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Indigenous cultural resurgence: How do contemporary Native Americans rebuild community and identity?
In contemporary America, the revival of indigenous culture has undoubtedly become a striking issue. As the late 20th and early 21st centuries approached, more and more Native American communities began to rebuild their cultural identities and confront historical trauma and social inequality. These efforts are not only a cultural return, but also a positive outlook for the future.
Many Aboriginal communities are reasserting their culture and creating new social structures through various forms of community reconstruction.
According to the latest data, there are more than 2.78 million indigenous people in the United States, one-third of whom live in California, Arizona, Oklahoma and other places. Data from 1970 to 2012 showed that 70% of Aboriginal people chose to live in urban environments. This can be traced in part to government forced relocation policies, such as the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, which forced many Native Americans to leave their tribes in search of greater access to health care or social services.
Contemporary Native communities are increasingly active in the U.S. economy and society, establishing their own governments to manage fire protection, natural resources, social programs, and health services. Although many individuals still face issues arising from past historical traumas, the community’s autonomy and self-awareness are growing.
Since 1996, passage of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act has enabled tribes to manage and develop their own housing solutions.
The terminology used by indigenous peoples has also sparked much discussion about identity. Although "Native American" and "American Indian" are often used interchangeably, many Native Americans still consider "Indian" to be not outdated but part of their identity. Such views reflect their strong pursuit of linguistic and cultural autonomy.
However, social discrimination and prejudice remain major issues facing Aboriginal communities. New surveys show that many non-Native Americans know little about the daily lives of Native people. While there is sympathy for the historical injustices suffered by Aboriginal people in the past, there is a lack of adequate understanding of the challenges facing Aboriginal people today.
In terms of indigenous peoples’ racial identity and actual life, many still face unequal treatment and cultural plunder.
In education, many Aboriginal communities are setting up language immersion schools, promoting the learning of Aboriginal languages to counter the dominance of English. The Cherokee Nation, for example, has a language preservation program that aims to make young people fluent in their native language through schools and community events. This is not only a language learning effort, but also a reaffirmation of cultural roots.
The controversy over sports teams using Aboriginal mascots has also sparked widespread discussion. Many Native activists have criticized such practices for reducing Native cultures to stereotypes, and the practice can be compared in some ways to the use of blackface against African Americans. These discussions have prompted some colleges and professional sports teams to phase out such mascots, reflecting a broader cultural sensitivity and respect for indigenous cultures.
Although some colleges and universities and professional sports teams have stopped using controversial mascots, there are still many lower-level schools that continue to do so, which deserves attention.
From an environmental justice perspective, Indigenous communities face challenges over land and health, and some have a history of being troubled by consent for highly polluting projects and nuclear waste storage. While some communities accept irreversible environmental decisions due to economic hardship, this does not reflect the overall picture of their willingness. Such situations not only reveal the tensions between indigenous communities and the outside world, but also highlight the institutional challenges that modern indigenous communities face.
The resurgence of Indigenous communities is not only about recognizing the past, but also about looking toward the future as they rebuild their land, identity and culture. However, how long this revival can last remains an open question. What do you think of all this?
