Native Americans and Their Interactions with Federal Policies

A series of flashcards highlighting key vocabulary and concepts related to Native American history, federal policies, protests, and cultural impacts.

Contact Period

The era beginning in the earliest colonial days and lasting nearly 300 years, during which Native Americans fought to preserve their cultures and land.

Reservations

Government-controlled areas where Native Americans were relocated, often leading to loss of traditional governance and cultural practices.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

A federal agency controlling virtually all aspects of daily life on reservations, including budgets, justice systems, and education.

Dawes Allotment Act

An 1887 law that divided tribal lands into small units, undermining communal ownership among tribes.

Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)

Legislation passed in 1934 aimed at reversing the Dawes Act by allowing tribes to regain lost lands and promote self-governance.

Termination Policy

A policy that ended federal recognition of tribes, leading to loss of legal status and resources for many tribes.

Relocation Programs

Initiatives encouraging Native Americans to leave reservations for urban areas, often resulting in socio-economic challenges.

Self-Determination

The ability of tribes to govern themselves and control their affairs, significantly improving tribal autonomy since the 1960s.

Red Power Movement

A coalition of Native American groups advocating for rights, identity, and cultural preservation, paralleling the Black Power Movement.

Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)

A controversial pipeline project opposed by Native Americans due to environmental and treaty rights concerns.

Acculturation

The process of cultural change and adaptation that happens when different cultures meet, often associated with loss of Native American languages and traditions.

Stereotypes of Native Americans

Misconceptions portraying Native Americans either as 'savages' or as completely harmonious with nature, affecting their social perception.

Gaming and Revenue

Economic opportunities from casinos that have provided some tribes with significant financial gains since the introduction of casino gaming in the 1980s.

Pantribal Activity

Collaborative efforts among different tribes to address shared issues and strengthen political power.

Urbanization of Native Americans

The trend of moving to cities, leading to mixed outcomes regarding economic opportunities and community cohesion.

Cultural Preservation Efforts

Attempts by many tribes to revitalize and maintain their languages and traditions amid modern pressures.

Matrilineal Society

A social structure where lineage and inheritance are traced through the female line, prevalent in certain Native American cultures.

Two Spirit

A term used by some Indigenous North American cultures to describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine qualities.

Percentages of 'Indian' blood

A measure used by some individuals and tribes to determine Native identity, often influencing self-identification.

Collective Land Ownership

The cultural view among many Native tribes of land as a communal resource, in contrast to individualistic ownership.

Blauner's Hypothesis

A theory describing minority experiences, explaining that Native Americans existed as conquered groups, sharing parallels with the experiences of African Americans.

Iroquois Confederacy

A historically significant alliance of six Native American nations in the northeastern United States.

Social Structures in Native Tribes

Systems wherein Native societies typically displayed more gender egalitarianism compared to European societies.