European Influence on Native American

European Influence on Native American Tribes

The impact of the Europeans, particularly the English on the Native American culture over the last several decades has been devastating on the Native American people. A once proud and ethnocentric group of individuals, most Native Americans now suffer from substance abuse problems, particularly alcohol abuse and a low overall general heath status.

There have been many theories that explain whey alcohol abuse and substance abuse is so high among Native Americans. At this time there is no one explanation as to why alcohol abuse is so prevalent among Native Americans. However there are many theories that suggest causes for the problems Native Americans realize in today's society. According to several researchers and as stated by Thomason (2000), "there is no universal and all encompassing explanation for drug and alcohol abuse among American Indians" (Thomason, 2000:42, Parker, 1990). There are several factors however which have been identified that seem to be related to alcohol abuse, including peer pressure and "support for abuse" (Thomason, 2000:42). There is also some evidence that cultural dislocation might contribute to alcohol abuse among the population (Thomason, 2004).

What started the Native American dependence on alcohol and the overall poor standard of living most Native Americans 'enjoy' today? There are a number of theories that might answer this question.

Historically prior to the arrival of the English on the continent French (2000) suggests that the Native Americans lived their lives as aboriginals, in relative harmony with their surroundings and as contributing members to the land. They adopted certain tenants for running their life that included: (1) avoiding hostilities and adopting a lifestyle of non-aggressiveness, (2) valuing independence and resenting authority, (3) hesitation to command others, (4) emphasis on group cooperation and (5) dependence of elders among other things (French, 2000:4). Life was centered around the concept of harmony and a "complex social code" that dictated individual freedoms, respect for the clan and cooperation with nature, which according to many was "imperative for existence" (French, 2000).

It was not uncommon for plants and animals to be thanked for their contributions to the group, an element of harmony and tribal traditionalism (French, 2000). These beliefs and behaviors are much different from the methodology that guides Western thought today, and much different from the way of life introduced to the Native Americans when the English came to live in the West and came to dominate society.

When the English introduced themselves to the United States they brought with them domination and a disrespect for the harmonious way of life the Native Americans had adopted. Their actions resulted in what many researchers have referred to as a "combination of cultural alienation and personal disorganization" that results in feelings of marginalization and chaos (French, 2000). It is these very feelings that place Native Americans at a higher than average risk for self-medication, which translated into modern day practice is the habit of abusing alcohol and other substances to survive and mitigate the feelings of worthlessness that currently dominate Native American culture (French, 2000).

Prior to European contact many Native Americans considered themselves "principle people" meaning they had their own language and lived a very ethnocentric or culture-centric existence based on their identity as members of a clan (French, 2000). Native Americans commonly viewed themselves as aspects or elements of nature as a whole (French, 2000). Prior to contact with the Europeans many Indian groups used the horse as the only mode of transportation and spent much of their day trading with various tribes throughout the continent, all the while consuming a diet that was natural and whole, including fish and game meats, water, cornmeal and beans (French, 2000). Substances such as sugar and honey were not used in the aboriginal diets, and the use of abusive substances such as alcohol or other min-altering psychoactive agents with the exception of tobacco and the 'black drink' were not common or problematic (French, 2000).

Prior to the introduction of alcohol the natives were seen as fit, athletic and lean people, whereas the people of today are often seen as obese and sickly (French, 2000). Today the dietary practices and substance abuse habits of natives run rampant. Among Native Americans alcohol abuse is considered the norm rather than the exception to the rule (French, 2000). Many tribes are no longer recognized, and many natives live in a state of displacement as they are forced to live on inadequate spaces that don't come close to representing the vast land they used to occupy.

Recently tribes have become less concerned with their blood degree and many traditional Native Americans are refusing their genetic heritage (French, 2000). Intertribal mixing is not uncommon, a habit adopted after European interaction and cultural assimilation among the Native Americans (French, 2000).

Clearly the most relevant factors that have contributed to the substance abuse problem among Native Americans include a sense of cultural disruption or "cultural genocide" and the tremendous lifestyle habits and changes that were adopted after the English introduced themselves to the land (French, 2000). The natives diet, lifestyle, level of activity and even appreciation for themselves as a unique culture rapidly diminished after the Europeans set foot on America, and since that time a number of problems have continued to plague the American Indians even throughout today (French, 2000).