Red power movement–Native American protest, 1971.

How did the World Wars exemplify the warrior tradition of American Indians?

Natives demonstrated an enthusiasm for military service that could be described as patriotism but was actually a warrior tradition based upon defending one’s own homeland. The postwar years after these international conflicts set forth government policies and cultural practices that affected all Native Nations and future generations. There were numerous exploits by Native warriors who volunteered to fight in all services in all theatres of war, some of whom received numerous medals of valor and extensive public recognition. Natives, per capita, volunteered to fight and serve as individuals at a higher rate than other parts of society, and their communities bought war bonds on a greater scale. At the same time, many Native individuals declined to fight as “conscientious objectors,” not for religious but for political reasons.

Are American Indians violent, or is violence perpetrated against American Indians?

This has now become a cultural meme, but it is a truth backed up by facts that American Indians and especially women, suffer violence by partners and strangers more so than any other demographic group. #MMIW becomes a harsh contemporary reality but was first identified in the 1990s. Early studies found that Indians were subjected to arbitrary law enforcement and judgments that would not happen in “normal society,” and many statistical “crimes” were based on alcohol abuse because of cultural breakdown and economic inequality. These factors also drove suicide rates. Native professionals hope that more Indians take up psychiatry and related fields, but Native cultural models of mental health are also being more widely accepted.

Were John Collier and the Indian Reorganization Act good or bad for American Indians?

“Yes and no” would be the proper response, depending on your political or cultural viewpoint. That would change over time as the changes wrought by Roosevelt, Collier, the IRA and the BIA would alter the landscape. Both progressives and traditionalists would benefit from Collier and the IRA, just as was intended. We still argue over “IRA Tribal Councils” but many traditionalist movements would have been overcome by the sheer forces of “Religion, Industry, Progress and Civilization” had not Roosevelt and Collier provided a breathing space and opportunity to gather cultural forces, as was intended.

What is the difference between Progressive and Traditional Indians?

A hundred years ago American Indians were the “Vanishing Race,” but within the 21st century we now have extensive and continuing debates about how Natives can advance as a people. Some say you can act as a traditional and observe ceremonies but still gain an education and adapt to modern society. Others say that our cultural knowledge is corrupted by modern practices and that it is a constant struggle to maintain a personal and tribal identity. All the relevant political organizations that have been formed this past century by Native people are covered here, yet we now face the same contemporary struggles that American society as a whole fights over.

This story was originally published May 21, 2016.