largest part of America’s rich history will be lost. To save it would take economic reparations in the form of employment opportunities, compensations that are well overdue and well worth the effort. References Doering, Zahava D. (March 1998). Images of Native Americans: A Background Visitor Study for the National Museum of the American Indian. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Dunstan, Roger. (January 1997). “Gambling in California.” California Research Bureau: California State Library. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Hoxie, Fredrick E. (1992). “Exploring a Cultural Borderland: Native American Journeys of Discovery in the Early Twentieth Century.” Journal of American History. Vol. 79, N. 3, pp. 969-995. Salter, John R. Jr. (2002). Native Americans and the New Century: Two New Articles for Struggle, Organizing, Fighting, And Victory. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Vicenti, Carey N., Chief Judge, Jicarilla Apache Tribe. (November/December 1995). “The Reemergence of Tribal Society and Traditional Justice Systems.” Judicature. Vol. 79, No. 3. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Walker, Joseph; Daniel Defender, Reginald Bird Horse, and Phyllis Wilcox. (September 20, 2003). The Impact on Individual Indians: The “Have’s” And The “Have Not’s.” Citizens Equal Rights Alliance. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Whiteman, Mimi Little. (February 4, 2006). The Future of American Indian Peoples. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from Read More