Urban Relocation
The State of Native America in 1950’s Tribes suffered huge levels of unemployment and poverty. In 1950, the average Native American on a reservation earned $950. The average black person earned $2,000, and the average white person earned almost $4,000 The suicide rate on the reservation was high Alcoholism plagued families
Purpose of Relocation Time Period: The Bureau of Indian Affairs encouraged Indians to migrate to urban areas (7 Cities) By 1960, a total of 33,466 Indians had been relocated. Government relocation provided: Job placement Job training (vocational skills) Counseling Transportation Subsistence funds until the first paycheck
Broken Promises Not every relocated Indian found a job, and some only found lower paying jobs. Some became alcoholics and got into trouble with the law
Effects of Relocation More Native Americans live in urban areas today than on reservations inter-tribal marriages created a new generation of Indians who's identity was split between two or more tribes Pow wows were created as a way for diverse tribes to come together to celebrate their Indian heritage Some brought skills learned back to reservations/tribal communities (Ex. Lumbees in Baltimore & Detroit ) Cultural centers emerged
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