Alcoholism in Modern Native American Life

Alcoholism has been a common problem among Native Americans since the beginning of the seventeenth century. The most common belief has this brought on by the loss of their homes and lands and the loss of a part of their culture to the habitation and growing population motions in the United States among Europeans who settled the nation after the native Americans were here. In Arizona one counseling center who offers DUI classes to the local populations, Relcaim U Counseling, suggests that it is hard to determine one precise reason that alcoholism becomes common in a societal group. It is likely a combination of several elements. It is widely thought, when it comes to the Native Americans, that conditions such as hardship, joblessness, loss of ancestral homes, broken pledges and hostility from the white settlers, feelings of despondence, bad overall basic health, and the collapse of the Native American family system were contributing elements. Thinking about these aspects, it is not hard to understand why the Native American population would be distressed.
History of Alcohol Abuse, DUI and Driving
The distinct history of the Native American individuals and the numerous difficulties they have undergone make them more prone to alcoholism and the associated problems that come with the disease and DUI charges. There are hundreds of various tribes, each with its own culture, heritage, and special set of scenarios. Alcoholism abuse rates are much greater among Native Americans than other culturally diverse groups. It is a problem that needs attention.
He was of the Seneca people and was a great warrior in Pontiac’s Disobedience versus the British as well as many other battles consisting of the American Revolutionary War in which he battled versus the Americans. These visions suggested a return to conventional Native American beliefs, while likewise accepting and sharing some aspects of Christian beliefs with the settlers. Handsome Lake taught a return to Native American traditional worth’s while encompassing the truths of living and trading with the white male.
He finally saw through the folly of alcohol and woke up to what it was doing to his individuals, the Seneca and Iroquois and together with other Native American tribes. His visions led him to be called a prophet. He was of honorable descent. He had been a warrior and these new visions helped put him in a location of prominence so that his fellow Native Americans listened to him.
Handsome Lake taught and preached from his visions and his experience, looking for to change the down spiral of the Native American individuals and their cultural from among anguish to among hope and renewal. His mentors ended up being the “brand-new” faith for the Six Countries (tribes of the Iroquois). Handsome Lake also caught the attention of President Jefferson. The President asked his Secretary of War to write a letter of commendation to Handsome Lake for the great he was doing.
Overcoming Alcohol Abuse
Think about for a moment one such aspect that alcohol usage is regularly a matter of discovered behaviors based on community and cultural expectations. Most of us embrace alcohol use, and abuse, as patterns from our household, our neighborhood, and society at big. Who introduced alcohol to Native Americans? Drinking is also a way of attaining some temporary respite from crowded living arrangements that do not allow for any personal privacy.
Naturally, these found out habits might be changed if they weren’t serving a function, which, unfortunately, they do. For instance, in a lot of cases being intoxicated is a readily accepted excuse to diverge from cultural norms – an excuse to act out aggressively rather than sticking to passive conformity, for example. Community members think twice to criticize somebody for getting drunk and acting out this week when they might themselves wish to get drunk and do the exact same next week.
Alcohol likewise assists blot out the anxiety and aggravation that comes from an apparently hopeless future. In many communities, the most capable individuals have left, pursuing educational, employment, and social chances. In addition to individual and community aspects, there are likewise political elements. Management within some Native American entities, like other ethnic or religious entities, is often jealously held by people or families who see promoting alcohol abuse as a way of preserving their positions and avoiding competitors from threatening their power.
The unending problem, obviously, is that alcohol also makes all the problems it “solves” worse. Just supplying temporary repairs which prevent long term services. Depression that encourages alcoholic abuse, while making the depression worse.
It is widely believed, in the case of the Native Americans, that conditions such as poverty, unemployment, loss of ancestral homes, broken pledges and hostility from the white settlers, feelings of hopelessness, poor total basic health, and the collapse of the Native American family unit were contributing factors. Considering these factors, it is not hard to understand why the Native American population would be distressed.
The special history of the Native American peoples and the numerous misfortunes they have been subjected to make them more susceptible to alcoholism and the associated issues that come with the illness. Handsome Lake taught and preached from his visions and his experience, looking for to transform the downward spiral of the Native American people and their cultural from one of anguish to one of hope and renewal. Prospectors, soldiers, whalers, and others whose immoderate alcohol “usage” is now shown in many of today’s Native American’s usage, and these stereotypical patterns continue to be handed down from one generation to the next.
