Native American Indians and their Rights

American original inhabitants are called indigenous or aboriginal peoples. Only colonial thinking names them after a mistake made by Christopher Columbus. American Indians are an important part of that story but have faced a prolonged battle to gain the franchise. One of the most important tools wielded by advocates of minority voting rights has been the Voting Rights Act. American Indians are also a racial group who sometimes face discrimination the same as African Americans do. In fact, before the civil rights laws were enacted, in some states you could find three separate drinking fountains labeled “whites,” “Colored” and “Indian.”.There were also three sections in some movie theaters.

American Indians are those peoples who were on the North American continent before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. There were hundreds of different tribes native to both North and South America. Americans are the descendents of migrants just like everyone else.

Tribal governments were recognized as legitimate representative bodies of the Indian nations. All white settlers, except those with diplomatic credentials or official business with the tribes, were banned from entering the Indian country. Tribal groups that begin Native language instruction at an early age will be more successful than tribes that concentrate on teaching older students (Greymorning, 1997; 1999). Children taking language and culture classes benefit by gaining stronger identities, and knowledge and appreciation of their heritage. Tribal museums opened, and the United Nations recognized an international indigenous rights movement. AIM continued fighting for Indian rights in land and grazing rights battles; protesting athletic team Indian mascots; and working for the repatriation of sacred objects taken from Indian land.

Tribal governments and State and local governments may also have laws or procedures protecting civil rights.