Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding
A Qualitative Study Exploring How Indians and Non-Indians Think About Each Other
12/31/2006
This new study is one of the most in-depth examinations ever made of the thinking of American Indians and non-Indians about each other. The research--based on 12 focus groups conducted in 2006 and 2007--explores Indians' perceptions of their own place in contemporary American society and how non-Indians view American Indians, what they know (or think they know), the generalizations they make and stereotypes they hold, how their perceptions were formed and their interest in learning more. The research was made possible by a grant from The Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation.
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The study about the thoughts of Indians and Non-Indians towards each other opened up numerous viewpoints and perspectives that I did not consider prior to the reading. Although the study is based upon only a very small portion of both the Indian and Non-Indian populations it seemed to me that the results could definitely resemble the thoughts of the majority of their populations. After reading about the study it seemed as though it is very likely that the Indians and Non-Indians feel the way that the results showed.
The first aspect of the study that stuck out to me was just how little the Non-Indian population seemed to know about the American Indians. I felt that the people's opinions that were involved in the study should not have even been included because one should not be able to give an opinion on something that they know little or nothing about. It also angered me to read about just how little the Non-Indian population knows about Indians. In retrospect, I realized that I fit into the portion of the Non-Indian population that knew little about the Indians.
Another aspect of the study that baffled me was how the majority of the Indian population seemed to integrate themselves into society. In the study it was stated that about 66% of the Indian population live in metropolitan areas. I can not comprehend how a race so determined to protect their culture could have the majority of their population seem to care less about it. I was also a little angered when I read that a good portion of their population is not taking advantage of the opportunities that are now available to them. It is stated that "Just 71 percent have graduated from high school and, only 12 percent have bachelor's degrees." The study also showed that the Indian unemployment rate is extremely high in comparison to other races and a significant percent of them live in poverty. I feel that in this case the help provided by the government and the permission to run casinos is necessary to help keep the American Indians out of poverty.
Finally, I feel that more needs to be done to understand the Indian culture and past. After hearing that in the eyes of the Indians what was done to their ancestors is comparable to the Holocaust, I feel that we owe them a debt that we are not quite paying off. Personally, I think that money is not the answers to the Indian's problems. Honestly, I'm not sure if there is an answer because what is done is done. We cannot bring back many parts of the Indian culture that were lost as a result of the "Genocide" in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
I think that one of the most interesting things, that I can see in today's society about American-Indians is the fact that we don't know that they exist, and that they are still a huge part of our culture today. I find it mind-blowing that school's and museum's don't tell us about Indian's culture today. I think that this is one of the reasons American-Indians feel as if they're loosing their culture. I believe that one of the things that keep a culture alive is the idea that other people know about and respect their culture. If the non-Indians don't know about American-Indians, their culture can not survive.
One of the other things I found interesting was that many American-Indians were not offended by degrading sports mascots etc. Many American-Indians believed that there were other forms of discrimination that needed to be taken care of first such as stereotypes of all American-Indians being gamblers, drinkers and bad people. This causes many people to judge American-Indians when in stores and doing everyday things in America. This idea is mind blowing to me simply because I've never met an American-Indian and wouldn't know if they were being treated wrongly. I think that this idea goes back to the idea that many non-Indians have no idea the American-Indians are still living and have an active culture.
I feel that before reading the article I only though of Indians as the characters in "Pocahontus" and old western movies, in other words Hollywood's interpretation of Indians. After reading the article I realize that American-Indians are still around today and that they are still have a vibrant culture that I simply have not been taught about.
I think that this report was very informative on how Native Americans feel. I didn't really know that they felt this bad and seemed to think that everyone hates them. I personally think that all Americans do not hate Native Americans and think that they are below us, I just think that Americans don't know enough about them.
It wasn't really surprising that we don't think of Indians in the present, since if you don't live in southwestern states, you don't see them. We always think of Indians as them having head dresses and living in teepees. I can understand how Native Americans would be mad at this because not all of them are like that. But, I still don't think that just because we imagine a Native American as a person who is a hunter gatherer type, does not mean that it is negative. I believe that most people think of Indians as strong, warrior like people, which I think Indians should be proud of. One thing that I didn't understand is how a lot of people think that Native Americans are lazy drunks who just live on reservations. I have never even thought that in my life of a Native American just bumming off of the government to get by. Native Americans have the right to be mad at that because that is just unfair and putting their culture down. In the future, schools should teach more about Native Americans today and bridge the gap between the 1600s Native Americans, and present ones. I think that if we do that there will not be as much discrimination against Indians since we will actually know what they are like.
I think that Native Americans should recieve equal treatment. I think the more restrictions that are imposed on the Native Amercian poulation will effectively decrease their population and their culture. I think that when the Native Americans are faced with more issues their population will start to decrease even more. I think our American society and culture is hurting the Native American's overall population. I think the more we lay new laws down the more their population will diminish. I think the U.S. government should help to make the Indian people relearn there old ways if they want and help them to start their own nation. Unless they don't want to, but I think we should at least given them equal treatment. We should treat them as we want to be treated. I don't think we can fix our past unless we can invent a time machine so I think the U.S. should look forward and try and help Native Americans to become as equal as ourselves. They should have the same rights as we do in this Great Nation.
