Yo Is This… Kelly Lenhardt

Native Americans

Introduction

Over 15,000 years ago Native Americans traveled and settled on what is now known as America. Since their arrival, Native Americans have been subjected to genocide, dislocation, and abuse at the hands of the white man. The Native Americans and white settlers’ history contain hundreds of stories that end only in bloodshed or relocation. Now, over 6.7 million Native Americans reside in the United States, yet only a quarter of that number actively live on reservations. Those who do not live on reservations often experience a sense of longing to reconnect with their Native American culture and heritage. Unfortunately, many do not experience a connection with their ancestors, and as the once respected elders continue to pass, their culture disappears with them.

The Third World

Decrepit, dirty, and broken-down are just a few adjectives to describe the current state of Native American reservations. Conditions on these government-sanctioned reserves are so unbearable that they are “comparable to the Third World” (May 5, 2004, Gallup Independent). The “Third World” is not a new term, as Aijaz Ahmad’s essay delves into the danger of placing such a critical label on an affected area. These reservations have previously been referred to as their own Third World country due to the lack of development and critical underfunding. By classifying reservations and the Native Americans who inhabit them as “Third World”, their culture and identity is erased, and instead replaced with a single term that aims to tell the whole story. There is great danger in a single story, as told by Adichie, and in order to expose the truth of Native Americans and how they are forced to live, their entire situation as a whole must be assessed, taking into consideration the deep-rooted trauma passed down from generation to generation. Native Americans instead are defined by their rich and unique culture, and by diminishing them to the systematic injustice of their failing reservations, careers, and families, their identity as humans is being overlooked.

Trauma

Historical Trauma – “how the effects of collective injuries such as genocide and discrimination can linger for generations.”

Since the beginning, Native Americans have been subjected to many types of abuse, leading to the passing down of historical trauma throughout the generations. One such instance occurred in local boarding schools, where Native children were sent away from their families and instead raised in the “white man’s ways” and taught to repress their culture. This led to Native American culture and traditions to be silenced from that generation onward, as their heritage was something to be shamed for and hidden, instead of celebrated. Many of those with Native American heritage reported daily reflections and thoughts on the brutal loss of language, culture, and community they and past ancestors have experienced. These constant ruminations cause a decline in mental health, causing stress, grief, anxiety, and depression, which only worsen with age. Historical trauma is a tremendous contributor to the abundance of mental health issues Native Americans experience on a daily basis.

Reservation Life

In order to preserve their diminishing culture, Native Americans live on government sanctioned reservations. One particular forgotten residence is Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, famous for the Wounded Knee Massacre, where over three hundred Native Americans were mercilessly killed by US soldiers.

These reservations are victims of gang violence, extreme poverty, and an unusually high suicide rate and high-school dropout rate. Describing the danger, he experiences daily, a local resident stated “People are fighting each other, shooting each other, someone’s getting beat up every other night.”

The youth are the ones suffering the most on the reservations. Many have lost a sense of identity and culture and have resorted to joining gangs as a means of belonging. Even more battle with mental health, often struggling with addiction causing family issues and an early grave.

Violence against Women and Children

Native American women are more likely to experience abuse such as rape, stalking, and domestic violence. Particularly, on reservations, women are murdered at a rate which is ten times more than the nation’s average. These women are extremely vulnerable and usually suffering from poverty, making them the perfect candidates for sex trafficking. An estimated 40 percent of trafficking victims are of Native American heritage. However, Native American women and children receive little publication and protection from their doom of becoming trafficked. Failure to document these cases is due to lack of enforcement and protocol of laws and regulations by police and medical systems.

