Early US policies that affected this:
One of the policies that affected Native Americans negatively was the Dawes Act. This was passed in 1887, to replace communal tribal holdings with landholdings, hoping to further assimulate Native Americans into the national society. Included in this act was also regulation that collected natural resources from these lands. This was one of the first major injustices, where Native Americans were removed from their land, and forced to journey the trail of tears to establish lives in the new territories. Even the land that Native American’s were granted was still controlled by the United States government, and they could not profit of the land without the governments involvement. This was an act of ethnic cleasing also, where Native Americans had to surrender their traditional values of owning communal land. These forced removals of nearly every tribe to rural areas contributed to the severe poverty and marginalization that the Native Americans face today.
Economic instability and employment:
Overall, there is a lack of job opportunities due to the isolation of these reservations. Because of the policies that forced Native Americans to rural lands, it is more difficult to be able to find employment, as there are not many jobs available in these less industrialized places. Even when Native Americans leave these cities to seek jobs in more metropolitan area, they face race discrimination that many minorities go through, where they are “20% less likely to be underemployed or working part time than their white peers” (Davis 2015). Native Americans experience high unemployment rates due to both their rural location and being excluded from large labor markets.
Addiction and loss:
Substance abuse and gambling was a result of the hardship and trauma that the Native Americans experienced from decades of oppression. Native Americans not only lost land and opportunities, but they also experienced a loss of culture and language, which contributes to the internalized oppression that many Native Americans experience. Due to the social problems that Native Americans face, they tend to experience drug abuse and addictions, as well as trauma from past violence and current marginalization. These addictions contribute to the state of poverty that many Native American Communities face.
Education:
Educational disparities are another high concern within the Native American population. It has been shown that “Native American youth leave high school before graduation at some of the highest rates of any subgroup population in the United States” (Faircloth & Tippeconnic 338). The disparities between Native Americans and white students are important to focus on, in order to increase the rates. One reason for this, is the issue of Native American students being culturally deprived. Campbell Wilcox states that "school system characteristics [contribute] to Native students’ early leaving from school" (2015, p. 339). In traditional high schools, minority students might not be able to connect with the mainstream value system, which could lead to misunderstanding between their teachers and their peers. This effects their way of learning at the most basic level. In most situations, educators are not familiar with the Native American experience, and the needs are often left unmet for Native American students in the classroom.
Healthcare and overall mental health:
The isolation that Native Americans experience from living on reservations contributes to the disparities. Since reservations are isolated, many have to commute to work. This is a negative impact as many experience “poor social stress, diminished cultural ties, all of which are linked to poor health outcomes” (Burhansstipanov, 62). Stress is also increasingly present in these communities usually due to substance abuse, and homelessness. Due to cultural differences, there are often also disparities within the healthcare system when treating Native Americans. This could include discrimination, bias, and mistrust, which could cause Native Americans to stray away from the healthcare system and services. Native Americans can also face depression and mental health issues while living on these reservations, due to the constant presence of drug abuse, isolation, and economic instability. Another reason for these disparities is overall lack of resources and programs including policies to support Native American people when they are seeking healthcare.
One of the policies that affected Native Americans negatively was the Dawes Act. This was passed in 1887, to replace communal tribal holdings with landholdings, hoping to further assimulate Native Americans into the national society. Included in this act was also regulation that collected natural resources from these lands. This was one of the first major injustices, where Native Americans were removed from their land, and forced to journey the trail of tears to establish lives in the new territories. Even the land that Native American’s were granted was still controlled by the United States government, and they could not profit of the land without the governments involvement. This was an act of ethnic cleasing also, where Native Americans had to surrender their traditional values of owning communal land. These forced removals of nearly every tribe to rural areas contributed to the severe poverty and marginalization that the Native Americans face today.
Economic instability and employment:
Overall, there is a lack of job opportunities due to the isolation of these reservations. Because of the policies that forced Native Americans to rural lands, it is more difficult to be able to find employment, as there are not many jobs available in these less industrialized places. Even when Native Americans leave these cities to seek jobs in more metropolitan area, they face race discrimination that many minorities go through, where they are “20% less likely to be underemployed or working part time than their white peers” (Davis 2015). Native Americans experience high unemployment rates due to both their rural location and being excluded from large labor markets.
Addiction and loss:
Substance abuse and gambling was a result of the hardship and trauma that the Native Americans experienced from decades of oppression. Native Americans not only lost land and opportunities, but they also experienced a loss of culture and language, which contributes to the internalized oppression that many Native Americans experience. Due to the social problems that Native Americans face, they tend to experience drug abuse and addictions, as well as trauma from past violence and current marginalization. These addictions contribute to the state of poverty that many Native American Communities face.
Education:
Educational disparities are another high concern within the Native American population. It has been shown that “Native American youth leave high school before graduation at some of the highest rates of any subgroup population in the United States” (Faircloth & Tippeconnic 338). The disparities between Native Americans and white students are important to focus on, in order to increase the rates. One reason for this, is the issue of Native American students being culturally deprived. Campbell Wilcox states that "school system characteristics [contribute] to Native students’ early leaving from school" (2015, p. 339). In traditional high schools, minority students might not be able to connect with the mainstream value system, which could lead to misunderstanding between their teachers and their peers. This effects their way of learning at the most basic level. In most situations, educators are not familiar with the Native American experience, and the needs are often left unmet for Native American students in the classroom.
Healthcare and overall mental health:
The isolation that Native Americans experience from living on reservations contributes to the disparities. Since reservations are isolated, many have to commute to work. This is a negative impact as many experience “poor social stress, diminished cultural ties, all of which are linked to poor health outcomes” (Burhansstipanov, 62). Stress is also increasingly present in these communities usually due to substance abuse, and homelessness. Due to cultural differences, there are often also disparities within the healthcare system when treating Native Americans. This could include discrimination, bias, and mistrust, which could cause Native Americans to stray away from the healthcare system and services. Native Americans can also face depression and mental health issues while living on these reservations, due to the constant presence of drug abuse, isolation, and economic instability. Another reason for these disparities is overall lack of resources and programs including policies to support Native American people when they are seeking healthcare.