Who are the Indians. recognition

The concept of modern man about the Indians is basically wrong and erroneous, especially about where the Indians live. Many people believe that the Indians are none other than the inhabitants of any country in Africa, America, Asia or Australia, who live in the forests, have a primitive communal structure of society, wear bandages on their bare bodies, are always black and speak an incomprehensible language.

However, we hasten to disappoint you. Indians are peoples and tribes that live only on the territory of North and South America, and when they talk about Indians from other continents, these opinions are erroneous. Let's talk about where the Indians live.

Where do the Indians live and who are they?

Who are the Indians?

In fact, the Indians are nothing more than the indigenous population of both Americas, and the name came about, let's say, in an erroneous way. And this mistake occurred thanks to the Spanish navigator and discoverer Christopher Columbus, who, by the way, did not plan to get to America. Columbus was heading to India and, accordingly, when he came to the shores of America, the people who lived there and received the name Indians, because it was believed that they were residents of India.

Indians today are about 70 million people, and the population is constantly growing, thanks to various programs of international non-governmental organizations that are trying in every possible way to support this population.

Of course, the Indians had a rather difficult colonial past, which greatly undermined their population in the physical and moral sense. Above them scoffed who only could. They went through a period of slavery and a period of humiliation, a period of interference in their lives (see) and their way of life, but nevertheless, they managed to withstand all adversity and today, as we said earlier, their population is constantly increasing. the forces of many UN organisms are directed to this. Today, there are tribes and types of Indians that were exterminated forever in the course of a bloody history.

For example, today there is not a single indigenous tribe left from Easter Island (Chile). The Indians of these lands were simply all exterminated by the bloodthirsty, at that time, Peruvians, who took them to their mainland for hard labor and backbreaking work. When the world community intervened in this problem at the end of the 18th century, it was already too late. Almost all Indians were exterminated. And with them the secrets of their language (see), culture and traditions left forever. An example, with the Indians of Easter Island, is far from the only one in the entire long history (see) of the existence of the indigenous inhabitants of both Americas. And now let's talk directly about where the Indians live.

Where do Indians live

The habitat of the Indians can be divided into two geographical and ethnic areas. This:

1. North America.
2. Latin America.

It is also erroneous to think about what Latin America is. As a rule, people assume that this is just another name for South America. However, it is not. Latin America includes the countries of South America plus Mexico. Each zone of each of the two Americas can also be divided into subzones in relation to the Indians. Let's talk about where the Indians live in North and Latin America.

Where do Indians live in North America?

In North America, which, by the way, is founded by Canada and the United States, Indians live (see) in the following regions and ethnic areas.

• Indians living in subarctic regions. Their main destiny is catching fish and cultivating valuable fur.
• Indians living in the Northwest. mainly in coastal areas, which also feed them on fish and spearfishing.
• Indians also live in California. In their life and development, in addition to hunting, there is also gathering due to the favorable Californian climate.
• Indians living in the Southeastern United States.
• And finally, the Indians, who live on the territory of the Great Plains. This is perhaps the largest group of all Indians, which includes a huge number of different tribes living in the same territory, but very different in their etymology, customs, character and way of life (see).

Where do Indians live in Latin America?

Another group of Indians lives on the territory of almost all of Latin America:

• The first category includes the Indians, whose civilization, in its time, reached simply extraordinary proportions in terms of numbers and mental development. This was before the discovery of America by Columbus. These Indians, who bore the names Maya, Aztecs and many others, lived on the territory of Central America and the Andean mountain system. These tribes reached such extraordinary proportions in their power that they created powerful cities and even states. And their knowledge was a match for the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, whose secrets have not yet been revealed by modern science.
• The Indians of the Amazon basin are already completely different mindsets and foundations of society that developed simultaneously with the tribes of the Andes.
• A separate category of Indians are the Indians of Patagonia and Pamp.
• And, finally, the Indians living on Tierra del Fuego, whose development was rather weak compared to their other brethren.

Now you know where the Indians live!

Read more:

Scenario Indian party for younger students

Lyapina Vera Valerievna, primary school teacher at MBOU School No. 47, Samara City District.
Description: This event for primary school teachers can be held at the end of the school year, as a birthday for primary and secondary students.
Target: Attracting children and adolescents to a healthy lifestyle, organizing meaningful leisure.
Tasks:
- Teach children to actively act with each other, quickly make the right decision;
- To consolidate the ability of children to compete in collective gaming activities, to form children's skills in working in groups;
- Develop mental, creative, physical abilities, erudition;
- Cultivate a sense of collectivism, responsibility for their comrades.

Party move

Sounds like a musical screensaver of Indian music.

Leading:
I invite you here
To have a fun game.
Gotta bow down to God
Surrender, obey.
It's time to start the holiday
Discover the land of the Indians!
American continent
These peoples inhabited
Until one day the white light
I didn't happen to know about them.
Their way of life, religion and customs, -
All opened up thanks to
Columbus. He was a brave fellow
He swam far, but not in vain.

And let the mistake crept in
In the name he gave them
You probably guessed
What did he call those peoples?
Children in chorus:
Indians!
Maize, sunflower, cocoa,
Cotton and tomatoes,
I was glad to take it all.
They have the whole world once.
Potatoes, peppers, zucchini...
I don't know how to live
We are without everything, whenever they
Didn't open it by accident.
Children in chorus:
Indians!
Children dressed up in Indian costumes stand in a circle and greet each other and the leader.
All children
How! (waving hand)
Leading
Today is a celebration in honor of the sun.
Hurry! The holiday has begun!
Neighbors all to one
Jumping to visit neighbors.
To set foot on the land of the Indians, you need to go through the ritual of initiation into the Indians:
1. Get on your knees and raise your hands to the sky, shout: Heya!
2. Hug your fellow tribesman with your right hand across your back.
3. Jump three times in place and perform a 360 degree jump.
4. Gather in a tribal circle and clap together with each other's right hand.
Repeat after leader:
I don't build houses
To the skies of bricks The Indian raises his hand up, showing a multi-story building.
And I talk with the grass The Indian squats down and gently strokes the imaginary grass with his palm.
I know what the stream sings. The Indian puts his hand to his ear.
With every bird, with every beast
I can live in harmony. The Indian extends his arms into the hall.
And Great Spirit, I believe
I won't get into trouble. The Indian extends his arms to the sky.
Our whole world contains a heart The Indian presses his hands to his chest.
Red Indian.