Dakota Pipeline

Since the initiation of the project in 2014, the Dakota Access Pipeline has been a highly debated controversial topic in the United States, with Native Americans fighting to keep their sacred land, while the government plans an oil pipe directly through the reservation.  The pipeline was initially proposed to transport over 500,000 barrels worth of oil underground from North Dakota to Illinois. With the pipeline built, the business of fracking would have the opportunity to flourish, providing jobs and oil to those in need. While this pipeline may be beneficial to the economy and big business, other environmental and social factors must be taken into account. For example, since the pipeline is built underneath the Missouri River, it has the potential to infiltrate the drinking water, which is primarily used by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The pipeline would also directly cut through a known and inhabited Native American reservation and sacred burial sites. Construction of the pipeline was soon initiated, cutting through over 1,000 miles of communities, reservations, farms, and natural habitats. However, once construction started to creep towards the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, protests began and further development of the pipeline was halted. Natives argue that they were never consulted about the potential pipeline, and instead were ignored by the government when first questioning the project. Fed up, Native Americans and environmentalists banded together in order to attempt to halt any further construction and demolition to the already fragile land, and Native American reservation. In fitting fashion, one of the first protests were initiated by Native Americans riding in on horseback, and quickly establishing a “spiritual camp”, urging other protestors to join them at their site. Soon after, many camps emerged with a peak of an estimated 10,000 people, seeking to lend their support and fight against one of the many injustices Native Americans face. Due to the large influx of civilians joining the Native Americans, protests began to escalate.

Highly militarized police force was brought to the campsites, with violence quickly ensuing. Within a few months, over 400 arrests had been made. Police came armed with tanks, riot gear, rubber bullets and tear gas. All and more of these dangerous weapons were used on the peaceful protesters, with many left wounded and having to seek medical attention soon after the clashes. However, protesters attempted to retaliate, with many starting fires, launching homemade bombs, blocking roads, and one woman firing several shots at police. Native Americans responded by claiming the government was silencing them and their request to respect their land and natural environment. Still, the government made no effort to resolve the issues, and instead continued to send more troops and warfare until the havoc died down. On top of the demonstrations, many law suits have been filed against the company responsible for the pipeline and the US Army Corps of Engineers, who are responsible for the initiation of the project.

With the ongoing protests, construction was halted temporarily, yet was ignited again by the signature of President Trump on a document which expedited the review and approval process in order to continue construction on the pipeline. Since President Trump’s endorsement of the pipeline, not much progress has been made. The pipeline project is still up in the air, and with the looming election, there is no telling what will become of the multi-billion-dollar project in the future.

The Dakota Pipeline case is a prime current example of Native American land being taken away. History is being repeated and once again, Native Americans are receiving the short end of the stick from the government. However, with the help of thousands of others who wish to make change, the Native Americans were able to be heard and at the very least, temporarily halt construction of the pipeline.

Conclusion

Native Americans are a victim to the systematic injustice of white man’s need for money and power. For years, the US has pushed Native Americans off of their own soil and repeatedly mistreated them. Due to this, Native Americans have developed various mental illnesses and continue to pass on trauma to their children. Their story continues to evolve as the Native American population diminishes and more fall victim to their unspoken fate every day. Violence, suicide, and addiction plague the Native American community, stifling their voice and letting their once rich culture and traditions fade away. Native Americans continue to experience these injustices on a daily basis, and little to no government assistance has been provided. Great efforts must be made in order to make right with Native Americans after they have been treated poorly for so long.

 

Citations

• “Dakota Pipeline: What’s behind the Controversy?” BBC News, BBC, 7 Feb. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37863955.
• Hope, Native. Native American Life Today – Native Hope, pages.nativehope.org/native-american-life-today.
• Posted Monday 12th September 2016 /, and 2016Text by Matthew Williams Photography © Matthew Williams Posted Monday 12th September. “What Life on a Native American Reservation Really Looks Like.” Huck Magazine, 12 Sept. 2016, www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/photography-2/native-american-reservation-pine-ridge-photography/.
• PowWows.com, About. “Native American Issues Today: Current Problems & Struggles 2020.” PowWows.com, 6 Nov. 2020, www.powwows.com/issues-and-problems-facing-native-americans-today/.
• Worland, Justin. “Dakota Access Pipeline: What to Know About the Controversy.” Time, Time, 28 Oct. 2016, time.com/4548566/dakota-access-pipeline-standing-rock-sioux/.