ASSIGNMENT | Select an official Native American group

Select an official Native American group (one on the official federal list). Specifically answer these questions:
1. Where are they located in the U.S. today?
2. Were they forcibly removed from their ancestral lands? How?
3. Do they have a reservation today?
4. What is their legal standing with the U.S. government?
5. How many enrolled members are there in the tribe?
6. How is tribal membership defined?
7. What form of government do they practice? Can both men and women be on the governing body?
8. Do they have an official language other than English or Spanish? Is the language taught in Indian schools.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Native American Group

The Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Nation is one of the three Cherokee tribes that are recognized by the federal government of the United States. The tribe was established in the US in the 20th century and its members include those that relocated southeast as a result of increasing pressure from the Indian Territory and those that were forcibly relocated on “Trail of Tears” (Yarbrough, 2013). The Cherokee Nation members were considered highly civilized, but also rigid in regard to their culture and customs. Some other Cherokees live in Qualla, Western North Carolina, a place fondly referred to as Cherokee reservation (Spring, 2016).

Current Occupation and Population

The tribe is headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and occupies almost fourteen counties and various parts of the southeastern states of the US. The nation consists of villages and towns located along the valleys and mountains (Yarbrough, 2013). There more than 299,860 people registered in the Cherokee Nation, 189,228 of them live in the state of Oklahoma. However, some people have argued that the Cherokee Nation is not the truly original tribe, but only a “successor in interest.”

Cherokee Government The tribe is led by a democratically elected government. The executive branch is headed by a Principal Chief, deputy Chief and the legislative arm is headed by the tribal Council. The council represents the five districts of the Cherokee Nation within the 14 counties. Each district has three representatives with two more councilors…