Leading
Today, two tribes that will now name themselves and represent their tribe have entered the warpath. Our main priests (parents) will evaluate the game of each tribe and name the winner. Tribes must show their dexterity, accuracy, ingenuity, erudition. For winning the competition, each tribe receives a feather. At the end of the game, when counting the feathers of each tribe, we will find out the winner.
Head priests come out
Behind them are the main singers,
They have crowns on their heads
Colored bird feathers

Priests
Let's honor God
Follow the rules of the game
The leader for the tribe is the law.
Come on, tribe, come out, tell about yourself!
Leading
Here the tambourines are beating
Like ringing rain
Everyone was stunned!
See -
The leader came out
From the main wigwam.
The first test "Representation of the tribe."

Aropaho tribe
The leader stands in the center of the circle of his tribe and performs movements and shouts a chant
Wow! - Wow!
Wow wow! - Wow wow!
Wow-wow! - Wow-wow!
Chicky ricky loomba! - Chiki-Riki Lumba!
Mumba la Columba! - Mumba la Columba!
A-le balle moulines! - A-le balle moulinez!
Kilis lamba sms! - Kilis lamba sms!

Shirley-myrli carabas! - Shirley-myrli carabas!
Bala amba Honduras! - Bala amba Honduras!
Jig jig kvista tsk tsk! - Jig-jig kvista ts-ts-ts!
Musi-pusi well done! - Musi-pusi well done!
Shows his totem, which each tribe has prepared in advance.

Tribe of Jaguars
Oh-ole!
Oh-samasa-masa!
O-karas-bam!
Boten-boten-bom!
Bimbo-tili-bimbo!
Oh, I'm waiting for a bison!
And then I catch!
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-hey
Oh-oh-oh, fanta cola lei!
Oh-oh-oh, taste yum smack!
Oh-oh-oh, Wispa Snickers Yoke!

Shows his totem.

The jury evaluates the representation of the tribes.
Leading
You are just an Indian. Wind in your hair.
You are just an Indian. The rain washed off your paint.
Your strength is in your hands, the dance is in your feet.
You will go as long as you have the strength.
Let's move on to the next test:
"The Wisest"
The tribes sit around the leader and guess the questions of the quiz, each tribe is given a question, if it does not give an answer, the question goes to another tribe.
1. Smoking is injurious to health,
But, in order not to be a war,
Indian chiefs are ready
Smoke it even in your sleep.

(peace pipe)
2. Every Indian, self-respecting,
He carries with him an amazing ax, -
Reliable and fits comfortably in the hand, -
This will come in handy on the military path.
(tomahawk)

3. Indian type of writing
Very mysterious -
Not a sheet and many lines
A cord and knot.
(knot letter)

4. Indians of the Great Canadian Plains
There was only one type of dwelling known,
Here is what we know about it for you and me -
In conical tents covered with branches
And they lived with skins, not knowing sorrows,
It's funny naming their houses.
(teepee)

5. In ordinary affairs and worries
The Indian community lived
Yes, but suddenly from something
Trouble has come to their land,
The enemies surrounded the village.
And how, tell me, to be here, -
Indian weapons ancient
Unfortunately, he can't protect.
But a simple cunning saved them,
And, catching the direction of the wind,
Burned in wide plates
Some people are a plant.
Enemies suffocated in the smoke,
They sneezed. Their eyes watered...
Say - you guessed it -
So what happened to the Indians?
(pepper)

6. Surprisingly - these Indians
They have surpassed all their brethren
And in one of the spring months
They found their name by accident.
(Mayan)

7. Indians of Central America
Leaving the world a secret
Such pyramids in the whole world,
As in their settlements, no.
Those architects were talented,
Though they lived centuries ago.
Scientists would like to
They ask a lot of questions.

But there is no one to ask now.
Only the stone of the living pyramids
The people of the great name
And the ancient memory keeps.
(Maya, Aztecs)
Leading

The Indians are very famous.
Let's say basketball with skulls.
Although their secrets are not fully revealed,
But how you dig scientifically - so funny.

For example, Maya - the stars observed
So many centuries ago.
In Egypt, "twice two" was not yet known,
And Maya stared at the sky with their eyes.

8. I am an Indian talisman
The real one.
Don't get through me
Evil spirits to the sleeper.

But a good dream will pass,
Affectionate and light.
Who will name the talisman?
Who knows the answer?
(dream Catcher)

Leading
The dream catcher is a magical talisman of the Indians of North America that protects a person from bad dreams. The dream catcher is a willow hoop inside of which a web is woven, and feathers are located outside. Such a talisman is hung over the head of the sleeping person.
Dream Keeper Spell
Reveal all your dreams to me
dreamer,
open to me
Melodies of your heart
And I can wrap them around
Blue cloud blanket
And keep away from rough fingers
Of this world
The jury sums up.
Leading
The next test "Crossing"

The Indians lived by the river
They hammered a light boat for themselves,
Floated down the river on it
And rowed with one oar.
What were the names of boats among the Indians?
(Pies or canoes)
Each tribe must cross in their boat to the other side of the river. First, two Indians sit in the boat (hoop). They swim to the other shore, one lands on the shore, the second returns for the third. They swim again at the other shore, the second one disembarks, and the third swims after the fourth, and so on. As soon as the whole tribe swims across, the game stops.

The jury sums up.
Leading
To move on to the next test, you need to solve the riddle.
It is thrown across the river.
It became convenient for a person
Get across the water
I completely forgot about the bad weather.
A platform is fixed on piles.
They called it a miracle...
(bridge)
Yes, that's right, only our suspension bridge.
The test is called "Cross the Bridge"
Again, the whole tribe needs to cross the bridge, walking along a thin rope and holding on to the rope for a while. If the foot comes past, you flew into the river. Which tribe will do it faster and more accurately.

The jury sums up.
Leading
The next test is called "Fishing".
There are a lot of fish in the bucket, numbers are written on each. Each Indian of the tribe, in turn, with his eyes closed, catches a fish in a bucket. After that, the total number of points for the entire catch is calculated. Whoever has more points, the tribe won.

Summarizing.
Leading Let us now check the reaction speed of each Indian.
Test "Who is the fastest"
Each tribe exposes one Indian. Opponents stand with their backs to each other at a distance. A rope is stretched under the feet of the opponents, each has one end under the foot. It is necessary, on a signal, to pull the end of the rope in your direction. This is what the whole tribe does. Which tribe pulls the rope more times gets a feather for the victory.

Summarizing.
Leading
And who did the Indians hunt? (for bison, elk, bears, beavers)
And of course, the Indians were well versed in wild and domestic animals. Now we will check how your tribes understand this.
Test "Wild or domestic".
One tribe stands in a column one after another on one line. The host calls the animal. An Indian who believes that this is a domestic animal jumps to the left, and if it is wild, to the right. If all the Indians of the tribe do everything right, they get a feather. Then the second tribe passes the same test.

