Life & English: “Native Americans”

In the United States of America, Native Americans (or American Indian) are people descended from the pre-Columbian indigenous population of North America. They are members of of the over 500 distinct Native American tribes or bands with treaty rights.

Statues in the Museum of Native Americans

Since the end of the 15th century, the migration of Europeans to the Americas has lead to centuries of population, cultural, and agricultural transfer and adjustment between Old and New World societies, a process known as the Columbian exchange. Most Native American groups had historically preserved their histories by oral traditions and artwork, which has resulted in the first written sources on the conflict being authored by Europeans.

The picture in the Museum of Native Americans

Contemporary Native Americans have a unique relationship with the United States. Migration to urban areas continued to grow with 70% of Native Americans living in urban areas in 2012, up from 45% in 1970 and 8% in 1940. Urban areas with significant Native American populations include Minneapolis, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, and Rapid City.

Now, Native Americans have founded independent newspapers and online media, recently including First Nations Experience, the first Native American television channel; established Native American studies programs, tribal schools and universities, museums and language programs…

Quy Minh