Book Description

*100 Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America* is by the Native American Journalists Association as part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide has sections on tribes, reservations, sovereignty, treaties, federal offices, casinos, education, language, religion and culture. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism—anywhere it is important to know more about communities. We hope this guide works for individuals who just have questions about the people around them. Questions include: Who is an American Indian? Where did American Indians come from originally? Why are native peoples referred to as Indians? Which is correct: American Indian or Native American? How many American Indians and Natives are there? What are the reasons for rising population? Why does the government refer to most indigenous people in Alaska as Alaska Natives instead of as American Indians? Are Native Hawaiians considered American Indians? What is a tribe? How many tribes are there? Which is the largest tribe? Are Indian tribes and Indian nations the same? What powers do the tribes, as nations, hold? What kind of governments do the tribes run? What is the tribal council? What is a reservation? Why is it called a reservation? Hoe many American Indians live on reservations? How much land do tribes hold? What is Indian Country? What are the living conditions in Indian Country? What is tribal sovereignty? What is sovereign immunity? Do states have jurisdiction over American Indians or their land? Do American Indians have to obey the same laws as non-Indians? Are Indian Americans U.S. citizens? Can American Indians vote? Do Native Americans pay state or federal taxes? What are treaties? What agreements did the treaties contain? Why did European settlers enter into treaties with the tribes? Why did the tribes agree to the treaties? Are Native Americans affected by the Affordable Care Act? Are treaties still valid? Do treaties grant Native Americans special rights today? Are treaties being challenged? What organizations represent tribal interests? What does the Bureau of Indians Affairs do? Do American Indians have the right to hold elective office? Do Native Americans serve in the U.S. armed forces? Who regulates Indian casinos? Do all tribes have casino gambling? Do the tribes pay taxes on their revenues? Are individual tribes getting rich from casinos? How do tribes use gaming revenue? Why are Indian casinos a popular enterprise among the tribes? Do all American Indians favor gaming? What is a tribal school? How many American Indian students attend public schools off the reservation? How many American Indians are high school graduates? What is a tribal college? How do graduation rates for American Indians compare with the general population? Do Native Americans get a free college education? Do American Indians speak their own language? How many American Indian languages are still spoken? Which are the most common languages? Were there written Indian languages? What is being done to preserve American Indian languages? Is there an American Indian religion? How many American Indians identify themselves as Christians? Are Native Americans free to practice their native religion? What is a sweat lodge? What is a vision quest? How does tobacco figure in American Indian religion? What is cultural misappropriation? Why do Native Americans object to the use of Indian symbols, like feathers and face paint, in U.S. sports? Why do American Indians object to the term “redskin” used by the Washington NFL franchise? What is a peace pipe? Why is an eagle feather significant to American Indians? How do American Indians obtain the feathers of a protected bird like the eagle? What is a medicine bundle? What is a powwow? What are teepees? How can a person trace his or her Indian ancestry?