Ethnography: Native Americans or American Indians - Term Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages For example, Sioux Indians or Dakota Indians in the Native Indian community are interested in fighting with others to establish their supremacy. Dakota is often pronounced as Lakota while talking about Dakota Indians. “Of the 13 Sioux political subdivisions, seven pronounce the word "Lakota," four pronounce it "Dakota," one pronounces it "Nakota," and one is split between pronouncing it "Dakota" and "Nakota." But they all consider themselves part of the same overall culture”(Scott). The major revenue sources of Sioux Indians are hunting and fishing. Ancient Sioux community liked to live in caves and rock shelters.

According to the 1990 census, South Dakota ranked eleventh among all states for the number of Indians represented in its population (50,575, which was 7.3 percent of the South Dakota population, up from 6.5 percent in 1980). Minnesota ranked twelfth with a reported total of 49,909 Indians, or 1.1 percent of its population (up from 0.9 percent in 1980). Montana ranked thirteenth with a reported total of 47,679 Indians, or 6.0 percent of its population (up from 4.7 percent in 1980). North Dakota ranked eighteenth with a reported total of 25,917 Indians, or 4.1 percent of its population (up from 3.1 percent in 1980). Nebraska ranked thirty-fifth with a reported total of 12,410 Indians, or 0.8 percent of its population (up from 0.6 percent in 1980) (Birchfield)

The attitude of Sioux Indians towards outsiders is not so positive. They believe that they hold some specific privileges in this world since they are belonging to a sacred land. Land is considered as the mother for them. They do believe that their sacred lands are looted by others and it is their duty to protect these lands. “Members of the Great Sioux Nation could pocket a large sum set aside by the government for taking the resource-rich Black Hills away from the tribes in 1877. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More