I recently got into a heated discussion with my roommate on the subject of the Native American peoples (Indian-American, whatever is politically correct nowadays). Since I am not used to adrenaline and cortisol shooting through my body at high volumes, this debate has left me emotional, raw, and in disbelief that one of my good friends has such negative opinions about these people.

There were several key points she made about the tribes that I would like to point to and reflect upon, since the heat of the moment clouded my head so much so that I had to remove myself from the room lest I broke down. Granted, I have not lived near or have any contact with the Indian-American reservations, but I do know of a shared experience as a woman of color, which she does not know about because of her German roots.

1. They are lazy. They could move out of the reservations and make something of themselves, but choose not to and instead host pity-parties for themselves. She said this matter-of-factly, and stated, “I have Indian friends who even say this of their own people.” That’s like saying, “I have black friends that even say their own people are all thugs.” Hence, an age-old example of racism. Applying a couple of characteristics to a whole group of people and creating an “other” perception, dehumanizing them so it is easy to blame that “race” for the way they are today.

She has Indian-American friends that say the same things? But what if these “friends” have also rejected the ways of their people in order to assimilate to the dominant way of thought? What if these “friends” haven’t had direct contact with “their own people” and have adopted a dominant-perceived (read: white) outlook on them?

2. All they do is spend their money on alcohol and cigarettes. Let me point out she has never had any direct contact with them. She has gone to school with them, she has lived by them, but by no means does this mean she has had direct contact with them. So she cannot make this overly generalized statement. Direct contact would mean she has been to their homes, seen what it is like spend every day thinking there is no hope for a future, heard their cries for more help, whatever that means. She would know that their experiences are not that far off from how the government tries to deal with poverty in general. She would know that the rates of sexual assault, domestic abuse, depression, and disease are the worst on these reservations and that there is no wonder that this group of marginalized peoples have had the worst of luck ever since Columbus so-called “discovered” this land. So don’t tell me that all they do is waste away their lives. Do. Not. Tell. Me. That. 

3. They have ample opportunity to “make something of themselves.” (think go to college, get a job, etc). I don’t understand how she can say this when this same argument has been used to address the poor and the people of color. I draw significant parallels between all of these people, and I have to point out that if this were the case, then there would be more color in the upper-middle class. Woops. Not so ample, the opportunities are. The low-skill jobs available are pretty shitty, and by no means give anyone enough support to move off the reservation. And if they moved off the reservation, where would they go? Move into another shitty apartment, where the security deposits and insurance sky-rockets because the landlord doesn’t trust “those damn Injuns”? Continually face loopholes in their land contracts so they keep paying for “damages” that they have nothing to do with? Work two jobs so they can afford the rent and the busfare but can’t put away money into a retirement fund, a college fund, a savings account? Where is the opportunity for them to go to college? Who will pay for it? Why would someone want to take out loans to go to college and accumulate so much student debt that both the student and the parent cannot pay off? These problems are disgustingly prevalent for communities of color, but I don’t expect someone who has never had to worry about the color of their skin to understand.

4. They are disrespectful and our government should not be spending so much money to help them. Where is this money, how much is the government really giving them? There is a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), but the fact that there is even a Bureau of Indian Affairs suggests that Indian-Americans are not a totally sovereign group of people. The BIA manages most of the land that is trusted to the tribes, and continues to impose regulations and restrictions on them, like banning traditional ceremonies or restricting fur trade. If the government really cared about the tribes, it would be apparent. But the government is run by white men, and I find it a folly to even entertain the thought that they would care about helping Indian-Americans (or people of color in general). In fact, I’ve found this site particularly useful for more information.

I know I cannot change a lifetime of prejudice with a single argument. But I will continue to try. It is so much easier to blame than to question, but if there is anything I have learned in college, it is to always question the system.  I am no expert on affairs like this; if there is a link you might find useful for me, drop it below.