And the results are summed up.
Leading
Test "Fast Rider"
Each tribe must ride on a horse (balloon), the task of the rider is to ride the distance on a frisky horse. Then pass it on to your fellow tribesman. For a while.

American Indians have a unique and tragic history. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that they were able to survive the period of settlement of the continent by Europeans. The tragedy is connected with the conflict between the Indians and the white population. Despite all this, the history of the Indian people is full of optimism, because, having lost the lion's share of their original lands, they survived and retained their identity. Today they are full citizens of the United States.

The main question of the article: where do the Indians live? Traces of this population can be traced on two continents. Many names in the US are associated with this people. For example, Massachusetts, Michigan, Kansas and the like.

A bit of history, or who are called Indians

In order to understand where the Indians live, you need to decide who they are. For the first time, Europeans learned about them at the end of the 15th century, when, in search of the cherished India, they reached the shores of America. The navigator immediately called the locals Indians, although it was a completely different continent. So the name was fixed and became common for many peoples who inhabited two continents.

If for Europeans the open continent was the New World, then hundreds lived here for about 30 thousand years. Newly arriving Europeans began to push the natives into the interior of the country, occupying habitable territories. Gradually, the tribes were driven closer to the mountains.

Reservation system

By the end of the 19th century, America was so populated by Europeans that there were no free lands for the Indians. In order to understand where the Indians live, you should know what reservations are. These are lands poorly suited for agriculture, where the Indians were forced out. Living in this territory under agreements with white people, they had to receive supplies. However, this was often only verbal.

Things got even worse when the government allocated 160 acres of land to each indigenous person. The Indians were not ready to farm, moreover, on land unsuitable for this. All this led to the fact that by 1934 the Indians had lost a third of their lands.

New Deal

In the first half of the last century, the US Congress made the Indians citizens of the country. This was a great push forward regarding reconciliation between peoples, although rather belated.

The places where American Indians live, like themselves, began to interest Americans not from the point of view of profit, but from the point of view of the cultural heritage of their state. The United States has developed a spirit of pride in the diversity of its population. Many had a desire to compensate the descendants of the Indians for the unfair treatment to which their ancestors were subject.

Where do Indians live?

Indians live in two main geographical areas. These are North America and Latin America. To avoid confusion, it is worth noting that Latin America is not only South America, but Mexico and a number of islands.

Territory of settlement in North America

Where do Indians live in North America? This geographical area consists of two large states - the USA and Canada.

Indian regions:

• subtropical regions;
• coastal regions of the northwestern part of the mainland;
• California is a popular Indian state;
• southeastern United States;
• territory

Now it’s clear where the Indians live, the photos of which are presented in the article. It remains to indicate that all of them are engaged in fishing, hunting, gathering, and making valuable fur on their lands.

Half of today's Indians live in major cities and rural areas throughout the United States. The other part lives on federal reservations.

Indians in California

When you hear the question of where cowboys and Indians live, the state of California comes to mind first. This is connected not only with westerns, but also with statistics. At least for the Indians.

The largest number of Indian population lives in the state of California. This was confirmed by the population census over the past decades. Of course, the descendants of the Indians of this region are of mixed origin.

How do they live on the mainland in California? Over the years, most of them have lost the knowledge of their native language. Thus, more than 70% do not speak any language other than English. Only 18% speak the language of their people well, as well as the state language.

California Indians are eligible for college admissions. However, most of them do not use them. About 70% of children from Indian families receive secondary education, and only 11% receive a bachelor's degree. Most often, representatives of the indigenous population are employed in service labor or agriculture. Among them there is also a high percentage of unemployment in relation to the average.

A quarter of California Indians live below the poverty line. Their homes often lack running water and sewerage, and many are forced to live in very cramped conditions. Although more than 50% still have their own housing.

There are also Indian reservations in California. In 1998, a court in them allowed the indigenous people to engage in gambling business. This permission from the authorities was a significant victory. But it was not connected with highlighting a favorable attitude towards the Indians, but because it was impossible to engage in the usual crafts on the territory of the reservation. The government took this step to give people the opportunity to earn a living through gambling.

In addition to such concessions, reservations in California have their own self-government, courts, and law enforcement agencies. They do not obey the laws of the state of California, while receiving state subsidies and grants.

Territory of settlement in Latin America

There is a group of Indians living in Latin America. Where the Indians now live in this geographical area, read below:

• throughout Latin America, the Aztecs and those who lived in Central America before the arrival of Europeans live;
• a separate community are the Indians of the Amazon basin, who are distinguished by their specific thinking and foundations;
• Indians of Patagonia and Pampas;
• native people

After that, it is no longer a secret where they live. They were very powerful in their development and had their own state structure long before the arrival of Europeans.

It is quite difficult to answer unequivocally where the Indians live in our time. Many of them still adhere to their traditions, principles, live together. But there are also many who began to live like most Americans, forgetting even the language of their people.

For us, May 9 is, of course, first of all the day of the Great Victory. But this is not the only holiday celebrated in the world on this day. For example, in the United States, May 9th is Indian Day. How do Indians live in modern America?

American Indians have achieved a lot by asserting their rights to land and a full role in society. But, due to the long extermination of Native Americans, the integrity of their culture suffered. Today, the Indians are trying with all their might to preserve and revive their traditions and language. The older generation is struggling to ensure that their children and grandchildren can combine the modern way of life and the cultural traditions of their people.

The Indians are very well aware of their spiritual connection with their ancestors, they turn to them for help and support. For the Indians, there is no death of an individual: the ancestors live in them, and they will continue to live in the descendants.

(Total 19 photos)

1. One of the traditions of the Indians is the meeting of different tribes once a year at the Pow Wow festival, during which representatives of each tribe sit in a circle and sing an intertribal song. Pictured: St. Paul, Minnesota guys during the annual Ki-Yo Pow-Wow at a Montana university in Missoula, Montana.

2. While parents are busy with their own affairs during the Crow Tribe Fair, young Indians have fun by diving into the Little Bighorn River, near which in 1876. there was a legendary battle between the Indians and the US cavalry. The battle ended with the Indians destroying 5 companies of the American regiment that attacked them.

3. Even young people can easily handle horses. Pictured: Young tribal members bathe horses in the Little Bighorn River during the Crow Fair in Crow Agkensee, Montana.

4. The groundbreaking site of one of the buildings of the university, which will be engaged in the study of the culture of the indigenous peoples of America, is illuminated in a local way and sprinkled with tobacco.

5. Shamanism and toteism remained only among the tribes that live in inaccessible areas of the United States. Currently, Catholics, Mormons, Adventists and Pentecostals are more common among Indian believers. Pictured: Janice Singer during a Pentecostal service on the Raven Reservation.

