Native Americans: historical overview and contemporary issues

Native Americans are the indigenous people of Northern America. They are composed of numerous distinct ethnic groups and people from varying origins. They are found within the boundaries of continental United States, parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii.

Lewis and Clark (2011) note that there are nearly 50 native American tribes including Arikaras, Assiniboins, Blackfeet, Chinooks, Clatsop's, Hidatsa, Mandans, Missouris, Nezperces, Otos, Shoshones, Teton, Sioux, Tillamooks, Walla wallas, Wishrams and Yanktons (History on the Net, 2010).

Stratification forms the basis of the division of society and categorization of people. Americans are grouped into 3 categories which include: Capitalists (own the method of production and employ others to work for them), Small capitalists (own the method of production but do not employ people to work for them) and Workers (work for capitalists). In America power is not in the hands of the few but rather it is widely distributed among assorted competing and diverse groups. Therefore in America large percentage of workers is Native Americans and they are widely known to not own the means of production. Generally the Native Americans are poor and delve in businesses such as lodges and hotels in the state. This is a group that is highly under-represented in county and only form the median of the labor force required in manufacturing and a third of them living below the poverty line (Janice C.P. et.al, 2002). Most of them are reliant on farming and cattle keeping in particular, they also grow soya beans, wheat and corn.

Assimilation was done through education whereby Indians who are Native Americans assimilated themselves by placing Indian people in institutions where traditional way could be replaced by those sanctioned by the government. By doing that they believed that young people would be immersed in the values and practical knowledge of the dominant American society since they will be kept away from the influence of their traditionally minded relatives.

Pluralism refers to the existence of many different groups of people within the same society. Native Americans consist of people from different tribes, states, ethnic groups, diverse cultures and they speak different languages. Despite of all that, they have continued with their traditions in the context of a modern American society. Although it has not been easy for them to cope up with each other they have made it. The American pluralism is further amplified by the open border policy that has seen many other minority groups come and live in the U.S.A. over the years hence increase the pluralism of the dwellers in America.

Prejudice; Native Americans have faced and are still facing prejudice and racism in America. The Europeans initiated dominance and superiority from the first time they interacted with the Native Americans. After the Europeans had dominated the land which was occupied by the Native Americans, they went ahead to oppress them and suppress their cultures. After the revolutionary war, the new United States government sought to gain land through treaties of which payment offered for the land was from fair. When Native Americans resisted surrendering their homeland, the United States government simply used superior military power to evict them.

Racism is the basis for discrimination. It is the systematic practice of denying people access to the most crucial resources and necessities in their lives. In an effort of Native Americans to obtain much of the Northern American land, there was a long series of war, massacre and forced displacements, restriction of food rights and imposition of treaties. Land was taken away and numerous hardships were imposed. Till today Native Americans remain among the economically disadvantaged group in the country. After their territories were incorporated, many surviving Native Americans were ranked low than before and were only given 4% of United States territory and treaties that were signed with them were violated.