Why does the US have Native American reservations?

Question

First, to ward off the inevitable hostile replies, let me state that I grew up in Nevada within walking distance of a reservation (Shoshone Tribe) and had several native friends growing up.

Now, on to my point. Throughout human history, peoples have fought and conqoured one another. Those societies never set up reservations for the displaced people. They were simply forced to come into the new society, or die. And natives fought with each other as well, and don't think for a minute one tribe would set up a reservation for a rival tribe it had defeated.

So why do we have reservations? Especially today, at least a hundred years after the fighting has stopped. Even if you believe they were necessary at first, hasn't enough time elapsed that natives should be expected to be part of the general population by now? I think it is unfair to single out native americans for special treatment when all of human history suggests they shouldn't receive it.

Maybe people didn't understand me correctly. I have nothing against natives, and what happened to them was sh*tty. No doubt. I was just making the point that no other civilization has done this before. The Romans didn't set up reservations, neither did the Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, or Hitites. I found it curious that America was different, that is all. I wasn't trying to defend the horrific pillaging that occured, but rather point out a histoical oddity. Oh and to the people who say I need a brain, I happen to have an engineering master's degree from Stanford. So there.

Answer 1

The "reservations" as you call them were first set up by treaties negotiated by the United States (often unfairly) as area where the Native Americans could continue to live under their traditional laws without having to be assimilated.

As they are established by Treaty, they are now permanent parts of the Constitution.

Many are also given the status of "Sovereign Nations," nations within the United States. While they can't conduct foreign policies with the International Community, they can act with a large amount of autonomy in local affairs.

This "Sovereign Nation" status is what allows many tribes to circumvent local laws on such things as "gambling." Florida law prohibits Bingo Parlors, and yet Florida sports some of the nation's biggest Bingo Parlors, situated on "Native Lands" that are exempt from the State law.

Reservations now provide pockets of "culture" which are protected by the Treaties that set them up.

Whether they deserve this special treatment or not is irrelevant - we offered it 100 years ago when we took their land by force.

Answer 2

First, I am half Native American, my mother is Native American. Through my years of growing up and living on the reservation also, I have come to an understanding that reservations are a there to protect arguments & promises made to Native Americans. Also, I believe it helps us to be able live according to traditional beliefs, some might say isloating us from society but most Native Americans might also consider it as keeping us within our own environment. We all know how that discrimination is a disateress weapon and if we want to keep our traditions giving us our own environment isn't to much to ask.

Answer 3

Have you taken a look at the massive stretch of land that was taken over? (And not just the U.S.) This wasn't exactly like other places where people of small countries with similar lifestyles came in and took over. You expect people would just immediately assimilate and lose their whole culture, etc and "go down" easily? I think not.

Special treatment...? Sure, old people freezing to death in little uninsulated shacks, unless they starve first, is special treatment. You'd be appalled if your grandparents were made to live that way. Well I'll tell you what... you go tell the government that you want your own little reservation where you will receive little help, little resources, and are far from things/places/goods/people what could help you to survive.

Answer 4

Having many Oneida Indian friends who live on the reservation, answering this question is easy. After years and years of fighting, not all Indian land was taken away. Several tribal nations were allowed to keep their land as it was deemed un-suitable to the Americans. Over time, deeds and rules were established as we became more civilized and as a result, much like everyone else, the Indians were allowed to keep their land.

I understand your line of thinking when it comes to having them join the general population, but please consider this. Without those reservations and their own tribal governments, nothing separates them from the rest of us when it comes to heritage. Afterall, they were among the first people in this country. It's not like they are Mexican and can go back to Mexico, or they are Italian and can go to Italy to get to their roots. America is the home of the Native American Indian and out of respect, we should leave it alone.

Answer 5

In some cases the reservations are all that is left of Native land. They were robbed of everything that made them Indian. The reservations are what they are and the Indians own that land. That's all they have left thanks to the greed of white men.

Answer 6

Well originally I think that was the original purpose of the Reservation Systen. However, I think it is currently used to build native culture and identy within the tribe. It also allows the tribe to build indian casinos. The reservation is now a gathering place for the native community, most of whom live outside of it. The Reservation is a sacred place and I think they can practice ceramonies there so they can teach the youth what was handed down many generations earlier.

Answer 7

Its a place where natives can be themselves and practice their culture and be around their people not everyone wants to be around white people and marrying them just to make fun of Indians at the end

Answer 8

Wow... you are phenomenally ignorant of the way the U.S. government treated the Native Americans. They violated treaties right and left, issued tomahawks to scalp them when they had a bounty on them (where do you think the expression "red skin" comes from?), forced them to learn English and "white" culture and then put them back on the reservations, were forced to endure decades of poverty and employment that still runs rampant in certain places to this day. "All of human history says they shouldn't receive it (special treatment)?" You need to pick up a history book, because you are on ignorant person. Get a freakin' clue!!!

Answer 9

I would agree with you if you would admit some wrong doing. This is Gods earth and he wanted all mankind to treat each other brotherly, not to fight and conquer land. When you do savage things of that nature and you learn they were wrong, you should do all you can to repent. I am not a highly religious person, but wrong is wrong, WHITE PEOPLE should be proud that they won many bloody wars, but how should there opponents feel? Racism is still the American way, that's why we have those reservations.

Answer 10

I think it's to preserve what bit of culture they have left - their tribal ways. I don't know much about reservations, but I'd imagine that outsiders need permission or something like that before setting foot on one.

Also, the natives benefit from it financially - natural resources and casinos, for example.