6. The total number of Native Americans according to the data at the beginning of the 21st century exceeds 60 million people, which is not so small. But meeting fellow tribesmen on the road can still be considered an occasion to stop and talk. Photo: Clinton Bird takes out a cigarette to treat his friend Courtney Stewart and discuss the new auto body repair center in their area.

7. The nature of Indian reservations is very picturesque. It seems that the landscapes have remained the same as they were before the arrival of the white man. Pictured: Tribal horses near the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

8. From generation to generation, the art of making national clothes of the Indian people is passed on. Pictured: Revonna Joy Alamo waits to be taken back to camp after the fairground parade.

9. To preserve the language, some subjects at school may be taught to children in Indian. Pictured: A student at a language immersion school during a class in Arly, Montana.

10. Traditional dance competitions, costumes and various competitions at the fair during the Pow Wow holiday help to preserve the cultural heritage of the Indians. Pictured: Young dancers lined up waiting for their dances to be judged during the Kii-Yo Pow-Wow celebration.

12. And mothers are ready to try their best for their children. And in the costumes of little Indians there can be a lot of handiwork. Pictured: Bobbie Sox, Sliding on Ice, prepares her grandson for the parade.

13. The fair rodeo is an exciting spectacle in which only real daredevils decide to participate. In the photo: Bull threw Mysio Flores off his back during a rodeo fair, barely jumping out of the gate.

14. A festive table, even among the Indians, is the fate of the fair sex. While Indian and not so Indian dishes are being prepared, there is an opportunity to start a female conversation.

15. The Indians are not at all going to give up everything new that modern society can provide them. Pictured: Mae Big Man, 6, listens to music and plays with a doll on her front porch, while her sister learns cross stitch patterns in Nardin, Montana.

16. And their main advantage is the ability to maintain family and friendly ties, traditions and rituals in the modern bustling world. Pictured: Scot Russell's families, friends, and clansmen gathered for a celebration at the Crow Agency during the Tribal Chief Election, Montana.

19. Endurance and inner strength and the ability to feel an inner connection with one's family, which is brought up in young Indians from childhood, helps them to perform successfully not only in classical, but also in modern sports. Pictured: Nicholas Barrera and Tim Lucero at a local skate park in Billings, Montana.

"Indian" questions and answers

1) Who are the Indians?

There are millions of people with Indian ancestry, but that doesn't make them Indians in the eyes of the tribes or the federal government. Federal government

considers an Indian to be a member of a federally recognized tribe. Individual tribes have the exclusive right to determine their own membership. The tribal government sets certain criteria for registration. Some of which require a thorough study of the origin, and some, simply the provision of evidence.

According to the definition of the US Department of the Interior, an Indian is usually considered a person who has a certain percentage of Indian blood in his veins and who is recognized as an Indian by one of the tribes and / or the US government. There is no single federal or tribal criterion for naming Indians. Government agencies use various criteria to determine an individual's eligibility for programs and services. Different tribes also have different eligibility criteria. It is important to understand the difference between the ethnological and political-legal aspects of the meaning of the term "Indian". The protection and services provided by the US government to tribal members are not due to a person's status as an American Indian in an ethnological sense, but because he is a member of a tribe that is recognized by the US and with which the US maintains a special relationship of trust. This special trust relationship entails certain obligations and obligations that are enforceable.

2) What is the origin of the Indians?

Most anthropologists believe that the Indians made the transition from Asia to North America through the Bering Strait about 35,000 years ago. However, most of the tribes have their own origin story based on the fact that the original inhabitants of the continent have always lived in the Americas.

3) Why are the natives of America called Indians?

The indigenous population of the United States was first named by the Indians Christopher Columbus, who mistakenly believed that he had reached India when he set foot on the coast of the continent. Nowadays, many Native Americans choose to refer to themselves as American Indians to avoid the stereotypes associated with Indians.

4) Which is correct: Native American or American Indian?

Either of these terms is acceptable, although there are preferences. The term "Native American" was first used in the 1960s. to identify Indians and Alaska Natives. Over time, the term has become widespread, including all the indigenous peoples of the United States and its territories, including the Native Hawaiian, Chamorro (native population of the Mariana Islands) and American Samoa (7 eastern islands of the Samoan archipelago) (Native Americans and American Indians are interchangeable in this document).

5) What is the number of Indians and Alaska Natives?

According to the US census, in 1997 there were 2.3 million people. This is approximately 1 percent of the total population. Before the arrival of Europeans in North America, the native inhabitants, according to some rough estimates, were more than 10 million. By the time the colonists began to keep records, the numbers of peoples had been greatly reduced due to wars, famines, European diseases and forced labor. Estimated number of people who are only American Indian and Alaska Native or American Indian and Alaska Native combined with one or more other races: 4.4 million (as of July 1, 2003).

6) Do Indians have families?

Almost two-thirds of the total indigenous population are married, 27% of families are headed by single women. The birth rate among the Indians is much higher than that in families inhabiting America, and this, despite the fact that the average annual income of an Indian family is much lower than the average annual income of other Americans. Number of American Indian and Alaska Native families: 484,000.

7) Is the indigenous population decreasing?

The indigenous population is getting younger and growing steadily. Since July 1990, Indians and Alaska Natives have increased by 12 percent, while the white population has grown by only 3 percent.

8) What are the reasons for this growth?

Health care has been greatly improved and life expectancy has increased. In addition, many want to identify themselves as Indian or Alaska Native.

9) Why does the government define Alaska Natives as Alaska Natives and not as Indians?

Alaska's natives are the Eskimos (Inupait and Yupik), the Alaskan Indians (Atabaskans, Haidas, Tlingit and Timshians), and the Aleuts. They have their own culture and prefer to call themselves Alaska Natives.

10) Are native Hawaiians considered Indians?

No, the native Hawaiians, known as Kanaka Maoli, trace their ancestry and language to Polynesians, including Tahitians, Samoans, and Maoris. Beginning in 2000, the federal government does not recognize Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders as a separate group. Native Hawaiians often ally with Native Americans in matters of self-government and self-determination.

11) What is a tribe?

Initially, tribes are a society of people connected by blood ties, family kinship and a common language, having their own religion and political system. When members of various tribes were forced to live together on a reservation, some new tribal groups formed.

12) How many tribes are there?

As shown by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1998, there were 554 federally recognized tribes in the United States (562 in 2003), including 226 Alaska Native villages. Federal recognition of the tribe gives it government status and provides certain federal subsidies.

13) Indian tribes do not belong to the same group?

Indian tribes are as different as, for example, the Irish and Italians. Tribes have their own culture, language and traditions. Some of them were once sworn enemies.

14) Which of the tribes is the most numerous?

