Issue Brief on Native Americans and Discrimination
Julie Ugoretz
April 22, 2015
Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary American Politics
Key Words
Historical trauma, perceived discrimination, mascots, employment and education
Summary
While many forms of institutionalized discrimination of Native Americans have ended, there is
still a powerful legacy of past discrimination and trauma. This manifests itself in levels of
perceived discrimination, crime and substance abuse, and the depiction of Native Americans in
the media as mascots.
Key Points
1. Historical trauma is the legacy of the treatment of Native Americans
2. This historical trauma contributes to feelings of perceived discrimination
3. Many Native Americans have mixed identities, but single-race Native Americans remain
the most disadvantaged.
4. Perceived discrimination affects Native American communities throughout many
structures, like education and employment.
5. The continued use of stereotypical Native American images in mascots for sports teams
is another form of modern discrimination that Native Americans face.
6. Perceived discrimination contributes to crime rates and alcohol abuse, which are high
within the Native American community.
Issue Brief
The topic of the discrimination of Native Americans is largely rooted in the historical
trauma of colonization. The legacy of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the creation of
reservations, forced assimilation, and death from disease is still very much a part of the modern
Native American consciousness. While specific legal discrimination against Native Americans
has largely ended and individuals may not still harbor negative feelings for Native Americans,
the legacy of this treatment remains. The term “historical trauma” was conceptualized Dr. Maria
Yellowhorse Brave Heart to refer to this condition. The past treatment of Native Americans must
be the context of all of our discussions on the state of Native Americans today,
Another important distinction that adds context is the high percentage of mixed race
Native Americans, as well as the complexities of Native Americans who live in urban areas, and
those that live on reservations. Many Native Americans are of mixed nations and there are
varying degrees of tribal affiliation in the population. It is clear that one group, however, is the
most disadvantaged. According to Huyser, Sakamoto and Takei, the most disadvantaged group
tends to be Single-Race Native Americans. They have the lowest levels of schooling as well as
lower earnings relative to other races with similar socioeconomic statuses. We must be careful to
distinguish and contextualize when we talk about Native Americans and their social standing
because so many Native Americans have mixed identities.
Despite these nuances, Native Americans are a highly disadvantaged group. While there
have been movements and protests, specifically by the American Indian Movement, Native
Americans still remain marginalized. Native Americans are unemployed at ten times the national
rate, four times poorer than that national rate, and suffer from high death rates due to
Tuberculosis, Alcoholism, suicide and Methamphetamine addiction (Rennison 2001). These
statistics, while upsetting and saddening, are not evidence of discrimination of itself. They are
rather indicators of the historical trauma felt by Native Americans and its harmful affects.
Another important term to define is “perceived discrimination,” which is very different
from overt discrimination. According to research conducted by Rist and Permee, teachers on the
Wind River Reservation harbored negative stereotypes towards Native Americans, but these
attitudes did not effect the treatment of the students’ academic work. This is still an example
ofteachers with harmful and racist opinions towards their students, though it was not found that
the Native American were overtly discriminated against because of these opinions. These
attitudes could have added to the perceived discrimination by Native American students. Though
the opinions of teachers may have not influenced their academic standing, the students may
believe that they did. In turn, this perceived discrimination leads to further disenfranchisement
among Native Americans.
Perceived discrimination also plays a role in employment of Native Americans, as shown
by Chadwick and Bahr, “As accounts of employment discrimination spread through a minority
community, such information, whether accurate or not, becomes an important factor in the
decision to seek employment. One who anticipates being the object of discrimination may avoid
a possible employment opportunity.” (Chadwick & Bahr, 1978, p.360). They go on to state that
if rumors of perceived discrimination continue, the community may feel overall suspicion.
Chadwick and Bahr make the argument that both perceived and overt discrimination factor into
the choices of Native Americans. Perceived discrimination can have a large impact on the
involvement of Native Americans in national politics and the economy.
Along with low education levels and high levels of unemployment, Native Americans
also struggle with substance abuse. The research of Whitbeck found that there is a strong
association between the level of an individual’s perceived discrimination and substance abuse.
However, it is written that the full nature of this relationship in unclear. The effect of this may be
internalizing symptoms like depression, or external behaviors like crime and substance abuse
(Whitbeck, Hoyt, McMorris, Chen, & Stubben, 2001, p. 407).
Moving away from perceived discrimination in schooling and the work place, and its
effect on substance abuse, there have also been many different debates about discrimination
against Native Americans in popular culture. For example, we can examine the debate about
sports teams that use Native Americans as mascots, such as the Atlanta Braves or the
Washington Red Skins, along with many others. There have been numerous protests against
these teams, and yet they are often defended by individuals who believe the portrayal shows
culture of Native Americans and labels them as “brave” and “honorable” (Gonzalez, 2005, p.17).
However, there are very major arguments against the use of these images. These images
contribute to the “othering” of Native Americans in our society. Mascots that use images of
Native Americans perpetuate the stereoptype of the "bloodthirsty savage" who exhibits wild,
aggressive, and violent traits is perpetuated by the use of Native’s as mascots (Gonzalez, 2005,
p.17). The existence of these debates today show us that Native Americans are still labeled as
“other” in contemporary American society. Popular culture, historical trauma and perceived
discrimination contribute to the continued oppression of Native Americans.
Relevant Images
Native Americans protest in April 2013 outside a sports arena in Denver against the mascot of
the visiting team, the Washington Redskins.
Media, Confrontational. ChangeTheMascot. N.p., 2013. Flickr. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Native Americans experience high rates of alcohol abuse, death from disease, and unemployment.
General References and Relevant Websites
http://www.changethemascot.org/
http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/native.html
http://mic.com/articles/101804/this-is-what-modern-day-discrimination-against-nativeamericans-looks-like
Works Cited
Byers, L. G. (2005). Depression, discrimination, trauma, and American Indian ethnic identity
(Ph.D.). Washington University, Ann Arbor. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations &
Theses Global. (305425791)
Chadwick, B. A., & Bahr, H. M. (1978). Factors Associated with Unemployment among
American Indians in the Pacific Northwest. Phylon (1960-), 39(4), 356–368.
doi:10.2307/274901
Chadwick, B. A., Bahr, H. M., & Stauss, J. (1977). Indian Education in the City: Correlates of
Academic Performance. The Journal of Educational Research, 70(3), 135–141.
doi:10.2307/27536980
Gonzalez, J. (2005). In-group/out-group dynamics of Native American mascot endorsement
(Ph.D.). The University of North Dakota, Ann Arbor. Retrieved from ProQuest Central;
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global; ProQuest Psychology Journals. (305422966)
Huyser, K. R., Sakamoto, A., & Takei, I. (2010). The Persistence of Racial Disadvantage: The
Socioeconomic Attainments of Single-Race and Multi-Race Native Americans. Population
Research and Policy Review, 29(4), 541–568. doi:10.2307/40835550
Whitbeck, L. B., Hoyt, D. R., McMorris, B. J., Chen, X., & Stubben, J. D. (2001). Perceived
Discrimination and Early Substance Abuse among American Indian Children. Journal of
Health and Social Behavior, 42(4), 405–424. doi:10.2307/309018