Native Americans Essay Research Paper In this
Native Americans Essay, Research Paper
In this paper, I plan to speak about Native Americans people, the battles they have had, their beliefs and imposts, and some jobs they are still confronting today. Because there are so many Native American folk, I decided to speak merely about a few. I was looking in my diverseness book, and I found there is a big folk in Wisconsin called the Menominee folk. Therefore, I will speak the Menominee folk every bit good as some of their early history.
Native American s have ever had it rough. When White persons started to come over to America, they didn t believe twice approximately taking over the Native American s land. As it says in Strangers to These Shores, Columbus s first feelings of the Arakawa Tribe in the Caribbean reflected ethnocentrism
I knew they were a people who would better be freed and converted to our Holy Faith by love than by force they are all by and large of good tallness, of delighting visual aspect and good built They must be good retainers and intelligent and I believe that they would easy go Christians, as it appeared to me that they had no religious order. ( # 1, pg. 223 )
Struggle figure one. Peoples from other civilizations seeking to change over the Native Americans to their ways. White persons were the minority for several old ages, yet they still tried to sell the thought that there manner was better ( # 1 ) . White persons were viewed by the Native Americans as prevaricators, deceivers, and hostile people ( # 1 ) . These two groups had a difficult clip seeking to blend civilizations. The Native Americans couldn t understand the Whites manner of handling the land, animate beings, and each other ( hangings, prison, etc ) ( # 1 ) . The Whites couldn t understand why the Native Americans didn T want to be Christian, and why they didn t want to fall in their enlightened manner of life ( # 1 ) . A spot subsequently, violent wars between each group became common, and the stoping consequence is that the Whites won. White persons gave the Native Americans puny countries of land ( that was already theirs ) to populate on, and the whole history of this merely do me disgusted. ( # 1 pg. 220 )
Menominee History
The folk out of Wisconsin, Menominee folk, is the province s oldest uninterrupted dwellers ( # 2 ) . They have lived on the land for over 5,000 old ages. ( # 2 pg. 1 ) Their linguistic communication is the idiom of Algonquian linguistic communication ( # 2 ) . The folk is considered to be a forest folk ( # 2 ) . Most tribes E of the Mississippi are woodland folks ( # 2 ) . Before the Whites destroyed the land and animate beings ( can non assist my disdain ) , their income was based on assemblage, hunting, fishing, etc ( # 2 ) . These activities required batch of land. Therefore, they inhabited country from the upper Michigan in the North all the manner to Milwaukee in the South, West to the Wisconsin River and east to Lake Michigan ( # 2 ) . They covered, all together, about 9.5 million estates. ( # 2 pg. 1 ) Gallic subsequently arrived in 1634 in the Wisconsin country to add beaver pin downing to the Menominee s manner of life ( # 2 ) . Through clip, beavers were going scarce and the Menominee had to go to happen them ( # 2 ) . Besides, trading became of import to the Menominee because they were going dependant on the Gallic for truly cool things that they could barter for similar guns, pans, covers, beads, etc ( # 2 ) . After a piece, they were so dependent on the Gallic for supplies and material they forgot how to make things the old manner ( # 2 ) . Then along came the British. The Menominee people shortly realized that they could acquire better trades with the British, than with the Gallic ( # 2 ) . This lasted until the British were take from the country after the War of 1812 ( # 2 ) . Americans so had authorization of the country by 1814. ( # 2 )
Subsequently came the pact epoch. Over all the Menominee folk signed 10 pacts and transferred 9.5 million estates to the U.S. authorities ( # 2 ) . Land for colonists were needed ( # 2 ) . The 1849 pact had a clause to relocate the Menominee people to Gloat Wing, Minnesota ( # 2 ) . This pact was flawed, and the authorities so offered a new pact that removed the remotion clause ( # 2 ) . Finally in 1852 the Menominee people relocated to the subdivision of land known as the Wolf River, and they have been at that place of all time since ( # 2 ) . It is a great country with an copiousness of trees, watercourses, wildlife, and lakes ( # 2 ) . The current population of the Menominee people is 3,270, populating on 233,881 estates ( # 1 ) .
Today the Menominee people earn their income from the logging industry ( # 2 ) . The people run the sawmill and the film editing of the timber ( # 2 ) . This operation presently employs 350 people ( # 2 ) . The Menominee people run a successful operation because of their Sustained Yield Management Plan ( # 2 ) . This direction program prevents clear film editing and set bounds on the sum of board pess that can be taken in any given twelvemonth ( # 2 ) . The Menominee direction program is known all over the universe and 1000000s of perceivers come from all over to analyze it. ( # 2 ) .
The Menominee s authorities is labeled as a autonomous state, the lone higher fundamental law than their ain is the United States fundamental law ( # 2 ) . The Menominee people have legislature consisting of nine people, and the regulating organic structure is elected by the electors ( # 2 ) . Its intent is to continue all tribal personal businesss ( # 2 ) .
Native Americans/Menominee s Respect for their Environment
Native American s have ever viewed their environment as sacred ( # 3 ) . Their belief is they are merely a little portion of the great uninterrupted circle ( # 3 ) . Everything is apart of this circle and if one portion is effected it will finally consequence the other parts ( # 3 ) . Native Americans don t see the land as something to take advantage away, everything they take from the land they perceive as a gift ( # 3 ) . It is traditional to give a supplication of Thanks every bit good as go forthing a gift ( # 3 ) . Some supplications are to assist the carnal s spirit to finish its journey to the hereafter, and besides thanking the carnal s spirit for giving up his life to assist others survive ( # 3 ) . Tobacco was a typical offering because the Native Americans viewed baccy as a strong medical specialty that is satisfactory T
o the Creator. Prayers followed by an offering of baccy will be heard by the Creator ( # 3 ) .