In 1990, the Cherokee Nation numbered 308,132, the largest of the American tribes. Most of the Cherokee live in Oklahoma and the North Carolina State Reservation (more than 5,000 people). The largest tribal group of Alaska Natives: the Eskimos, has 37,000 people.

15) Are the concepts of Indian people and Indian tribe identical?

Yes, federally recognized tribes are self-governing, and the federal government deals with political entities, not members of a particular race. The political status of the tribes is spelled out in the Constitution: "Congress has the power ... to regulate trade with foreign countries ... and with Indian tribes."

16) How is a tribe recognized at the federal level?

They are approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the US Department of the Interior. Many peoples were recognized as tribes, at the federal level, by treaty in the 18th and 19th centuries, although several groups still petition for recognition as such today.

17) What was the last tribe to be federally recognized?

In 1996, the Potawatomi Hurons of Michigan were granted Native American status at the federal level. In 1998, 14 additional tribes applied to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

18) What powers do tribes have as peoples?

With national status, they have all the powers of the government, except those that are contrary to the fundamental provisions of Congress or overruled by the Supreme Court of the United States. Tribes have the right to form their own government, determine its composition, collect taxes, administer justice, have the right to commercial activities. The tribal people govern matters relating to Indian land, its resources, and matters relating to the behavior of tribal members on Indian land.

19) How is the tribal government formed?

Most tribal governments have a developed democratic system for electing members of the government, which was formed long before the arrival of European colonialists. Although structurally similar to the American government, tribal governments are much smaller and have much less power.

20) What is a tribal council?

The tribal council is usually the governing body of the tribe. The head of the council is the elected chairman, president, chief or governor, who is the recognized leader. The council carries out the legislative aspects of the tribal government.

21) Are reservation governments and tribal governments the same thing?

No. Tribal governments existed long before reservations were established. However, the governing body on the reservation is the tribal council. In cases where different tribes are on the same reservation, governments operate separately, such as the Shoshoni and Arapaho in Wyoming.

22) What is a reservation?

Indian reservations are areas owned by the federal government as permanent tribal residences. The United States developed a reservation policy for the Indians in 1787. Some reservations were created on the basis of treaties, and others - in accordance with laws or government orders. Today there are 314 reservations.

23) Why are they called reservations?

The term "reservation" originates in the acts of the federal government on lands intended for federal purposes. In the United States, there are two types of such lands: military and Indian.

24) Do all Indians live on reservations?

No. More than 60 percent live off-reserve, according to the census. However, many visit reservations to visit relatives and participate in ceremonies.

25) How much land is allocated to the Indians?

Approximately 56 million acres on reserve and in trust. The Navajo Reservation is the largest, with 16 million acres covering parts of the states of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Most reservations own less than 1,000 acres.

26) What does it mean "are in trust"?

Almost all trust land is on reservations and owned by the United States. Their status is aimed at the use and benefit of the Indian tribes. Tribes have the right to acquire this land, to petition the federal government for trust management of it, to protect it from encroachment or seizure. Actions taken in relation to the trust property, including sale, are subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

27) Who owns the reservations?

The US holds title to tribal lands, acting as a fiduciary with the Department of the Interior. The tribe or owner is the owner of the land in trust. Non-Indians also own much of the reservation land, although tribes may exercise jurisdiction over it.

28) What is the responsibility of the federal government to Indians in relation to trust?

The federal government's responsibility to Indians in relation to trust is a legal obligation whereby the United States "assumed the highest moral responsibility and trust" to Indian tribes (Seminola v. USA, 1942). For the first time, Chief Justice of the United States John Marshall spoke about him in the Cherokee v. Georgia case (1831). Over time, the trust doctrine has become the cornerstone of many other Supreme Court cases. This is one of the most important principles set out in federal Indian law. The federal government's responsibility to the Indians in connection with the trust relationship is the US government's enforceable obligation to protect tribal lands, assets, resources, and treaty rights, and to comply with federal law mandates for American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. In a number of cases involving trust liability, the Supreme Court has used language that implies that it entails legal obligations, moral obligations, and the fulfillment of agreements and expectations that arose in the process of contacts between the US government and the tribes.

29) Did the government try to take away tribal lands?

From the 1880s until the 1930s, Congress traded tribal lands, causing the reservations to lose two-thirds of their land. In 1950, the Eisenhower administration adopted a policy of closing reservations in order to assimilate Indians into white society.

30) Do tribal lands have mineral reserves?

Reserves contain: 5 percent of the country's oil and gas reserves, 50 percent of uranium, and 30 percent of low-sulphur coal. Other mineral reserves include phosphate, crystalline quartz, gravel, sand, potassium and sodium. Even if the tribes do not have a supply of minerals, they can rent land with them.

31) What is Indian Territory?

"Indian Territory" is a legal term used in Title 18, United States Code. It broadly defines federal and tribal jurisdictions over crimes involving Indians on the reservations. But the term is also widely used, denoting reservations and areas with Indian populations.

32) What are the living conditions in Indian territory?

Despite improvements in health, education, and the economy over the years, Indian communities continue to lag behind the rest of the country in every industry. Their level of income is significantly lower and the mortality rate is much higher than in the whole country. People on reservations die from accidents, alcoholism, diabetes, pneumonia, suicide, homicide, and tuberculosis.

33) What is tribal sovereignty?

Just like states, tribes have sovereignty in the administration of territories and internal affairs. This status of the tribes is confirmed by a number of agreements, case law and the Constitution. Scientists believe that the tribes are independent from the very beginning, i.e. their origin was before the formation of the United States.

34) How does sovereignty work?

The doctrine of tribal sovereignty was upheld by three Supreme Court rulings in the 1800s. They recognize the right to self-government and management of the internal affairs of the so-called "internal, dependent nations", which prevents state intervention, but at the same time allows Congress to override Indian powers.

35) Is sovereignty largely symbolic today?

There is nothing more important to the Indian government and people than sovereignty, tribal leaders say. This is a founding principle of the US Constitution. Recently, the tribes have been seeking to regain control over their economies and resources, asserting their rights as sovereign, while often in conflict with neighboring states.

36) What is sovereign immunity?

It is the government's ability to determine the conditions under which a claim may be brought. Tribes use sovereign immunity in claims relating to their territories. Congress tried to limit sovereign immunity, however, these attempts did not bring the desired results.

37) Does US jurisdiction extend to Indian territories?

The US has neither civil nor criminal jurisdiction over Indian Territory. Since 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, passed by Congress, obliges tribes and states to conclude treaties or agreements before opening a gaming establishment on Indian territory.

38) Are Indians supposed to follow the same laws as non-Indians?

Off reservations, Indians are subject to local, state, and federal laws. On reservations, they are subject only to federal and tribal laws. Under a federal law known as the Assimilative Crimes Act, any felony is a federal crime.

