Indians today - in the following called "Native Americans"
A few years ago a Groupmember had the privilage to contact Native Americans on a trip to the USA. During a tour in the western United States, he joined a party to discover Monument Valley on horseback. That is one of the ways for Native Americans to earn some money.
They also earn good money with gambling. They have the privileg to operate casinos. Otherwise, Native Americans have a hard time in their reservations where the unemployment rate amounts to about 80% .1 *
According to the 2000 census there were an indigenous population of about 2 million in the States. Around 1492 their number was still 6 million. By 1800, their number had dropped dramatically. There were only 600,000 Native Americans left. The 2 million Native Americans form only 0.8% of the total US population. Most of them live in about 275 reservations in 35 states.
In reservations life has never been easy up to today. The Native Americans have constantly been deprived of their own culture. They have apparently been left behind in many areas of today's Western values.
For example, a quarter of Native Americans live below the poverty line. Measured at western level, their educational attainment is also low. Only 71% complete the high school. Just 12% obtain a bachelor's degree. Unemployment in the reservations is widespread. The crime rate is also above average. In addition, the average life expectancy at age 55 is very low. That's 25 years below the average across the US.
They also earn good money with gambling. They have the privileg to operate casinos. Otherwise, Native Americans have a hard time in their reservations where the unemployment rate amounts to about 80% .1 *
According to the 2000 census there were an indigenous population of about 2 million in the States. Around 1492 their number was still 6 million. By 1800, their number had dropped dramatically. There were only 600,000 Native Americans left. The 2 million Native Americans form only 0.8% of the total US population. Most of them live in about 275 reservations in 35 states.
In reservations life has never been easy up to today. The Native Americans have constantly been deprived of their own culture. They have apparently been left behind in many areas of today's Western values.
For example, a quarter of Native Americans live below the poverty line. Measured at western level, their educational attainment is also low. Only 71% complete the high school. Just 12% obtain a bachelor's degree. Unemployment in the reservations is widespread. The crime rate is also above average. In addition, the average life expectancy at age 55 is very low. That's 25 years below the average across the US.
by T. Dennewitz
Sources:
- * Correspondence with Andrea Cox, Representative of the Oglala Lakota Horsemanship Organisation
- - Other figures and statistics from eDidact, Mediengruppe Oberfranken - Fachverlage GmbH & Co. KG