Chapter 11 : Ethnicity and Race

Over the course of our nation's development, there were repeated contacts between the indigenous population of North America and the European settlers. As the white population expanded and moved westward, tribes were driven from their ancestral lands and resettled on reservations. Millions of Native Americans died or were killed. Over time, this population grew smaller and smaller until today, less than two percent of the American population identifies itself as American Indian or Alaska Native. According to the U.S. Census, of the 4,119,301 Americans who checked the "American Indian or Alaska Native" box on the 2000 Census, 1,643,345 individuals were part Native American and another 2,475,956 were completely Native American.

In this data exercise we will look at the contemporary status of this population. Before we begin, think about your own images of this population. To what extent do they reflect longtime stereotypes that our society has held regarding Native Americans? For instance, is one of your stereotypes of an American Indian living on a reservation? While slightly more than 500,000 American Indians still live on tribal reservations, with the Navajo Nation being the single largest group, the majority now live in metropolitan areas. Nearly one-fourth of the total Native American population, defined by the U.S. Census as those individuals who reported American Indian on the 2000 U.S. Census, either alone or in combination with another race, lives in just two states: California and Oklahoma. At the time of the 2000 Census, more Native Americans were living in New York City than in any other single city in the United States.

Part I:

Begin by opening and reading a Census 2000 Brief, The American Indian and Alaska Native Population: 2000 . This twelve page report provides information on the geographic distribution of the American Indian population, as well as tribal affiliations of this population. According to information provided in this report, the ten largest American Indian tribal groupings are: Cherokee, Navajo, Latin American Indian, Choctaw, Sioux, Chippewa, Apache, Blackfeet, Iroquois, and Pueblo. Once you have finished reading the brief, select three different tribes from among the top ten tribal groups for further investigation.

Now, click here to go to the U.S. Census 2000 Data Page for 539 Tribes where you will be able to access information on this population. Once you have opened the webpage, follow these steps:

1. Click on "Selected Social Characteristics (DP-2)."
2. Scroll down and make sure "American Indian and Alaska Native" is highlighted.
3. Click on "Go."
4. As you can see, Table DP-2 of the U.S. Census first provides information for those individuals who identified themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native alone, then for those who identified themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native alone, or in any combination. For the purposes of this exercise, select only data from the table that reports on American Indian or Alaska Native alone (the first of the two DP-2 tables). Scroll through this U.S. Census table to find the information you need for completing Table 1 for this data exercise (see below).
5. Continue scrolling through U.S. Census Table DP-2 until you have found all the information you need to complete the first portion of Table 1 for this data exercise.
6. In order to complete the remainder of  Table 1 for this data exercise you will need to go back to the U.S. Census 2000 Data Page for 539 Tribes and follow the steps two more times, selecting first the "Selected Economic Characteristics (DP-3) and then "Selected Housing Characteristics (DP-4).

When you have filled in the information for the American Indian and Alaska Native population as a whole on Table 1, you should repeat the process for each of the three tribes you've chosen for closer investigation.

Writing Assignment 1:

Once you have collected all of your information, consider the degree to which the Native American population is disadvantaged relative to the U.S. population as a whole. Discuss factors that might contribute to the inequalities that you have found.

Part II:

Now it's time to learn more about groups and organizations that have organized to address the inequalities facing Native Americans. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) , founded in 1944, is the oldest and largest tribal government organization in the United States. NCAI facilitates the development of policies among its membership of over 250 tribal governments from every region of the country. The American Indian Policy Center provides government leaders, policy makers and the public with accurate information about the legal and political history of American Indian nations as well as the contemporary situation for American Indians. NativeWeb provides resources and information on indigenous cultures around the world. You can also search for the official websites for many of the American Indian tribes.

Part III:

Some sociologists have described the Native American population as an invisible minority. You might find it interesting to read this article "Census-Taking and the Invisibility of Urban American Indians" written in connection with the U.S. Census.

Writing Assignment 2/Essay:

Using concepts related to race and ethnicity that were discussed in this chapter, as well as the information you have researched in this data exercise, write a profile of the contemporary status of Native Americans within the United States.