Native American Indian Resources

Native Peoples of North America is intended to be an introductory text about the Native peoples of North America (primarily the United States and Canada) presented from an anthropological perspective. As such, the text is organized around anthropological concepts such as language, kinship, marriage and family life, political and economic organization, food getting, spiritual and religious practices, and the arts. Prehistoric, historic and contemporary information is presented. Each chapter begins with an example from the oral tradition that reflects the theme of the chapter. The text includes suggested readings, videos, and classroom activities.

This text was updated September 2019; the changes are detailed in an errata section in the text.

Native Americans in Oklahoma won the right to assert jurisdiction over some criminal activity on their reservations after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the federal government must honor promises in 19th century treaties with tribes, a decision some say could potentially give tribes more sovereignty over their ancestral lands. The ruling has heightened a controversy over how to make reparations to nearly 10 million Native Americans, whose ancestors suffered injustices that cost them millions of acres of tribal lands and restricted their ability to conserve resources and provide for their members. Tribes are disproportionately affected by extreme weather exacerbated by climate change. Native leaders also want the courts or Congress to fix the jurisdictional morass that results in Native American women suffering from the nation's highest rates of violent crimes, often committed by non-Natives. Such issues have spurred a Land Back movement, with many of the 575 tribes seeking to regain ancestral lands. But state officials and non-Native businesses, property owners and others fear losing access to revenues and natural resources and want to ensure that their rights are protected. Written by Christina L. Lyons. Published Nov 19, 2021.

Native American lands contain $1.5 trillion in untapped coal, oil and other energy resources. The potential bounty is raising hopes among many Indians that energy development can help tribes reduce poverty on their reservations, where unemployment averages 19 percent. But development also is raising fears that it will threaten Indians' traditional way of life and harm the Earth. In addition, the dispute is raising tough questions among Indians, lawmakers and others about energy development and the limits of tribal sovereignty. The Navajo and like-minded tribes want federal regulations relaxed so Indians can develop their energy resources, providing jobs and other benefits. But other tribes argue the federal government remains obligated under treaties to protect Indian land from commercial exploitation. They are further worried about the Trump administration as it relaxes regulations on the energy industry and federal lands. Meanwhile, controversy has arisen over some tribes' disenrolling of members. Critics say the practice is a power grab by tribal leaders, but defenders say tribes have a right to decide who is a member. Written by Christina L, Lyons. Published May 5, 2017