Read MoreHistory of Native Hawaiians
The majority of the current headings about native Americans have actually pertained to a specific D.C. football group, or a surpassingly dumb Adam Sandler motion picture, or gambling establishments of the kind run by the imaginary Ugaya people on “House of Cards.” And we’re not stating these problems do not matter. Beyond the slot makers, the film sets and the football fields, there are other issues dealing with Native neighborhoods– perilous, systemic, life-or-death issues; the kinds of issues it takes votes and years and marches to fix– that aren’t getting almost as much attention.

There are 567 people, consisting of 229 Alaska Native neighborhoods, presently acknowledged by the federal government. The Bureau of Indian Affairs– the main federal firm in charge of relations with native neighborhoods– is likewise thinking about extending federal status to Native Hawaiians.
In addition, the rights of all native individuals, consisting of Native Hawaiians, have actually been verified in a 2007 United Nations statement. While numerous face issues that are particular to their state, federal government, or area, there are specific problems that impact all Native neighborhoods throughout the United States– from Hawaii to Maine, and Alaska to Florida.
Previously this month, Paul Castaway, a psychologically ill Rosebud Sioux tribal resident, was shot and eliminated by Denver authorities. His death resulted in demonstrations in the Denver Native neighborhood, and has actually clarified the stunning rate at which cops eliminate Native Americans– who represent less than 1 percent of the nationwide population, however who comprise almost 2 percent of all authorities killings, according to information assembled by the Centers for Illness.

Control and Avoidance
In states with considerable Native populations, Native Americans are hugely over-represented in the criminal justice system. In South Dakota, for example, Native Americans make up 9 percent of the overall population, however 29 percent of the jail population. The concern of mass imprisonment in Native neighborhoods is made complex by overlapping and unsolved disputes in between tribal, federal and state jurisdictions. If a criminal activity is believed to have actually happened on a Native appointment or within a Native neighborhood, it’s not constantly clear which firm is going to be in charge of prosecution. The overlapping jurisdictions of tribal and federal sovereignty likewise suggest that Indians who devote criminal activities on tribal lands can be penalized two times for the exact same offense: as soon as under federal jurisdiction and once again in tribal court.
In February, constructing off the momentum of Black Lives Matter, the Lakota Peoples’ Law Job launched its “Native Lives Matter” report, which provides an introduction of the injustices dealt with by Native Americans in the criminal justice system. The report, like the voices of Native individuals in basic, has actually been mainly overlooked in the growing nationwide discussion about policing and criminal justice reform. Native neighborhoods are unemployed and typically impoverished.

The nationwide figure misshapes the frequency of hardship on Indian bookings and in Alaska Native neighborhoods, where 22 percent of Native individuals live. In 2012, 3 of the 5 poorest counties in the U.S., and 5 of the leading 10, incorporated Sioux appointments in North and South Dakota.
In 2015, President Barack Obama went to the Standing Rock Sioux on the border of North and South Dakota, where the hardship rate is 43.2 percent– practically 3 times the nationwide average. The joblessness rate on the Standing Rock Booking was over 60 percent since 2014.
The U.S. was constructed on land drawn from Indian countries, and native individuals throughout the nation are still coping with the truth of dispossession. Now, members of the San Carlos Apache Country in Arizona are battling the sale of their spiritual Oak Flat website to foreign mining corporations.
Read MoreIssues Native Americans Face in Modern History
A lot of people might be unaware of the history of the US’s interactions with Native American as the nation believes that there might have been abuses in the past perpetrated against them, but not anymore. It is also though that Native Americans are stuck in self-pitying mode and are exploiting various reasons to live life like a common American. But these both statements are truly false as there are many ways of injustice and this is the true reality of today’s native people, who make history relevant as of today. Although, the policies by the government since list 50 or 60 years are designed to cover numerous laws that protects the rights and life of Native’s (not that many people left in the country). This article covers many past and current injustices against Native Americans and some are really harmful ones.

