Native American civil rights facts for kids
Native American civil rights are the basic rights and freedoms that Native Americans have in the United States. Native Americans are citizens of their own Native nations. They are also citizens of the United States. They received U.S. citizenship in 1924.
Native nations are called "domestic dependent nations" under U.S. law. This means they have their own governments but are still part of the U.S. This can be tricky. Native Americans have rights as U.S. citizens. They also have special rights because of their tribal sovereignty. Sometimes, the rights they have on paper are not fully given to them. Many tribes on Indian reservations have weak economies. They often work hard to get the same rights as other U.S. citizens.
Life Before Europeans Arrived
Before Europeans came, many Native peoples lived in North America and South America. We know a lot about this time from storytelling. Each group of indigenous peoples had different cultures, beginnings, languages, and religions.
Their religions were often connected to the land and nature. They believed in a "Master Spirit." They also believed that the human soul lives forever.
First Meetings: 1500s-1700s
Europeans came to America for many reasons. Some wanted to explore new lands. Others wanted more land, riches, or freedom from their rulers.
In 1585, an American Indian tribe met the explorer Richard Grenville. This happened on the eastern coast of North America. The natives were friendly to Grenville. But when one native took a small silver cup, Grenville burned their village.
In 1607, Captain John Smith started the Jamestown colony. It was in the middle of the Powhatan Confederacy in what is now Virginia. Powhatan, the tribe's leader, hoped for peace. He helped the English colonists when they needed food.
Peace between Europeans and natives did not last. The colonists kept taking more land. The English settled along the east coast. The French settled mostly in what is now Canada. Europeans fought each other and the natives over land. Many wars happened, like the American Indian Wars and the French and Indian War.
Losing Rights: The 1800s
By the 1800s, more European settlers arrived. They forced Native peoples to move westward. The Trail of Tears made several tribes leave their homes. They had to move to Oklahoma.
Many wars were fought because settlers wanted more land. These included the Apache Wars and the Great Sioux War of 1876. The U.S. Army was sent to force natives onto indian reservations. The Battle of Little Bighorn was a famous fight during the Great Sioux War.
As settlers claimed land, natives had to change their way of life. During the 1800s, the U.S. government made many treaties with Native Americans. But they often broke these agreements.
Fighting for Rights: The 1900s
Speaking Out Against Unfairness
By the 1900s, more Native Americans tried to teach others about their cultures. They shared their histories and experiences. Charles Eastman, a Mdewakanton and Wahpeton Sioux doctor, wrote books. He showed that Native traditions were not "savage."
Groups formed to bring attention to Native American civil rights. These groups speak for tribes to the public and to Congress. Sometimes they gather in one place to protest. Other times, they walk to remember past and present unfairness. Some groups include the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the American Indian Movement.
Citizenship, Voting, and Civil Rights
In 1924, Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act. This law gave Native Americans U.S. citizenship. Ten years later, Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act. Its main goal was to stop trying to force Native Americans to change their ways. Instead, it aimed to protect tribal land. It also helped bring back tribal governments and improve their economies.
For the next 20 years, the U.S. government invested in reservations. They improved infrastructure, health care, and education. Over two million acres of land were given back to various tribes.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Some Native Americans could vote before 1965. But most were not allowed or able to vote until then. In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. This law gave every U.S. citizen the right to vote. The Act was improved in 1975. It then helped those who did not speak English well.
Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968
In 1968, the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA) was passed. It was also called the Indian Bill of Rights. The ICRA protects many rights for Native Americans, such as:
- The right to free speech, press, and to gather peacefully.
- Protection from unfair searches of homes.
- The right to a speedy trial if accused of a crime.
- The right to hire an attorney in a criminal case.
- Protection against cruel punishment or very high bail.
- Protection from being tried twice for the same crime.
- The right to a jury trial for serious offenses.
- Equal protection under the law and due process.
Other Important Civil Rights
Religion
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed in 1978. It allowed freedom of religion for Native Americans. There were some rules about using ceremonial items like eagle feathers. But other laws now allow their use for Native American religious practices.
Hunting and Fishing
Native Americans lost much of their land. But the U.S. government eventually allowed them to hunt and fish on reservations and tribal land. This made some other hunters and fishermen upset. In 1988, the U.S. government passed the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This law protects Native lands. It also aims to help Native American communities grow in health and wealth.
Sovereignty
The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871 changed how tribes were seen by the U.S. government. Native American tribes are under the U.S. government. But they also have sovereignty. This means each tribe can govern its people in its own way. As of 2023, there are 574 federally recognized Native American tribes.
Traveling Rights
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the U.S. government tried to control Native Americans' travel. They needed a special pass from the The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to leave reservations. This was because they were not U.S. citizens until 1924. After the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, all Native Americans born in America became U.S. citizens. Now, all American Indians can travel freely.
Interesting Facts About Native American Civil Rights
- One of America's first civil rights leaders was Chief Standing Bear. In 1879, he convinced a federal judge that Native Americans were people. This meant they had the right to sue for their freedom.
- About 50 million people lived in the Americas when Europeans first arrived.
- Around 60,000 Native Americans were forced to move westward during the Trail of Tears.
- This forced moving during the Trail of Tears took about 20 years.
- Alaska has the largest number of Native Americans in the United States.
- Arizona has five of the twelve largest Indian reservations in the U.S. This includes the biggest, the Navajo Nation.
- About 175 Native American languages are spoken in the United States. The Navajo language is spoken by the most people.
- Code talkers used the Navajo language in World War II. They sent secret messages to allied forces.
- The Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians sports teams changed their names. This is because "Redskins" and "Indians" are offensive to many people.
