US – NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS America’s Shame

BROKEN PROMISES 1830’s – Indian Removal Act 1850’s – Gold and Silver Development of RR 1860’s – Homestead Act Slaughter of Buffalo

Native Americans React 1862 - Sioux attack on settlements in Minnesota - defeated and moved to Dakotas 1864 – Sand Creek Massacre - US troops opened fire on unarmed Cheyenne and Apache Indians Post Civil War – US troops sent west to subdue natives - paid by plunder

LITTLE BIG HORN - 1876 CUSTER V. SITTING BULL

Battle of Little Big Horn (Custer’s Last Stand) June 25 and 26, 1876, two divergent cultures clashed in a life or death struggle. Four hundred years of struggle between Euro-Americans and Native Americans culminated on this ground. 12 companies of Seventh Cavalry were defeated by Lakota (Sioux), Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors.

Memorial In 1879, the Little Bighorn Battlefield was designated a national cemetery administered by the War Department. In 1881, a memorial was erected on Last Stand Hill, over the mass grave of the Seventh Cavalry soldiers, U.S. Indian Scouts, and other personnel killed in battle. Honored only the U.S. Army's soldiers, with headstones marking where each fell. The fallen Lakota and Cheyenne warriors were removed by their families, and "buried" in the Native American tradition, in teepees or tree-scaffolds nearby in the Little Bighorn Valley.

Memorial In 1991, the U. S. Congress changed the name of the battlefield and ordered the construction of an Indian Memorial.  "Forty Years ago I fought Custer till all were dead. I was then the enemy of the Whitemen. Now I am the friend and brother, living in peace together under the flag of our country." Two Moons, Northern Cheyenne

Indian Memorial, Montana

Defeat of Sioux ended wars WOUNDED KNEE, SD 1890 Ghost Dance ritual of the Sioux, led by Sitting Bull, alarmed military leaders Sitting Bull killed Sioux rounded up and brought to a camp at Wounded Knee Shot fired that began a massacre - 300 unarmed Sioux killed - many were women and children - bodies left frozen on ground Defeat of Sioux ended wars

Dawes Act, 1887 Granted citizenship to any Native American willing to leave tribal lands Also awarded land grants In return, Native American had to give up their culture and become assimilated with American life

RESERVATION LIFE About 22% of our country’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands (2010 U.S. Census). Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as "comparable to Third World,“ The overall percentage of American Indians living below the federal poverty line is 28.2% American Indians living below poverty on the reservations is even greater, reaching 38% to 63%  

RESERVATION LIFE Many American Indians are living in substandard housing. About 40% of on-reservation housing is considered inadequate It is not uncommon for 3 or more generations to live in a two-bedroom home with inadequate plumbing, kitchen facilities, cooling, and heating. Running water, telephones, and electricity are not available or not affordable.  

HEALTH CONCERNS Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians 36% of Natives with heart disease will die before age 65 compared to 15% of Caucasians American Indians are 177% more likely to die from diabetes 500% are more likely to die from tuberculosis 82% are more likely to die from suicide Cancer rates and disparities related to cancer treatment are higher than for other Americans Infant death rates are 60% higher than for Caucasians