The Life of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest: Then & Now Essa

The Life of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest: Then & Now It has been estimated that the population of Native Americans living on or very near reservations in the United States ranges from about 1.1 to 1.3 million, and is distributed across more than 330 Indian nations in America (16). American Indian nations display an incredibly wide variety of social and economic characteristics. Although â€Å"American Indian† is identified as a single race category on the US Census, each tribe boasts its own culture and values. Members of two separate tribes may be as different as the populations of China and Africa. Long ago, the Indians of the Pacific Northwest depended entirely on their environment to support them. They were successful, self-sufficient groups who relied on their own means to sustain life. However, since the domination of Indian lands by the United States, these indigenous peoples have not had the resources to maintain their way of living. Not only were their lands invaded, but their culture was compromised as well. In response to their discontent with the sub-par living conditions, the US government has introduced laws to allow these groups to uphold their ancient values, while giving them the rights necessary to maintain the ability to support themselves. This includes the sovereignty of reservation lands, which has lead to the construction of casinos as a major money-maker for the Native American people, and a great deal of controversy to go along with it. From the ancient times of to hunting and gathering, to the invasion of Americans on Indian lands, to the modern c ompromises between the US and Native American governing bodies, the evolution of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest is astoni... ...//www.indiangaming.org/info/pr/presskit/statistics.shtml>. 11. Native American Expressions. 15 May 2004. . 12. Native American Resource. 2002. 15 May 2004. . 13. Native American Shelters. 9 May 2004. . 14. Northwest Coast Canoe. 15 May 2004. . 15. Office of Hawaiian Affairs. May 27, 2004. . 16. Vogeler, Ingolf. Map of Indian Reservations. 1996. 15 May 2004. . 17. Your Tribe/Community’s History. May 14, 2004. .