Encyclopedia of American Indian issues today

As sovereign entities living amid larger societies, Indian reservations -- and the lifestyle of the inhabitants within -- prompt curiosity among outsiders. American Indians also have a sense of community that often creates further separation from surrounding non-Native areas. Not surprisingly, these factors fuel the enigmatic reputation of tribal nations and contribute to the disparate way of life between Indians and their North American neighbors. Despite the fact that 565 federally-recognized tribes exist on the continent of North America, non-Native Americans typically know very little about the modern world of American Indians. In a few instances, the uneasy coexistence of the two cultures has served to create controversy, such as fake Indians fraudulently leveraging ethnicity-based benefits, U.S. officials disposing of nuclear waste near reservations, and sports clubs basing mascots on cultural stereotypes. This survey scrutinizes the historical background, as well as the contemporary issues of American Indian societies as both part of -- and completely separate from -- the world around them.