Prayers and offerings were besides made when Native Americans used workss, trees, and other stuffs from the land ( # 3 ) . Everything had a spirit and they were given the same award, by stating a supplication of thanks ( # 3 ) . The Menominee people believe in all of this every bit good, every bit good as continually being cared for future coevalss ( # 3 ) .
Clan Family System
Clan household systems are really of import to the Menominee people and their manner of life ( # 4 ) . A kin is defined as a group of people who are related through a common ascendant ( # 4 ) . The relationship goes manner past the immediate household, it is everything in the Universe that was made by the same Creator, they are related ( # 4 ) . When the Creator created each animate being, individual, tree, etc, He created a relationship between each ( # 4 ) .
Work forces are brother to the trees and air and will the animate beings every bit good ( # 4 ) . IT is because of this bond that Native Americans include animate beings in their civilization, faith, and history ( # 4 ) . All tribe include animate beings for a ground ; plumes, pelt, tegument, claws, etc. ( # 4 ) . Animals were placed on this land so they could assist worlds ( # 4 ) . This is they make things from parts of the animate being, American bison coats, headbands, and their day-to-day garb ( # 4 ) . Many animate beings play intricate functions of the Native American manner of life ( # 4 ) . For illustration, to demo regard, gratitude and award for the animate beings, Native Americans name their kins after carnal names ( # 4 ) .
Kins can give a individual information and household background ( # 4 ) . In American civilization is the say manner for illustration ; Mary Catherine McDonald. Very Irish Catholic name and Native Americans can make the same with the names in their civilization. Much of the Native American s household history is kept alive utilizing the kin system ( # 4 ) .
When a individual belongs to a peculiar kin they would belong to a particular household other than their immediate household ( # 4 ) . They would hold kin relations that might non be related by blood, but harmonizing to the system of the kin they are still related closely ( # 4 ) . Native American s may hold relations they have ne’er seen before, but in the Creators sentiment they are household ( # 4 ) .
One of the most important parts of an Native American community is its kin system ( # 4 ) . Historically, the kin system was used to maintain order between people ( # 4 ) . Every kin had a occupation or duty within the community ( # 4 ) . Leaderships, diplomats, defenders, or providers for the folk people ( # 4 ) . People play an intricate function to the endurance of their folk ( # 4 ) . This simple signifier of authorities prevailed for 1000s of old ages booming as it continued ( # 4 ) .
The Menominee kin system was practiced to make an order within the folk ( # 4 ) . Its Chief ( # 4 ) represented each kin. Decisions were made by expression at the folk as a whole, and making what was best for the whole, nevertheless, if there were statements people could talk out and be heard ( # 4 ) . The Menominee kin system is made up of five chief kins, with including sub-clans ( # 4 ) . The Five chief kins are the Eagle, Wolf, Crane, Moose, and Bear ( # 4 ) . Each kin had a duty, for illustration Eagle stood for leading, Bears were defenders, Cranes were the builders, Wolf were the huntsmans and gathers, Moose stood for security, and there were many others.
Today, because of pacts and the past and current Commissioners of Indian Affairs, the Native American population is on the rise ( # 1 ) . In 1980, the Native American population as about 1.4 million, and in 1996 it was up to 2.3 million ( # 1 ) .
The book Strangers to These Shores states Some of this addition reflects a rise in the figure of people claiming Native American lineage who had non so far done so ; but in add-on, the Native American birth rate is about twice the national norm.
However, the Native Americans are, out of all other minorities, are the still the poorest people based on income, employment, etc. ( # 1 ) . There are success narratives though. For illustration, the Choctaw folk of Mississippi, are a portion of the 15 biggest employers in the province, because of their five auto-part mills, and their greeting card operation ( # 1 ) . All in all, they have an eighty- percent employment rate ( # 1 ) .
The most serious job confronting Native Americans today is alcohol maltreatment, which plays a cardinal function in their high mortality rate ( # 1 ) . Native American people between the ages of 25 to 34, have a rate of terminal liver cirrhosis about 15 times the national norm ( # 1 ) . Death from intoxicant related causes are five times the national rate ( # 1 ) . In malice of the stereotype of Native Americans alcohol addiction, there had been no research turn outing this to be fact ( # 1 ) .
Other jobs confronting Native Americans is land rights. Large companies are in changeless conflict with the Native Americans because they still want their land for personal addition. For illustration the Navajo folk is populating on land that contains 2.5 billion dozenss of coal, and 55 million lbs of U sedimentations ( # 1 ) . Companies successfully moved most of the Navajo people to authorities type lodging, and today the affair is still unfinished ( # 1 ) .
In decision, I hope that this paper has given you some insight on the life of the Native American people. I realize that this subject is so wide it is difficult to speak about all the facets of their life. Overall, Native Americans have suffered adequate favoritism and bric-a-brac, so hopefully in this century, we can larn to populate beside, regard, and accept Native Americans.
Plants Cited
# 1. Vincent N. Parrillo, Strangers to These Shores. Chapter 7, pg. 220-253.
# 2. Internet site ; www.menonimee.com Lesson 1, pg. 1
# 3. Internet site ; www.menominee.com Lesson 7, pg. 1
# 4 Internet site ; www.menominee.com The Clan Family System. Pg. 1-2.
# 5 Microsoft Bookshelf Edition 98, encyclopaedia
