American Aboriginal Peoples

A distinct difference exists in the United States between its aboriginal peoples and its ethnic and racial minorities in terms of land issues. Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Hawaiian Natives were the original inhabitants of the United States. The identities of aboriginal peoples are closely linked to the land based on traditions that span generations. Many of these native peoples have not assimilated into mainstream white society. In contrast, the assimilation process is well advanced for most non-aboriginal racial and ethnic minorities.

Although many racial and ethnic minorities retain vestiges of their cultural pasts, most pursue a common identity in the American melting pot. Richard Rodriguez (1989) describes his transformation from clinging to the traditions of his Mexican immigrant parents to become an American writer. According to Rodriguez (1989) his is a "conventional story" in a country where "one stops being German, stops being Chinese" (p. 4-5). In some respects, Rodriguez's experience is typical of first generation Americans with foreign-born parents, yet distinctly Hispanic. Rodriguez (1989) describes his initial fear of gringos and the attraction that ethnic separatism once held for him. It is popular for modern Hispanics to assert their cultural identities and to reject assimilation. In contrast, the term "model minority" is synonymous with Asian-Americans, a group which has traditionally sought to demonstrate its loyalty to mainstream so

Related Essays

Alcohol Abuse Policy .... no treaty of any sort with the aboriginal peoples of the continent, unlike the treaties that govern the relationship between Native-American populations and .... (2068 8 )

Alcohol Consumption and Abuse .... no treaty of any sort with the aboriginal peoples of the continent, unlike the treaties that govern the relationship between Native-American populations and .... (2228 9 )

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Native Americans .... has no treaty of any sort with the aboriginal peoples of the continent, unlike the treaties governing the relationship between Native-American populations and .... (2309 9 )

Aboriginal Groups & Canadian Government .... route in negotiations with the country's aboriginal peoples. .... Jhappan, R. "Aboriginal Self-Government." Canadian .... and Euro-Canadians." American Ethnologist 21 .... (2636 11 )

Multiculturalism in Canada .... American peoples as the Inuit, the fact of the matter is that Canadian multiculturalism today embraces not only French and English Canadians and aboriginal .... (1663 7 )

Islands they encountered a native population with a sophisticated culture and form of government. The government was unified under King Kamehameha I. The invasion of foreign interests began plaguing the Islands soon after the King's assumption of power. Commercial traders, missionaries, and finally white settlers arrived in droves. by 1890, foreigners owned one-quarter of Hawaii's acreage and leased approximately three-quarters of a million acres (Getches, 1985, p. 321). The foreigners exerted considerable influence over the Hawaiian government. In 1893, the monarchy was overthrown and a provisional government installed. Americans wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation, as evidenced by the remarks of the United States minister to Hawaii: "The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it" (p. 324). Hawaii was annexed to the United States shortly thereafter. Annexation subsequently deprived the Hawaiian Natives of their land base and their right to self-determination. The 20th century has witnessed sincere efforts by the federal government to redress the injustices of past land tenure policy concerning its aboriginal population. Much progress has been made i

Category: History - A