Name any issue or cause and there is an organization that raises support for or awareness of it. Especially in the USA there is a huge variety of these groups for anything from minority rights to a certain celebrity's wardrobe. Often the members of a group will come from a similar background as well, such as being Jewish or of Irish ancestry. There is also a huge array of Native American organizations active in America.
The last US census showed that Native Americans are now a small minority in the country that they've been inhabiting for centuries. Most are American Indians but the group also includes tribes indigenous to Hawaii and Alaska. Contrary to popular belief, the majority o not live in reservations but in cities where they may have to deal with various issues because of their ethnicity.
The way in which indigenous Americans have been portrayed by the film industry through the years has led to one of the biggest problems they face today, that of stereotypes. Many non-native people think of them as either the noble and wise old man who speaks in riddles, the fiery warrior with the flowing hair and shrill cry, the silly helper or the violent and hopeless drunk. However, there is much more variety among the descendants of the first Americans. For this reason some groups specifically aim to get rid of these stereotypes and to educate others about their people.
Along with trying to overcome stereotypes is the challenge of overcoming discrimination. There are several groups that fight for the rights of indigenous people. Some focus only on specific tribes while others work for the rights of all Red Nations. Other groups focus on awareness and promotion of cultural identity.
A high percentage of indigenous Americans have fought in the armed forces and now belong to associations for veterans of the same tribal background so that they can support one another. People who work in the same profession also form professional organizations where they can provide support and help to find and develop younger talent. There are, for instance, groups for journalists, writers, lawyers, artists, musicians and rodeo cowboys.
For various reasons, problems like poverty, violence, crime and drug and alcohol abuse are rife among the Native population. Many groups try to address these issues, for instance through the use of college funds or literacy programs that will provide more marketable skills and improve people's socio-economic circumstances. Groups like the Indian Health Service work with specific health issues such as diabetes, which is also prevalent among those of indigenous extraction.
The environment is of concern to everyone, including the Red Nations. An organization like the Indigenous Environmental Network addresses environmental issues that affect everyone. Especially on tribal lands you'll also find grassroots activists who work with a cause particular to that community, such as plans for mining, drilling or developing their land and how these plans will impact on the land.
Searching online is one way to find Native American organizations in the United States. Another is to look in magazines like the Native Peoples Magazine or newspapers like the Navajo Times. With so many groups working for such a variety of causes, you're sure to find one that's just right for you.
The last US census showed that Native Americans are now a small minority in the country that they've been inhabiting for centuries. Most are American Indians but the group also includes tribes indigenous to Hawaii and Alaska. Contrary to popular belief, the majority o not live in reservations but in cities where they may have to deal with various issues because of their ethnicity.
The way in which indigenous Americans have been portrayed by the film industry through the years has led to one of the biggest problems they face today, that of stereotypes. Many non-native people think of them as either the noble and wise old man who speaks in riddles, the fiery warrior with the flowing hair and shrill cry, the silly helper or the violent and hopeless drunk. However, there is much more variety among the descendants of the first Americans. For this reason some groups specifically aim to get rid of these stereotypes and to educate others about their people.
Along with trying to overcome stereotypes is the challenge of overcoming discrimination. There are several groups that fight for the rights of indigenous people. Some focus only on specific tribes while others work for the rights of all Red Nations. Other groups focus on awareness and promotion of cultural identity.
A high percentage of indigenous Americans have fought in the armed forces and now belong to associations for veterans of the same tribal background so that they can support one another. People who work in the same profession also form professional organizations where they can provide support and help to find and develop younger talent. There are, for instance, groups for journalists, writers, lawyers, artists, musicians and rodeo cowboys.
For various reasons, problems like poverty, violence, crime and drug and alcohol abuse are rife among the Native population. Many groups try to address these issues, for instance through the use of college funds or literacy programs that will provide more marketable skills and improve people's socio-economic circumstances. Groups like the Indian Health Service work with specific health issues such as diabetes, which is also prevalent among those of indigenous extraction.
The environment is of concern to everyone, including the Red Nations. An organization like the Indigenous Environmental Network addresses environmental issues that affect everyone. Especially on tribal lands you'll also find grassroots activists who work with a cause particular to that community, such as plans for mining, drilling or developing their land and how these plans will impact on the land.
Searching online is one way to find Native American organizations in the United States. Another is to look in magazines like the Native Peoples Magazine or newspapers like the Navajo Times. With so many groups working for such a variety of causes, you're sure to find one that's just right for you.
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