39) Are Indians American citizens?

Indians have dual citizenship as members of the tribe and as American citizens. Congress gave American citizenship to Indians in 1924.

40) Do Indians pay state or federal taxes?

They pay the same taxes as everyone else, but there are exceptions: Native Americans living on reservations do not pay state income taxes. Indians living in trust territories do not pay local and state property taxes. State sales taxes are not levied if transactions are made on the reservation. Indians do not pay income tax on income received from trust lands for the right to graze and drill oil wells.

41) What is the relationship between tribal and state governments?

Because the Constitution gives the federal government authority to deal with Indian affairs, the states generally do not have power over tribal governments. Tribal governments reserve the right to enact and enforce laws and regulations that are stronger or more lenient than those of the neighboring state(s). However, although tribes have the right and authority to regulate activities on their lands independently of the neighboring state government, in practice they often cooperate and interact with the states through treaties and other agreements. Relations between tribes and states are also intergovernmental relations.

42) What are contracts?

From 1777 to 1871, treaties were concluded between the United States and the Indian peoples. These treaties or agreements between the tribal governments and the United States formed the right to property and the obligations of the parties. There are 371 treaties that secure rights for Indian tribes, mostly relating to their land.

43) What is in these treaties or agreements?

In the treaties, the Indians were promised protection, property, services, the right to self-government, and tribal territories in exchange for cooperation and lands.

44) Why did the tribes agree to treaties?

Faced with land grabs, war losses, disease, and an influx of settlers, the Indians were forced to enter into contracts and viewed them as serious moral obligations.

45) Were the contracts fulfilled?

Contradictory federal policy and judicial decisions have led to the fact that the indigenous peoples have lost some of their civil rights and lands. One of the first examples of this was the Trail of Tears, a march of 14,000 Cherokee from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to Oklahoma, although the 1791 treaty had already defined their lands of permanent residence. About 4,000 Cherokee—mostly children, old people, and children—died from starvation, cold, and disease along the way.

46) What is fiduciary responsibility?

This is one of the most important principles in federal Indian law. Legally, it establishes fiduciary obligations on the part of the United States to protect tribal lands, assets, resources, and treaty rights. Supreme Court rulings indicate that fiduciary liability entails both legal and moral obligations.

47) Treaties guarantee special rights to Indians today?

On the Pacific Northwest, tribes have the right to hunt, fish, and forage just as their ancestors did. On all reservations, tribes are entitled to free education and healthcare from the federal government.

48) Treaties are violated?

Such attempts have been repeated. More recently, Congress has attempted to limit tribal self-government and expand the powers of the state over the tribes.

49) What is the American Indian Movement (AMI)?

AIM was formed in 1968 as an Indian rights movement. AIM leaders staged sit-ins and other protests, so in 1972 AIM members from various states marched across the country in a protest march called the "Trail of Broken Treaties." Now DAI continues to work actively.

50) What does the Bureau of Indian Affairs do?

The Bureau is the federal tribal agency. Its task is to provide services and / or funds for services to the tribes. In the 1800s, the main purpose of the Bureau was to help the tribes to self-determination. The Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior is responsible for managing the 55.7 million acres (22,540,990.27 hectares) of land held in trust by the US government for the benefit of American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.

51) Who can apply for BDI services?

Only persons belonging to federally recognized tribes.

52) What services does BDI provide?

The development of forest land, the leasing of assets on these lands, the management of agricultural programs, the protection of water and land rights, the development and maintenance of infrastructure, and the provision of economic development are all included in the responsibilities of the BDI. In addition, BDI provides educational services to 48,000 Indian students. On 56 million acres of land held in trust by the US Government, BDI manages more than 100,000 leases with individual Indians holding over 10 million acres of land and with tribes holding nearly 45 million acres of land. In fiscal year 2003, the trust generated $195 million in rental, permit, sales, and interest income for 240,000 individual Indian accounts and $375 million for 1,400 tribal accounts. The Office of the Special Representative for American Indian Trusts (OSINT) manages $2.9 billion in tribal trust fund investments and $400 million in individual accounts. SPDO staff meets with tribal representatives to determine investment goals, constraints, and preferences for maximizing returns.

53) Do other federal agencies work with tribes?

Almost all federal agencies work with Indian tribes. The Department of Health and Human Services, for example, works with the Indian Health Service, which provides medical care on or near reservations. The Department of Justice works with the Tribal Justice Department, which coordinates law enforcement in Indian Territory.

54) Can Indians hold elected office?

Indians have the same rights as all other US citizens. Charles Curtis, Crow, was Vice President under Herbert Hoover, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado Republican, Northern Cheyenne. Campbell also served three terms in the US House of Representatives as a Democrat.

55) Do Indians serve in the US Army?

In the 20th century, among the soldiers awarded the highest military award in the United States - the Medal of Honor - five were Indians. One in four Indians is a military veteran. The heroism shown by the Indians in the First World War pushed the government to pass the citizenship law in 1924. During World War II, the Navajo Marines used their language as a cipher that the enemy could not decipher no matter how hard they tried. Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who are veterans of the US military: 159,000.

56) Who regulates Indian casinos?

The Indian National Gaming Association, approved by Congress, oversees the operations of bingo, casinos, and certain other forms of gambling on tribal lands. It sets licensing rules, reviews of annual audits, and approves ordinances that tribes develop to run gaming operations. The Department of the Treasury, Justice and Home Affairs of the United States have their own influence on the gambling business. Indian tribes have their own gaming commissions, tribal police and judiciary.

57) What is the "Indian Gaming Regulatory Act"?

A law passed in 1988 allowed tribes to open gambling establishments on reservations if the state on whose territory the reservations were located had already legalized gambling. The law requires states to enter into agreements with tribal governments that plan to open casinos, including installing slot machines and blackjack. Treaties are approved by the Secretary General of the Interior.

58) Does the gambling business bring a lot of income?

In 1997, casinos generated a total of $6.4 billion in profits. But not all tribes got rich. More than half of these incomes came from six tribes whose territories are located near large cities. (In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is the governor of California, agreed with 10 Indian tribes to build new casinos on the reservations. The Indians agreed and now 25% of the profits from these casinos go to the California state treasury).

59) What is the place of the Indian gambling business in the industry of gambling places?

The Indian gambling industry is growing at a rapid pace, but it accounts for only 8% of the total US gambling profits. (Many casinos located in Indian territories are bait for the underworld and are controlled by the gambling mafia).

60) Do all tribes have their own gambling business?

Approximately one third of the 554 tribes are involved in gambling and many of this third are limited to just bingo.

