Native American: Past, Present and Future

Who are the Indians?

The indigenous peoples of America, known as the Indians, are the most numerous of the three, next to the Inuit and Aleuts, and at the same time the most diverse group of indigenous peoples, inhabiting both American continents, tribes, and groups of very different character and degree of development. In traditional anthropology, they are classified as the yellow race.

It is believed that the original inhabitants of the present United States - the Indians - came from Asia through the Bering Strait during the Ice Age. Initially, they settled in Alaska, and then the rest of America.

Contemporaneity

Today, except for a handful of small, relatively isolated, primary groups in the Amazon and Mesoamerica, Indians are largely (though varied) assimilated members of multi-ethnic and multicultural national societies.

The strong diversity of the hundreds of American indigenous tribes and groups is also subject to processes:

• mutual penetration,
• uniformization,
• globalization.

Despite this, stereotypical - usually simplified and distorted - images of abstract and never-existing 'Indians' persist in the common consciousness of non-Indian nations and societies.

Native American Cultural Assimilation (Americanization)

Cultural assimilation of Native Americans continued from 1790 to 1920. George Washington and Henry Knox were the first to propose, in the American context, the cultural assimilation of Native Americans. They formulated a policy to encourage the so-called 'civilization process'. As immigration from Europe increased, so did public support for education that encouraged most citizens to adhere to a standard set of cultural values and practices. Education was seen as the basic method in the minority acculturation process.

Americanization assumed that every native American learned about the customs and values of the United States, being able to combine tribal traditions and American culture. However, at the turn of the 20th century, the federal government banned traditional religious ceremonies. The government also established boarding schools for Native Americans that the children attended. In these schools, they were forced to speak English, study standard subjects, go to church, and abandon tribal traditions. The Dawes Act of 1887, which allocated tribal lands entirely to individuals, was seen as a way of creating individual farms for Native Americans. Allocations of land were made in exchange for Native Americans becoming US citizens and forgoing some forms of tribal self-government and institutions.

Native American Life Today

The Indian community is facing major challenges today, such as:

• Loss of culture and identity,
• Generational and collective trauma,
• Little representation or recognition,
• Common health and mental problems
• Ignorance.

However, Native Americans, despite many challenges, still believe in a better future.

Influence of the tourism industry

Tourism and prosperity are generally believed to go hand in hand. Wealthy tourists have a surplus for food, clothing, accommodation, travel, and material goods. Tourism brings prosperity to the host communities - stimulating the local economy to provide jobs, and improving facilities and services for natives as they are made available to visitors.

Importance of Tourism for Native Americans:

Tourism in the Indian world is of great importance because it is the main source of income and livelihood. Many of the natural attractions are physically located in Indian-managed areas. It is the tribes who take care of, for example, the Grand Canyon Skywalk (viewing platform over the Grand Canyon). When visiting the Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon, for instance, it is needed to buy tickets from the Indians and the Indians will be the guides there. Thanks to this, they can create and maintain jobs, which, however, is not easy in these communities. It is possible to enter some areas of the reserve, but others will be closed to tourists. In the area of Grand Canyon, it can visit open-air museums, where traditional dance shows and jewelry fairs are organized.

Casinos and gambling

In addition, the Indians own many casinos and entire complexes, such as the Foxwoods Resort Casino run by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe in a Connecticut reservation. They attract many tourists and bring huge income every year.

Commodification

A tourist who is hungry for the authenticity of a given culture and their customs often only receive artificially crafted attractions, such as tribal dances, false rituals, and inauthentic attributes, which are also often put up for sale. In addition, many buildings are artificially reproduced (for example, resembling the former 'old town'), only to attract more tourists.

Social effects

Tourism poses problems such as psychological stress, especially for women, who do most of the jobs in tourism, but also for teenagers who watch, alternately repulsed and lured by wealth and 'swinging lifestyles', in addition to visitors; elderly people, terrified to see how their world changes day by day.

However, tourism does not have to have the harmful effects that so often accompany it. The successes and failures of the Indian community in the field of tourism suggest that having time to properly prepare and control, and monitor at the local level, tourism can be beneficial.

Positives sides: 

• ïPossibility of earning,
• Improving the quality of life,
• Reduce unemployment among Indians,
• Greater contact with people from outside the reserves,
• An opportunity to share your fascinating history and culture with others.

Negative sides:

• Losing your authenticity,
• The risk of losing your independence and separateness,
• Stress.

The future of Indians

Many Native American rights were won through the efforts of 20th-century activist groups such as the American Indian Movement. Today, new generations of activists and tribal leaders continue to struggle to improve the lives and culture of Native American communities.

There are signs of hope that will change the lives of Native Americans across the country. A new wave of native voices is emerging, returning to their own stories and those of their ancestors.

In this new period of hope, indigenous peoples work to confront, understand, and release the pain that they, their parents, and grandparents have borne, and they do so by sharing stories of where they come from and where they hope to be in the future. More and more young people are also learning the languages of their tribes. Regaining traditions, revitalizing important cultural elements, and, above all, sharing stories of difficulties and hope are changing the way Native Americans live and love. The future of Native American history seems to be full of promise and hope.