American Indians are indigenous people from the continental US, Alaska, or Hawaii. They are members of various tribes and ethnic groups, some of which continue to thrive while others have seen traditions and languages erode due to assimilation. Conflict arose with European settlers as they pushed west and occupied tribal lands. Many tribes were forced to resettle even further west and moved to reservations. The US government recognized the American Indian right to self-government with the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975. Many American Indians have made contributions to various fields despite facing obstacles to economic development. Currently, there are over 4 million people in the US who self-identify as American Indian or Alaska Native.
An American Indian or Native American is an indigenous person from the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii whose tribe was present when European settlers and explorers arrived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. American Indians are members of various tribes and ethnic groups spread throughout the United States. Some tribes continue to thrive today on their own lands, while others have seen traditions and languages erode over time as members assimilate or are forcibly assimilated into mainstream American culture.
American Indian tribes are theorized to be hunter-gatherers who first came to North America from Eurasia via a land bridge between Alaska and Siberia that was accessible about 60,000 years ago. As European settlers began arriving in North America, conflict arose with American Indian tribes as settlers pushed west and began occupying tribal lands and using tribal resources. Any resistance from the American Indian tribes was usually met and subdued by military force. Intermarriage, genocide, slavery, warfare with Europeans, lack of immunity to European diseases, and assimilation programs further decimated American Indian populations throughout the 19th century.
As Europeans pushed west, American Indian tribes were forced to resettle even further west. Many tribes eventually moved to reservations where they hoped to preserve and cultivate what was left of their culture while protecting themselves from outside influences. There are currently more than 300 Indian reservations in the United States and more than 550 recognized tribes, so not every tribe has a reservation. Each reservation is managed by its tribe which can establish its own laws and a government which has counter jurisdiction to federal or other local authorities. The quality of life on reservations varies, but can be poor due to poor education and high rates of alcohol and substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, and infant mortality.
With the passage of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975, the United States government legally recognized the American Indian right to self-government and began offering grants to federally recognized tribes. An individual must be certified and recognized by a tribe to have access to tribal and government services. Each tribe determines its own requirements for membership, which vary widely as a result. The Cherokee, for example, require all members to provide documentation proving descent from a Native American listed in the Dawes Rolls. Members of the Navajo Nation must prove that they are at least one quarter Navajo.
Many tribes continue to face obstacles to economic development, including lack of technical skills and natural resources, but individual American Indians have made contributions to many scientific and artistic fields. Some, like Jim Thorpe, are recognized athletes while others, like Tori Amos, are top musicians. John Herrington is an astronaut and member of the Chickasaw Nation. There are currently more than 4 million people living in the United States who self-identify as American Indian or Alaska Native.
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