(The Masfi Wampanoang Indian tribe is doing everything possible and impossible to get the opportunity to build a casino in northeast Massachusetts. Now the Indians have no land for construction. The tribe managed to agree on the issue with local authorities, but the federal government denied the Indians the right to build an institution.

In a desperate attempt to realize their project in Massachusetts, which recently legalized gambling resorts on its territory, the tribe turned to a 250-year-old treaty with King George III of England, which granted the Indians liberties and the right to their land.

In order to build their own casino, Indians must obtain land leases from the federal government and then get approval from local governments if they want to see an Indian casino in their area.

The Indians filed a complaint against the feds that the US "constantly forgets its responsibility to protect the Wampanoang Masfi by making the tribe poor and landless."

61) Do tribes pay tax on their income?

No. As sovereign governments, they do not pay taxes on their income to the state or federal government, but casino workers are taxed on their wages, like all Americans. The states have the right to charge fees from the tribes for the costs of gambling regulation and administration. Some states, such as Michigan, Connecticut, and Washington, have formal agreements with tribes to charge additional fees.

62) How many tribes have helped the gambling business to get rich?

Gambling has helped such tribes as the Grand Traverse Band of the Ottawa and the Chippewa, but the Indians are still one of the poorest segments of the population.

(Casinos built on Indian reservations generate large incomes for some tribes, and some do not bring significant profits. A popular casino like Mystery Lake feeds the entire Mdewakanton tribe, and the Seminole Indians became the owners of the popular chain of Hard Rock cafes. American politicians' attitude to Indian casinos is far from ambiguous, some treat them negatively, motivating their attitude by religion and the narrow specialization of young Indians, the latter propose to deprive the Indians of all benefits in order to replenish the US treasury, and still others are in favor of keeping the situation the same. it is impossible to give an exact answer to how the gambling business will develop in the territories of Indian reservations in the future, only time will tell).

63) Did individual representatives of the Indians get rich?

The Indian Reservation Gambling Regulation Act requires tribal governments to spend revenue on social, economic, and charitable causes. Only after that, with the permission of the Minister of the Interior, the balances can be distributed among specific individuals. Forty-seven tribes practice this.

64) Why are casinos popular among the tribes?

Gambling is a common tradition that figured in celebrations and rituals long before the Europeans. For many reservations gambling is one of the few sources of employment and income. (Indians for the most part are not subject to gambling passion. More than 90% of casino income is brought by white visitors).

(From the history of the emergence of casinos in the Indian territories: “The Oneida people live in the state of New York. In the mid-70s of the 20th century they lived very poorly. In order to somehow improve the financial situation of the tribe, one of its members opened a saloon with bingo in the trailer. The Indian decided to raise the gambling rates above the level that was specified by the law. The authorities were interested in this parlor and wanted to close it. But the Indian graduated from Harvard and knew his rights perfectly. He said that these laws do not apply on the reservation. While the squabbling was going on, a new Indian casino was opened in the state of Florida. It belonged to the Seminole tribe. Actively playing in this casino were mostly white, the income of the tribe increased significantly.

The state district attorney decided to close the Seminole gambling house. In response, the tribe filed a lawsuit against the prosecutor, and the famous lawsuit began, which the Indians won. Thanks to this lawsuit, all Indians living in the United States received the right to open casinos on their reservations. Moreover, the authorities passed a law according to which the income from gambling entertainment on the territory of the reservations was not taxed.

So the bigwigs of the gambling business in Nevada and New Jersey have new competitors. The owners of luxury casinos began to lobby their interests in Congress, and already in 1988 an act was passed to regulate Indian gambling. According to this act, permission to open a new casino was issued to the Indians by the state authorities. In some regions, the Indians were forbidden to open casinos, but after numerous trials, a compromise solution was found. It was agreed that the Indians should share their income with the state. Since then, the Indians can open casinos, only they must give a significant profit from the business to the state treasury).

65) Do all Indians support casinos?

No. Some argue that gambling undermines the foundations of culture and those tribes that already have their own casinos are moving away from the traditional way of life.

66) What are tribal schools?

Beginning in the early 1800s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs took over the role of raising reservation children in Indian schools. Since 1978, the federal government has handed over the running of the schools to the tribes while retaining control and funding. Today there are 187 tribal schools with 50,000 students.

67) How many Indian children are in public schools off-reserve?

Approximately 480,000 Indian children attend off-reserve public schools. In some states with large populations, Native American students are given time to study the Native American language and native culture.

(In January 2013, in the small American city of Shawano in northeastern Wisconsin, 13-year-old 7th grade student Miranda Washinawatok, a Menominee, dared to say three phrases in her native Native American language in a lesson at her school and then translate them into English for These words - "I love you", "Hello" and "Thank you" ... After that, the girl was expected by the most real repressions ...

When her mother Tanais began to ask the offended and upset girl what had happened, it turned out that the teacher Julia Gurta roughly grabbed her by both hands and, hitting them hard on the table, loudly said that she should not speak the Menominee language, that is, the native language of her tribe, and that doing so is very bad ... At the next lesson, another teacher told the girl that she did not do well, and, in addition, she was deprived of the opportunity to play basketball: Miranda sat on the bench for the whole game. The mother's attempt to find out why her child was suspended from the game ended in nothing: the coach said that he knew nothing about this decision ... Richie Plass, Miranda's great-uncle, knows well what racism is. He said: “This is ignorance and a form of national intolerance, this is already closer to fascism ...”. Teacher Julia Gurta, who punished Miranda, assistant director of education Dr. wrote a letter of apology, but ... As Miranda's mother says, in this letter they did not apologize at all, but tried ... to justify their actions! So, Julia Gurta argued that students are required to respect other students, and behavior that creates a sense of elitism "can increase racial and cultural tension." And Miranda’s punishment, according to this lady, was taken in response to disrespectful comments and the girl’s behavior throughout the day ...)

68) How many Indians graduated from high school?

According to the 1990 US Census, 66% of Indians under 25 had graduated from high school. Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives age 25 and older among those with at least a high school diploma or diploma: 75%.

69) How do tribes use their sovereignty?

In New Mexico, for example, the pueblos require residents of the city of Albuquerque to comply with clean water standards, which are more stringent and demanding than state ones. In the Pacific Northwest, the tribes are involved with the states and the federal government in matters relating to fisheries and the protection of salmon.

70) What are tribal colleges and how do they function?

