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Native American Oppression

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Native American Oppression
Native American Oppression
Santucee Bell
Case Western Reserve University

Native American Oppression
Introduction & Focal Population Imagine living in a world that consistently devalues your existence and is heavily populated with individuals who are quick to use and abuse your resources, but are slow to share the wealth that is accumulated from those resources. How would you feel? Unfortunately, certain populations do not have to visualize the disparity that is pictured above. This is because inequity is one of the most demoralizing social issues that plague America today. The worst thing about inequity is the fact that it continues to disproportionately burden individuals who are categorize as being minority in today’s society. This is especially true for the American Indian/Alaska Native population. This population continues to be one of the most vulnerable minority groups. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010 (2011), “American Indian or Alaska Native refer to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central American) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment” (Humes, Jones, & Ramirez, 2011, p. 3). 2,475,956 out of 308, 745,538 people that live in America are believed to be American Indian/Alaska Native, including those who report affiliations with tribes and South and Central American Indian groups (Humes et. al,, 2011, p. 4). This number is questionable because of the controversy about American Indian/Alaska Native citizenship, which will be explained in the latter part of this paper. As social workers, it is important to be knowledgeable about the American Indian/Alaska Native population. Thoroughly examining the origins and history of oppression that this group has, and continues to, endure is one of the best ways to learn about American Indian/Alaska Native injustice. This paper will guide you through experiences of social


References: Agnes, M. Webster’s new world college dictionary (4th ed.) (2002). Cleveland, OH: Wiley Publications. Cultural imperialism. (2011). In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultural+imperialism D 'Arcus, B Fiskesjö, M. (2010). The reluctant sovereign: New adventures of the US presidential Thanksgiving turkey. Anthropology Today, 26(5), 13-17. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8322.2010.00757 Goodkind, J Mushinski, D. W., & Pickering, K. (2000). Inequality in income distributions: Does culture matter? An analysis of western Native American tribes. Journal of Economic Issues, 34(2), pp. 403-412. Perry, B. (2002). From ethnocide to ethno-violence: Layers of Native American victimization. Contemporary Justice Review, 5(3), 231. Rosenstein, J. (Writer & Producer). (1997). In whose honor? American Indian mascots in sports [motion picture]. United States: New Day Films. Tennant, B. (2011). “Excluding Indians not taxed” Dred Scott, Standing Bear, Elk and the legal status of Native Americans in the latter half of the nineteenth century. International Social Science Review, 86(1/2), 24-43. Turner, S. L., & Pope, M. (2009). North America 's native peoples: A social justice and trauma counseling approach. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 37(4), 194-205. U.S. Department of Commerce Census Bureau. (2010, March). Overview of race and Hispanic origin: 2010. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf Violence Wilmot, K. A., & Delone, M. A. (2010). Sentencing of Native Americans: A multistage analysis under the Minnesota sentencing guidelines. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 8(3), 151-180. doi:10.1080/15377938.2010.502821
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