Native Americans

Native Americans



Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Native Americans” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Native Americans” and its relation with “cultural awareness”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Native Americans” and tries to gauge its effect on “cultural awareness”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Native Americans” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Native Americans” on “cultural awareness” (Dragger, 2011).

Table of Content

Contents

Introduction:5

Discussion:5

Early History5

Native Americans and the Europeans6

Southeast7

The 20th Century Native Americans12

Opportunities12

College scholarships: the American Indian College Fund12

College scholarships: the American Indian Graduate Center13

Conclusion:13

Refences14

Appendix16

Native Americans

Introduction:

Native Americans date to the 16th Century, when an estimated 10-90 million inhabited and dwelled on American soil. There history is both fascinating and tragic in many ways. Apparently, these people are said to have been living before any white skinned person existed. It is said that during “the ice age”, they travelled far and wide from Siberia to Alaska. They eventually settled in the south and then in Mexico, where they continued with their farming and later on entered the blue collared job phase (Dragger, 2011)

Discussion:

Early History

When Christopher Columbus discovered America, he interacted with these Native Americans and then he labeled them as “Indian” as he mistakenly believed that he had landed in the Indies. However, their name kept on changing and from being called Indians, they were called American Indians and now they are known as Native Americans. These brown skinned people migrated from one place to the other and were basically as nomads who dragged their live stocks along with their canopies and families. The appreciated the vast lands where they started to live and eventually tribes on tribes were formed (Kim, & Min, 2010).

They basically started off as farmers which grew corn, barley and wheat. These Indians lived in tribes and mostly grazed on raw vegetables for survival. With adequate time, they were able to become skilled fishermen as they discovered lakes and rivers, acclaimed hunters and built homes with whatever was at their disposal. They become very territorial and believed that anyone crossing there vicinity was seen as a threat. Also, they used animal skins to build their canopies for their abodes and collected lumber for their houses.

Native Americans and the Europeans

Moreover, as history tells us that these Native Americans from the east coast met with the Europeans with much zeal in the 16th and 17th century. Though, these brown skinned people found the white skinned Europeans as odd looking visitors with beards but accepted them with very warm and accepting feelings. The Europeans impressed these Native Indians, with steel knives, mirrors, and other very intriguing novelties. Since, these tribes were very accepting and hospitable; they were able to accommodate their new friends with immense enthusiasm. But little did they know that the tables will turn, and the reality would hit them hard in the face.

However, the Europeans with great greed and malice in their heart manipulated the naïve Indians ...