-Shaun
I think that in most cases non- Indians are uninformed and uninvolved in Indians culture. When I would first hear the word Indian I almost always thought of it as past tense, I never stopped to think about the fact that many Indians are still living today and are part of modern society. I would always think of tepees and feathers and bright colors which I always associated with their culture, however I do acknowledge that I know little else of their heritage but the obvious mainstream information that I have read in text books and through the media, both of which I'm sure contain propaganda along with mostly manipulated facts. Indian's culture has always fascinated me since I was young and I do wish that I knew more about it. When I was younger I fell in love with the ideas of being so close to nature and all the bright colors and pageantry, I think it would be interesting to compare the preconceived notions of Indian culture in my head with the actual culture that is still alive today. After reading this study I actually feel more inclined to learn about their culture and attempt to understand some of the issues they face today. I definitely feel that this study has broadened my horizons and given me true perspective as to how most Indians and Non-Indians perceive each other.
I was a little disappointed in the quality of this article, instead of introducing me to Indians' problems in a nice manner, it made Indians seem like whining, annoying people, who spend all their time lamenting about the hardships they have been faced with, and how they are being treated unfairly. The article always talks about the non-Indians lack of knowledge on the topic of their culture, and blame non-Indians for all their troubles. I understand this is not how all American Indians feel, but that is how the article makes it seem.
I do not think it is fair to blame non-Indians for their troubles. Granted, we did cause them a lot of pain, and kicked them off their land, but not all non-Indians are prejudiced to Indians. I do agree that part of it is because of lack of education on the subject of Indians in the twentieth century. As for them being mad at being perceived as the hunters and gatherers who live in tepees, it is part of their culture, and they should have to deal with it. They should be proud of it like some who make it part of their life. I remember stories of how my great-great grandmother would perform Sioux rituals to help heal people when they were sick.
My biggest problem with this article was that it made it seem as if American Indians were the only ones who have suffered this kind of prejudice. Racism is a part of our life, and we all put up with it whether we like it or not. It could be the Irish man who is associated with green and potatoes, the Chinese who have many stereotypes, or the American Indian who is thought of as being a savage. I hate to sound rude and cruel, but I did not understand the point of this article. I feel bad for what has happened to the Indians, but they should probably accept that America isn't leaving anytime soon, they aren't getting their land back, and what has been done is done. Look to the future. Besides, it could have been the Indians who came to Europe, and forced them off their land.
I never realized how distanced Native Americans and those who aren’t Native Americans seem to be. They’re all people, yet they do not understand so much about each other. I think a lot of it is a lack of education and wanting to understand the other culture. I do like that this study shows that those who are not Native Americans do somewhat want to understand the Native Americans instead of just making generalizations and causing stereotypes. Generalizations and stereotypes lead to more misunderstandings and completely cloud the truth of what Native Americans are like. Those who aren’t Native American do not know the Native American culture and cannot understand Native Americans until they understand the history of their culture. I agree that people should study Native American history in order to understand them by taking a walk in their shoes.
I really think this study is a good step in understanding some views on Native Americans between themselves and others. I would’ve never known how misunderstood and misjudged Native Americans feel by others without reading the results of this study. It will be interesting to see what further studies on this topic show.
It's unfortunate how we treat Native Americans in the country anymore. It's kind of a cliche to say this, but the Native Americans were once a proud and mighty people. Now, because of what we've done to them, they are just a stereotype. Now in America we're more concerned about athletes on teams named after Native Americans doing drugs than we are with actual Native Americans doing drugs. They have such a high rate of drug abuse and crime and I had no idea until I read this report. It's upsetting to know how they've been living all these years. How people have criticized them for doing things like running casinos, when really we should e the ones criticized after performing a mass genocide to them. We just need to try to help save the culture of the Native Americans. It should be save the Indian, and the man.
I am German and I have been taught a lot about native Americans in my English lessons, from an American teacher! Yes, we are partially involved as the majority of U.S. and ourselves are both of European origin. What has happened to the native Americans during the 19th century is comparable with the Holocaust. The fate of the Jews and native American during the 19th century is comparable in the point that treatment reached from persecution to trying to assimilate them into the mainstream society. Non-Jewish citizens had also crude stereotypes towards them. By the end of the 19th century the Jews have taken a courageous decision: To work on getting back their homeland, but even more important: To revive the Hebrew language and with it their ancient identity from what has remained of the past.
Native Americans can learn from the Jews. They have to take a decision what they want for the future: Rebuilding their culture and reviving their languages in order to preserve their distinct identity or assimilate into the mainstream society. This question will certainly be answered different by each native American. I think that the key to preserve and rebuild the distinct identity lies in the economic development of the reservations in order to recollect members of the tribe. Nobody wants to abolish the U.S. in order give the whole of America back to the native Americans. It would furthermore be impossible. But it is possible to enlarge the reservations in order to improve their economic and infrastructural possibilities. The mainstream society has to consider if:they really want to continue to live with the debt from the past and work towards a monotonous English-only culture. A true reconciliation and rebuilding thriving native American communities will certainly of use for the whole nation. The non-native Americans should acknowledge native American culture as heritage of the country and native Americans should develope the will to rebuild their identity. Teaching about history and contemporaty life of native Americans in schools should also include the option to learn a local native American language. Last but not least native Americans ought to be prepared to forgive the whites what had happened. Forgiving is an important base for peace in general.
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