More than 30 colleges have emerged since the 1960s. They are located directly on the territories of the reservations or near them and provide a 2-year education. Some of them were built with gambling money. Teaching in colleges of this type responds to the needs and demands of the indigenous population and is aimed at those students who then continue their education off-reserve. The first college that was completely controlled by the tribal authorities was established on the Navajo reservation in 1968. The reason for the creation of such an Indian college was the large number of Navajo students who did not complete their education in non-reserve educational institutions. That is why the tribal authorities decided to establish their own two-year college - the Navajo Community College. Among the advantages of this type of educational institution was the fact that "students experienced fewer financial and psychological problems, and also studied the culture and system of values ​​​​of the Navajo tribe." Other tribes followed the example of the Navajo. By 1990, there were 24 Native American colleges in the United States where students could receive an associate's degree. Two colleges - Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleshka College - provide undergraduate education. A modern Indian college is usually located in several buildings that were donated to the Indian community or rented by the tribe. Sometimes other premises are adapted for educational institutions. For example, Little Big Horn College is based in a former sports center, one of the premises of Fort Birthold College is a former post office, Sinte Gleshka College converted a bookstore into a classroom. And only a few Indian colleges have spacious buildings at their disposal. On the Navajo Reservation, students study at a college located in the heart of the reservation: a six-story office building built in the national style and surrounded by other university units (dormitory, gymnasium and student center).

However, despite the fact that in the second half of the twentieth century, Native Americans were able to establish their own educational institutions and place them on the territories of the reservations, the number of students that these colleges could accept was limited - primarily due to the fact that the colleges themselves were small. A distinctive feature of tribal colleges is that, along with the general education program, they teach traditional Indian subjects, which, according to the reservation population and teachers, will prepare students, on the one hand, for reservation life, and on the other hand, for communication with non-reservation, external environment. Thus, three main characteristics of Indian colleges can be distinguished. First, the curricula in such colleges are always based on traditional Indian culture. Students study tribal language, art and philosophy not as additional subjects, but as core ones. Secondly, the main emphasis is on the teaching of such disciplines that are most in demand in the life of a particular reservation. As a result, most graduates do not experience great difficulty in finding work in one or another Indian community. Third, college-based research is often carried out in response to community needs and is sponsored by tribal authorities. This leads to the fact that Indian educational institutions combine the functions of a college and a research center.

An example is the already mentioned Navajo Community College. Its statutory document states that the main task of the college is to improve the educational level of students based on Indian traditions. Among the most important disciplines are the study of the philosophy of the tribe, language, history, culture, professional training that allows graduates to successfully exist in a multicultural and technological society, conducting scientific research that contributes to the social and economic development of the reservation community.

71) How many Indians have higher education?

In 1960, only about 3,500 Indians studied at US universities and colleges; in 1970, more than 14,400 Indians were enrolled in colleges. However, the percentage of Indian youth enrolled in higher education is still low: in 1970, only 12% of Indians aged 18 to 24 were in college in the country, compared with 15% of African Americans and 27% of white Americans. In the period from 1970 to 1980, the number of Indian students in various types of higher educational institutions in the United States increased by only 12 thousand people. At the present time there are a comparatively considerable number of Indians who have even attained scientific degrees. By the mid-1980s, for example, at the University of South Dakota, 200 Indians received a master's degree, and 23 a doctorate. It is characteristic that all of them specialized in the field of school pedagogy and methodology (problems of primary, secondary and higher education, features of adult education, specifics of work in the staff of the school administration, etc.).

The need for Indians to diversify their pursuits was clearly expressed at a forum of Indian scientists in the early 1970s by D. Woo-Denlegs, an Indian from the Northern Cheyenne group. Condemning the fact that on many reservations, almost all positions, from nurses, doctors, teachers and school teachers to managers, BDI personnel, etc., etc., were occupied by non-Indians, he said: If a non-Indian can be taught how to manage and control the affairs of Indians, then why shouldn't an Indian manage himself and other Indians? . Despite the fact that Native Americans enjoy significant benefits when entering higher education institutions, the level of education among Indians is extremely low. 28 percent of Americans have a college degree, compared to only 16 percent for Indians. Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives aged 25 years and over who hold an advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.): 50,500.

72) Do Indians speak their native language?

The vast majority of Indians speak English as their primary language, although some also know their own language. When Europeans first arrived in the Americas, there were 350 Indian languages.

73) What languages ​​do the Indians speak?

The exact number has not been calculated, but approximately 200 languages ​​are known to be spoken. Native American languages ​​are classified geographically, not linguistically, as they do not belong to the same language family. Number of people aged 5 and over who speak a North American indigenous language: 381,000. The most widely spoken of all the indigenous languages ​​of North America is the Navajo language, with 178,014 speakers.

74) Indian languages ​​continue to die out, and how are they preserved?

Yes. Mostly only the elders speak their native languages. The communities take care of the introduction of the teaching of the native Indian language into the school curricula, books and teaching aids are published, some languages ​​are taught at universities. Recently, researchers are increasingly talking about the revival of the interest of Indian youth in the culture and languages ​​of their ancestors.

75) Did the Indians have a written language?

Before European colonization, Indian writing existed in the form of pictography.

76) Do Indians have a religion?

There is no single religion. Each nation has its own religion, its own traditional practices. Many Native Americans believe in a Great Spirit that manifests itself through nature and influences all life. Everyday life is filled with numerous spirits. In the 19th century, the Native Americans lost many of their religious customs, the colonists forcefully converted them to Christianity, sending their children to missionary schools, forbidding many rites.

77) How many Christians are among the Indians?

In the 1990s, more than two-thirds of Native Americans identified themselves as Christian. Others combined Christian beliefs with their native religion. There are Indians and Muslims.

78) Are Indians now free to practice their religions?

Until the 1930s, the United States banned Native American religious practices, including the Spirit Dance, the Sun Dance, and the cult of peyote. In 1978, Congress passed the Indian Religious Freedom Act. Its first section states that it will now be United States policy to protect the traditional religions of "American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians" in several areas, "including unrestricted access to places of worship, storage and use of sacred objects and freedom of prayer through traditional ceremonies". Section Two obliges the government to monitor its policies and practices, in consultation with Indian traditionalists, and report annually to Congress on how the act is carried out.

79) Where do Indians pray?

Followers of Indian spirituality do not consider their practice a religion at all and they do not need any buildings to send their prayers, because prayers take various forms, including songs and dances, offerings of tobacco and cornmeal.

80) What is a pow-wow?

The word "powwow" comes from the language of the Narragansetts. It is a celebration of honoring sacred Indian traditions through dancing, drumming, singing and gathering of people. Powwows can be held in honor of individuals or for special occasions. Most often, powwow is a social event.

81) Can non-Indians attend a powwow?

There are ceremonial powwows that are closed to others, but at public powwows, non-Indians are welcome guests.

82) Where do Indians get eagle feathers?

Eagles are under government protection, but feathers are available for Native American religious practices from eagles that die of natural causes or by accident.

Translation and additions: Alexander Caksi*Two Wolves*. Text editor: Kristina Makhova.

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