I have a question about Indians/Native Americans?

Question

First of all I'm not a racist. I have many friends of different heritage.

In the place where I live there are many Indians and most of them do not work. I am assuming they get a government check because of their status. But they are for the most part living in poverty too.

Does anyone know why they would choose to live in poverty and not try to better their situation?

Thanks, I'm just trying to understand their situation better and why they would choose poverty.

Answer 1

The majority of Natives were never given a choice as to whether they wanted to live on the reservations in poverty, or with the rest of accepted society. Reservations are useless chunks of unsustainable land, where Natives could no longer practice their traditional ways, as they were barren of hunting, to dry for farming, etc. This was done on purpose, to hopefully kill off all the "heathens". They were given next to nothing to establish schools and health centres for the people. So after generations of living in substandard conditions, which is where, lets face it, most of you would like us to stay, is it any wonder a sizable population of Natives are uneducated, poor and barely making it from check to check. Mental illness and depressions runs rampant amongst us, yet the government does nothing. These are the "choices" cast upon us.......Sure, now they can leave the reserve, but to go where? Most stay to hold onto the last shred of connection they might have with the land and their people..  

Answer 2

omg think about it, would you choose to be so poor you have to struggle to get by?  we do try to better our situation but it`s not always as easy as just saying, well i`m tired of being poor so i`m not gonna any more. there are so many barriers and stumbling blocks that we have to overcome to pull ourselves up . and we are not looking for a handout most of us would rather get a handup. sorry but so many people judge us without having any idea

Answer 3

I would first have to ask where you live, are you near a reservation?

The government DOES NOT give out money to people because they are "indian".  The government DOES give money to all the Federally Recognized Tribes or Nations because of treaty stipulations.  The money goes to the tribe as a whole NOT to individual members.  The money is used to run tribal government, build schools, build hospitals/medical facilities, housing, etc etc.  Very little if any money goes to the individual members of the Tribe or Nation.  Many of my people choose to live a lifestyle that may not be the best for them. Those who do choose to remain on the reservations for the most part live below the poverty level.  I myself live and work in a big mid-western metropolis. As an example the average income for members of the Navajo Tribe living on the reservation in northern Arizona and New Mexico is about $4000.

Some Tribes and Nations are trying to generate more money by building casinos.  But they do not run the casinos, they hire a company like Harrah's to do the day to day running of the casino and the tribe gets a "cut".  The managing company agrees to hire a certain percentage of members of the tribe to work at the casino, so those people do a little better.  The money that the tribe gets from casinos goes into the general fund of the tribe and is used for the same purpose as the money from the government (which by the way gets smaller every year).  We are NOT getting rich, that is for sure...

Answer 4

Maybe cause there whole culture was erased from the very place that they found first,and now the government says here you go sorry about your heritage? i dont know why

Answer 5

each pearson has a way to live, to think, to see the world, and you can't understand.

Here in Brazil there are meny people in this situation. not indians, but poor people, who live at sluns. Sometimes we think would be better if government didn't give money to people like this, but the situation could be without any help.  

Answer 6

Just wait the White Man's time is coming.  The White Man came over and took their land away from them and lumped them into one big place.  Now they are letting the Mexicans and other cultures come over and do the same to them.  At least the Indians did fight for their land, while we on the other hand are just handing our land over.

Answer 7

its not that we want to live in poverty and your grouping us all into that some of us are very much successful. but just because we have a goverment check which most of us dont anyways that doesnt mean we get enough to live on.

~Cherokee74

Answer 8

I'll tell you... NO Non-Native Organization, Company or Business ever offered me a job. No matter how many I applied to.

In early life I had an Early Childhood Diploma, then a Teaching Certificate. In later life I changed to Computer Programming and System Analysis

One bank took me on a Systems Trainee contract.  When 4 permanent positions became available. Three men hired after me (on trainee contracts) asked for and were granted the positions. I asked for the final position and was refused.

Since they had always praised my work and initiative, I asked why.  I was told I was on a trainee salary and they didn't have the money for a higher salary. Since I had no future there, I put in my notice to leave.

Then I was asked if I could refer another Native American who had the same education and skills as I had.

I thought WT, why would I encourage another Native American to a company that would treat us like that. They just wanted someone to do the same work as others for a lower salary.

Whenever I applied to a Native organization I was always hired.

l have been a Program Director, in a community center. a Program Coordinator (3 separate times) and established 2 Parent Child Centers and an Infant Development Program in a 100 x 40 mile area. I've worked as a Early Childhood Educator, and Teacher in the Native community.

I was the main Computer Technician and taught the Bussiness Software Courses in 5 different Native Adult training schools (both in urban and rural settings). At another Native training center I developed the curriculum and produced the manuals for the 5 courses in their Business Management program and marketed the schools programs in their catchment area.

I develop the culturally relevant curriculum and produced 3 of the 6 training manuals for the Native Councillor’s Band Representative Training Program.

I currently do graphic design, curriculum development, and help-desk software support from home.

Like me, most of my peers and my children’s peers, are educated, experienced, and underemployed in jobs or self-employed on the reservation.

When more Non-Native Organizations, Companies or Businesses are willing to hire Native Americans without discrimination, maybe more Native Americans will be able to leave the reservation.

Just think about it. How many Bank Tellers, Sale Clerks, or Waitress do you see. That’s just the low end of the job market.

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Answer 9

lol. Don't worry. I'm native american and i'm not offended.

I don't  get a pay check from the government.  

i'm not like those native americans you speak of. I am completely different from those natives you speak of.

Well, I have a job. I have alot plans for my future.

Sorry, i didn't answer your question. I was just letting you know i'm a native american that is not living the life you are talking about.