The Legal Realm
Legally, tribal nations have deep roots and cooperation with the US and approximately 800 treaties have been made, however, out of 800 treaties US refuses to ratify over 400 and out of 400 ratified US violates nearly all of them in extreme ways that have resulted in mass land theft and the subjection of Indians to the foreign power of American law. The best example of their refusal of rights is articulated as early as 1831 which described the relationship of US vs the tribal nations as “ward of the guardians”. There are many more problematic legal justifications in federal Indian law, but the worst of them was definitely the abuse of resources and no power for tribal communities in the United States Congress.
The ownership of land is a myth when you are an Indian and the federal government of United States have full ownership on your land. This anti-trust acts as the most unfaithful and uncandor deal with tribal nations. In addition to the reality of power doctrine, the right of occupancy for Indians are of the same way. Imagine a Native American having no rights as an ordinary citizen and still called an American.
Social Issues
The non-dominance of native natiosn led to social disruptions that still haunt the community in the form of povety, alcohol abuse and health problems. Also, healthcare and basic educational issues. The United States created hundreds of policies on premium healthcare and standard education for the tribal nations, but who is going to make US rectify them? This is the cry and urge of many tribal nations and native people.

Blood Quantum and Identity
How would you feel if an airport guard classifies you by your race and affiliation with the tribal region? Bad right? This is how the Indians feel every single day. Whether you want to get basic education or make use of your American Citizenship, being a Native American you’d feel being an Non-Native.
Intermarriage blood quantum is also lowered and there will come a time when a threshold will be reached where a Native won’t be considered an Indian anymore, despite all connections and paperwork related to the community and culture that have been maintained.
Conclusion

This lack of federal recognition leads to one of the many injustices with Indian done even today. These are the three basic injustices and discriminations with Native Americans and that is why many scholars have termed this as “statistical genocide”. As Martin Luther King once said “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”.
Read MoreGood Government – Is It Possible?
People try to paint pictures that are not exactly accurate about the history of our ancestors and what they did. Why do you think that happens, what is the root cause for this kind of behavior? Doesn’t it generally boil down to Ego and not wanting to admit the realities that are maybe not so pleasant to address? If you look at history of mankind, you will see that their artwork even going back to ancient days does not accurately depict what really happened. It seems to be a basic human trait to try to paint Rosie pictures when indeed what really happened was not even close to be a Rosy picture. We often see depictions of great Kings and leaders after a conquest of another Nation. In these it is often depicted in a way that is not accurate.
Nothing has changed, and this is continuing even down to our present day. It seems that humans want to believe what they want as opposed to what is real. Do you find this to be true? I mean, look at the conditions on the face of the Earth in 2018. Yes, things have improved compared to the history of mankind in many different areas. As a matter of fact, many things are tremendously better than they were in the past. Things like Health Care and those sorts of things. It was not too long ago that governments could not provide much in the way of Health for their citizens. Today that is generally not the case there are facilities that are able to help. Yet, many nations and tribes do not have access to the needed Healthcare even though it exists in their Nation or tribe. Often what happens is the rich or able to take advantage of these facilities while the poor have to die or suffer in greatly substandard conditions. So yes, Healthcare has improved but it is not available to everybody. There is still a Great Divide between those who have and those who have not.
What is the cause of all of this? Does it seem normal that people would treat one another this way? Perhaps it has happened so much that we would say that that is normal. Yet, most people have a conscience I would not like to see other people suffer. Nevertheless, the suffering has continued, and it looks like it will with the current systems of government that we have on this Earth. The bottom line, we need something much better. Do we continue to look at the same sources that we’ve been looking at over the last thousands of years? How many different governments have been tried? Have any been very successful in meeting the true needs of their citizens? If we answer truthfully, we will find that the answer is no. But, what are the true needs of citizens?
Justice Delivered Honestly
It is no secret that many times the rich can circumvent legal issues because they have wealth. Often those without resources of money and skill are the ones that suffer at the hands of those that do have. This is not an uncommon scenario. So, what we need is True Justice on the face of this Earth. It does not seem possible for the typical human to render this Justice honestly and consistently.
How has Religion Affected Mankind?
