In case you missed Part One of our interview with Dr. Wildcat (you can see it here), we’ll remind you that a few members of the PTPI staff traveled to Haskell Indian Nations University to get his point of view a number of topics related to the American Indian culture. In case you also missed Dr. Wildcat’s welcome in his native Yuchi language, follow this link to listen!
We hope that this brings a broader scope of understanding to those reading Trail of Tears: the Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle along with PTPI’s Global Book Club.
A subject we wanted to learn more about are the most important issues facing the American Indian population today:
- One issue is non-federally recognized tribes, such as the United Houma Nation near New Orleans. They are suffering from the recent oil spill in the Gulf but they are being compensated as citizens rather than as a nation. (Federally recognized American Indians deal with the United States government on a nation to nation basis. They do not report to city or state level governments.)
- Poverty on reservations is a concern. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, for example, has 70% unemployment.
- Younger Indians would say that a key issue is a lack of identity, or, lack of positive identity. Due to the way United States history is presented, it is difficult to be positive about being an American Indian. Self esteem issues are high and adolescent suicide rates are high.
- Dr. Wildcat commented that “there is a sense of hopelessness. You want young people to have hope for their future.”
We asked Dr. Wildcat about the most common misconceptions related to American Indians of the present:
- There is a tendency to romanticize history and to remember only the most famous Indians.
- “Many Americans have the notion that all the real Indians are gone – they admired the chiefs and tribes of the past. When they see someone like me, they don’t associate me with Indians.”
- Other cultures adapt and are allowed to adapt to the modern world.
- Two thirds of the American Indian population does not live on a reservation.
- The documentary “500 Nations” and the book “Invasion of America” by Francis Jennings are recommended by Dr. Wildcat as excellent sources for seeing American history from the American Indian perspective.