Native+Americans

Behavioral Multicultural Resource Guide

** Native Americans **
I. Cultural Group: Native Americans Overview – Before the Europeans arrived, the American Indian people of the region lived close to nature in a mild, humid climate. It is estimated that more than one million people inhabited the region at the beginning of the sixteenth century. However, today in the United States there are over 560 federally recognized tribes, and over 1.8 million Native Americans.

A. Geography – Strictly speaking of Native Americans in the Southeast, there are 12 tribes. These tribes include: Calusa, Seminole, Timucua, Appalachee, Natchez, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Cherokee, Yamasee, Yuchi and Catawba. The Southeast region stretches from the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi Valley and from Tennessee to the Gulf of Mexico. Tribes closest to the Central Florida region are the Seminoles and Timucuas. The Seminoles fled here because of invasions of Whites and Black slaves. They were forced to leave Florida from 1817-1858 after three wars against the Americans. There were only 300 Seminoles that stayed behind in the Everglades, the others went into exile.

B. History - During the period of Indian Removal beginning in 1817 extensive migration took place through the turn of the century when Southeastern Indians were uprooted from their homelands in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. They were taken west of the Mississippi River in what is now Oklahoma. Southeastern tribes were famous for intermarriage. The Shawnee Chief, Blue Jacket, was an adopted Caucasian. There was even an African American, John Horse, who was a Seminole warrior. Many others were a mix of races and tribes. Nobody cared as long as the culture didn't change and was kept alive.

C. Current Political Status - Native Americans today have a unique relationship with the United States of America because they can be found as members of nations, tribes, or bands of Native Americans who have sovereignty or independence from the government of the United States. Their societies and cultures still flourish amidst a larger immigrated American populace of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and European peoples. Native Americans who were not already U.S. citizens were granted citizenship in 1924 by the Congress of the United States.

D. Current Economic Situation - Today, other than tribes successfully running casinos, many tribes struggle. There are an estimated 2.1 million Native Americans, and they are the most impoverished of all ethnic groups. According to a 2007 survey by the U.S. Small Business Administration, only 1 percent of Native Americans own and operate a business. Native Americans rank at the bottom of nearly every social statistic: highest teen suicide rate of all minorities at 18.5 per 100,000, highest rate of teen pregnancy, highest high school drop out rate at 54%, lowest per capita income, and unemployment rates from 50% to 90%. One of the major barriers for overcoming the economic strife is the lack of entrepreneurial knowledge and experience across Indian reservations.

Work ethic || In traditional Indian life, work is always directed to a specified purpose and is done when it needs to be done. Only that which is actually needed is accumulated through work. || Not completing all work that is expected. || Make sure all work being done has an immediate and authentic purpose. || Orientation || Native Americans prefer listening rather than speaking. || Not paying attention. Not interested. Not focused. || Use inquiry approach, role playing, or simulation to demonstrate they have full understanding. || Orientation || Things happen when they are ready to happen. Time is relatively flexible and generally not structured into compartments. || Unorganized, lazy, lack of time management skills. || Allow for scheduling flexibility that is practical. ||
 * ** Behavior ** || ** Explanation ** || Possible Misunderstanding in Mainstream Culture || Strategy ||
 * Personal Differences || Native Americans traditionally respect the uniqueness and differences among individual people. Expressions of this value include: staying out of others’ affairs and verbalizing personal thoughts or opinions only when asked. Returning this courtesy is expected by many Native Americans as an expression of mutual respect. || There could be the misunderstanding that everything is okay. || Make sure to ask the student for their thoughts and / or opinion. ||
 * Quietness || Quietness or silence is a value that serves many purposes in Indian life. Historically the cultivation of this value contributed to survival. In social situations, when they are angry or uncomfortable, many Indians remain silent. || Being rebellious, not wanting to deal with something, avoidance. || Allow time for the student to reflect and gain the confidence to want to open up. Give them space. Talk with them one-on-one not in front of others. ||
 * Patience || In Native American life, the virtue of patience is based on the belief that all things unfold in time. || Laziness, not understanding, unresponsive || Allow time for student to deliberate and process what is being asked or expected. ||
 * Open
 * Non-verbal
 * Time
 * Practicality || Native Americans tend to be practical minded, preferring concrete or experimental rather than abstract and theoretical. || They are being critical or judgmental. || Stick to practical things and ease into abstract and theoretical ||
 * Caution || The tendency toward caution in unfamiliar personal encounters. || Unfriendly, loner, introverted. || Allow for time to get to know others. ||