All religions claim to represent God. Yet almost all religions have sent their members off to war to kill their neighbor. Almost all religions say that God favors their Nation. This does not seem to make sense to most thinking people when they actually reason mom if there is a God why would he favor One Nation over another. The oldest religious book on the face of the Earth, the Bible, gives the most realistic answer as to why this occurs. It explains early on in Genesis chapter 3 that there was a rebellion amongst Spirit creation and the physical creation of man. What was called into question was whether God’s way of ruling is right or not. So God has allowed mankind rule themselves and we see the results over history. But, not only has man ruled themselves they’ve been influenced by Spirit forces unbeknownst to themselves. The indelible stamp of this reality is painted in the pictures of History. It is not a pleasant history in reality. The same book that foretold this to occur also explains that false religion is the major culprit in this reality. True Religion teaches that you love your neighbor like yourself. If everybody followed this fundamental teaching War would stop. But, the truth is most people do not follow this teaching. Most people follow the teachings of their religions and of their countries. These teachings almost invariably teach people to protect their country from aggression not to love their neighbor as yourself. These religions also teach that other religions and ideologies often times must be eradicated. It is no wonder that false religion is the real culprit as to the buyer conditions on the face of this Earth to a large degree.
Will These Conditions Continue?
It is a wonderful message that there is a government that will bring peace to this earth. Most of us in the Western World pray the Lord’s Prayer. This was the model prayer that Jesus Christ himself gave two people asking him how we should pray. Interesting Lee the very first thing that we pray for is the sanctification or Vindication of God’s name. Think about that. God has a name According to Jesus Christ. The next thing we ask for is for his kingdom to come. Think about this, kingdom is an ancient word for government. If indeed what happened in Genesis chapter 3 happened, then what was really question was God’s government or way of ruling. Do you think that God would have a better way for mankind to live compared to the way the government’s and the false religions teach? Since God can create the heavens and the Earth in this vast universe it is easily understood and very obvious that clearly his way is better. So, the good news is he will not allow mankind to ruin this Earth or any wicked Spirit creatures to continue to grossly influence man for their detriment. He has allowed mankind to rule themselves to prove the case that without his way things will not work properly. We are close to the time where he will bring his kingdom and bring the real Paradise conditions back to this earth that he intended for mankind.
Read MoreIs Any Culture Free From Warfare?
The Real History of Men
The history of mankind is full of strife, warfare, bloodshed, and tragedy. It is not hard to see this when you read the pages of history and mostly even biased history books that are published and used in most schools around the world. American history contains the repeated actions that have occurred throughout Mankind’s history and is no stranger to these facts. Sad to say that most countries portray themselves as benevolent and wonderful places for their citizens and for those around them. But the reality paints a different picture in history is the canvas that this proof is written on. It is a matter of historical record what has happened to Native Americans in the United States. It is a travesty to say the least. But it is important to recognize that this is not unique only to the Americas. In the Bible there is a scripture simply stating that man has dominated man to his injury. This is a factual statement of the history of humankind. There is no race that is innocent from shedding blood of its own race or those of others. As a matter of fact there really is only one race on the face of the Earth, the human race.
Prophecies and Realities
So it is fitting that the Bible says man has dominated man to his injury as opposed to singling out one particular culture, race for indigenous people. All people throughout history are guilty of doing these types of things. That does not mean there is not hope in the future or for the future. The same book that so accurately describe Mankind’s history in saying that man has dominated man to his injury also paints a picture of beauty and restored conditions on the face of the Earth that our creator originally intended. The universe is vast, complex and astounding. Does it really seem that it could just occur out of nothing? It is clear upon close inspection that it was indeed designed. So that being the obvious conclusion the best question to ask is why are conditions the way they are? Again the same book, The Bible explains that a rebellion took place early on in human history. And every race, nationality and person on the face of the Earth has been affected since then. This Rebellion will not be allowed to occur indefinitely. That is the good news. Better times are coming for all people who want to live the way God intends them to live.
It is sad to say that not only has man dominated man to his injury but mankind is also destroying our planet and the animals that live upon it. It is almost unbelievable to know that a Buffalo Calf of such rare and unique characteristics as being white was killed. Who just Paints the picture of what mankind can do when their hearts are not aligned with the best way of living. It is a wonderful thing that we all have free will, but the misuse of that Free Will has caused so many problems and suffering it is astounding. But we must be careful in what we choose to believe with our free will. Many people have come and gone saying that they are the great hope of mankind. Yet suffering abounds, children go to bed disease and hungry every night on this Earth. These people have not brought about the changes that mankind needs. It is no doubt that the world needs help.
