Native American Discrimination: History, Bias, and Action

History of Discrimination Against Native Americans

Discrimination and prejudiced attitudes toward Native Americans stem back to colonial times, when colonists' living practices and governance policies did not adequately value "the culture, history and knowledge of the American Indians" (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003, p. 86).

Colonists rarely acknowledged the indigenous peoples living in America when they first arrived. Many considered Native Americans to be savages — people who were less than human and dangerous at best (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003). From early colonial times, a precedent was established that Native Americans were "obstacles" to be overcome rather than people deserving of equal rights and respect under the law.

There is evidence to suggest that early explorers such as Columbus appreciated the peaceful nature and beauty of the indigenous people, yet despite this he took many back to Spain as slaves (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003). Though the indigenous people offered much to the colonists — including well-established roads upon which colonists eventually built their own systems — they were rarely acknowledged for their contributions.

Benjamin Franklin is even cited as noticing the impressive governance structure utilized by Indian nations and is noted for borrowing heavily from them, though he did not acknowledge the contributions or Indian influence on his work and was publicly prejudiced against the natives (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003, p. 88). There is much the colonists might have learned had they paid closer attention. Native Americans, for example, had much to offer in the way of food and medicine, and were well known for their understanding of the value of medicinal plants.

Stereotypes and Their Colonial Roots

In modern times, Native Americans remain victims of prejudiced attitudes. Many people still hold the idea that Indians are either noble savages who lived long ago and were exterminated, or view Indians as people living in contemporary society who have lost their culture and been "degraded" by "white men's ways" (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003, p. 95). Native Americans in contemporary times have also been criticized for operating casinos, which may potentially provide them with significant revenue.

Many indigenous people today face issues with forced assimilation into the "dominant society," which includes struggling with high unemployment rates, low school completion rates, domestic abuse, and alcoholism (Koppelman & Goodhart, 2003, p. 97). Many scholars suggest that Native Americans have not had the opportunity to "adequately mourn the events that happened to ancestors," and that their unresolved grief lies at the heart of their current social problems (Lum, 2003, p. 203). Alcohol is often seen as a tool of oppression and a way to "cheat indigenous people out of their land and natural resources" (Lum, 2003).