We are often told that it’s ok to be different. My younger version would definitely agree. Growing up Indian, I had the benefit of teachers repeating instructions a bit louder and slower. I never worried about getting injured on the baseball field, because I got to sit on the bench. My parents never had to worry about driving me to sleepovers, though I was seemingly friends with everyone in school.
Essay #1 HIST 1302 Spring 2023 During the time period before and after the Civil War, there were many up and downs for multiple groups of people. Through the many challenges that they faced, they assisted in growing America into the place that it is today. Immigrants, Native Americans, Black Americans, and American Women faced many challenges, some of them had faced similar problems, and some had circumstances that were uniquely difficult. Immigrants were in search for one thing: a better life.
For my first diversity event I decided to attend the 43rd annual Mankato wacipi (Powwow). I chose this event because I attended some like it when I was younger. I always have admired Native Americans and their deep connection with their spirituality. I remember in fifth grade my elementary school hosted a Powwow that my mother and I attended. This was the first time I have ever been exposed to the Native American culture and the memory has stuck with me till now.
Upon meeting me, not many people know that I am a first generation American. However, they are usually interested in the orgin of my last name. I am in fact Ukranian. Both my parents and my older sister were born in Ukraine. They immigrated to America in 1992 because of religious persecution that they were facing.
Behaviors That Affect the Health of Native Americans The main behaviors leading to most health disparities are drinking; Native Americans have high rates of alcoholism, binge drinking episodes, and cirrhosis of the liver. There is correlation of alcohol use with tobacco use, and this is true for Native Americans. While other groups have decreased their use for tobacco, the rates steadily climb for Native Americans.
The percentage of American Indians who are in poverty is around 28 percent, and when compared to the national average of 15 percent, the truth is much harsher than when first looked at (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). Some tribes have unemployment rates as high as 80 percent (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012), but why is it that a number of tribes are having such financial struggles? An important factor that contributes to this is the location of the tribes, the Native American tribes did not choose their location or the surrounding area, the location of the tribe land is where the United States government chose to put them. The government was not placing the native reservations in the most fertile, or perfect land, most of these tribe lands are in locales where it is a far distance to reach important resources. Employment is a huge problem in native communities, year-round employment is not very common and the jobless rate are still high.
I was born a mystery, no one thought a small Native American girl living in a tribe would grow up to be the most famous Native American. In 24 short years I would accomplish more than people would in their whole life. Background info (birthplace, birthdate, any relevant childhood info., relevant relationship info., etc.): I was born in 1788 in the Shoshone tribe, my mother worked cleaning the house and gathering food, while my father was the tribal chief. My brother’s name was Cameahwait and my sister’s name was Pine Girl, I had a wonderful family.
During the late 19th and earlier 20th centuries, many of the Native Americans suddenly had to start changing their way of life in order to live amongst the Anglo-Americans. They were given ultimatums in which if they did not comply with the newly imposed organizations of political, economic, legal, and social institutions, Native Americans had to suffer the consequences. For several centuries, many tribes have passed and those who survived were the ones who did the “tragic, but necessary” actions abide by these organizations and assimilated their way into survival. The Allotment Period was meant to terminate all Native Americans; however, it proved to not only the Anglo-Americans that Native Americans are in fact capable of assimilation, but
Native Americans are known to be the nation's invisible minority and it is extremely disturbing in our American society. Native Americans have a hard time finding an identity and voice in our nation, and there is little attention given to them. This is ironic because Native Americans were the first people to live in the American continents. The Europeans came to America and burned down their villages and lands and tried to enslave them. Millions of Native American were killed by Europeans.
“Native Americans had it the worst of any group! There’s really nothing that can be done now… Seriously…what “struggles” do they face now anyway?” (F).
I come from an authentic Hispanic family, who is traditional in plenty distinct aspects. We treasure all the memories that have occurred to all of us and we laugh about the embarrassing moments we all had. We hold traditional customs and we accept new traditions as well. All of us are over protective of each and every family member, meaning that if anyone in the family has a problem we will not stop until it is fixed. To every family member, family is always first.
Growing up in an immigrant household in America, was difficult. I didn’t live, I learned to adapt. I learned to adapt to the fact that I did not look like any of my peers, so I changed. Adapted to the fact that my hair texture would never be like any of my peers, so I changed. Adapted to the fact that I was not as financially well off as my peers, so I changed.
Native American Ceremonies’ When I was ten years old I learned of my Indian culture. I learned I was of the Cherokee tribe. My dad had always hung Indian decorations in our home, but I have never given much thought of why he has done so. This peaked my interest, so I started asking questions. He told me we were part Cherokee and part Choctaw native American.
Life as a Native American sucks. I realized this when I was a little kid. I’ve come to accept that what other people label or describes us as are true. I’m not happy to admit this they are right. My people don’t do anything to prove these people’s claims, or better known as stereotypes, about Native Americans wrong.
My mother is an immigrant. A hardworking, pious woman who moved to a foreign country in order to raise her children and offer them everything she could. After her first three children, my mother grew accustomed to her feeling of loneliness. She was often left alone with three young children, dealing with their constant bickering and nagging. On top of that she had limited communication with others, due to a language barrier, no car and no friends in this new world.