The Is A Future That is Bright
There is an old Prophecy from the Lakota nation of Native Americans. It states that a white buffalo would be born signaling that time had come for better conditions to occur on the earth. Specifically that there would be a balance among human kind, there be respect and Harmony among people. And, people would have respect for our planet that we live on and not continue to destroy it. That would be wonderful to have these things happen yet they have yet to occur. It is very interesting to say the least that the prophecies in the Bible paint or restoration of peaceful and Paradise like conditions on the face of the Earth. Does it seem possible for our planet to sustain and endure what is being inflicted upon it for the next hundred or 200 years? This is a question we should all ask ourselves and we should really seek answers that are based in reputable sources because we need changes for the better now.
Read MorePueblo Indians of New Mexico
Most American children by the 6th grade know the story of Thanksgiving and how the Indians supposedly helped the pilgrims. Most adults begin to realize that this story is not exactly accurate. The Story Goes that the Indians helped all the colonists at Plymouth Massachusetts after enduring a really harsh winter. Some people call this a Harvest Festival nowadays. Very few Native Americans or Indians care to celebrate this holiday. The holiday only brings back the thoughts of distant relatives who have passed away by the disease that was brought about when Europeans invaded the United States or America and pretty much decimated the Native American or Indian population.
So it’s hard to be festive and happy about this if you know the truth. Very quickly the majority of offshore Indians on islands near Massachusetts had died due to the diseases brought about by the Europeans. Smallpox was one of the greatest killers and the Indians did not have any immunity whatsoever to this disease. To add insult to injury many of the white men and Europeans deliberately infected Native American populations with disease in order to steal the land that they thought only belong to themselves. What a horrible and disgusting history this really is.
Spanish Invasion of Native Americans in New Mexico
For most of the Native American population in the 15th 16th century hospitality was a wonderful value that was greatly taught to the children to increase the social structure quality in place. So it was natural for most of these native peoples to offer Hospitality to strangers when they met them. Incredibly by the time the Europeans made it to New Mexico in the 15th century they found much in the way of hospitality by the Native Americans in the local Pueblo’s. Hernando de Alvarado made it to Northern New Mexico and he found that the Pueblo’s had plenty of food and superb architecture. They also had an army consisting of Indian warriors who are very skilled and a formidable foe for any that cared to try them. The northern Pueblo’s welcome to the visitors and they gave them turquoise jewelry which is local to New Mexico and Arizona. They also played music for the Europeans who were no doubt tired, dirty and hungry by the time they made it there. So, refreshing music would be something of great refreshment, interest and intrigue. Unfortunately it was the Spaniards who first made it to a New Mexico and those Indians living there. Their main purpose was to find gold. They wanted to acquire wealth. As is common in the history of mankind the Spaniards actually tortured many of the men from the northern Pueblo’s after taking them to the Rio Grande River and away from their people.
Pueblo Revolt of 1640 – Unique in Spanish History
So in reality the generosity and good-natured ways of the northern Pueblo’s was not reciprocated by the Spaniards. In fact the Spanish propagated Untold atrocities which would include rape slavery, murder and just about every nasty and bad thing you can think of. If you visit the Acoma Pueblo about 40 miles west of Albuquerque New Mexico he will see that the Spaniards built a Catholic Church right on top of the Sacred burial grounds of the local Acoma Pueblo peoples. This is indicative of how the Spaniards treated local populations in the Americas and how they dominated Indians to their injury.
In a surprise in the year 1640 the Spanish were driven all the way back down to El Paso hundreds of miles to the South. This was the only time the Spanish Imperial Army during its Heyday was bested and ousted by an indigenous peoples. Now this is even more surprising Indians were generally more peaceful than the nomadic type Indians and the horse culture Indians. It just goes to show that when you push me down far enough they can react and they have and they will.
This Pueblo Revolt of 1640 is in reality an incredible turn of events. Unfortunately for the Indians it did not hold and the Spanish did return to eventually pretty much decimate and Conquer and destroy. So is the common history of Indians in the Americas in New Mexico and the Pueblo Indian culture was no exception
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