Articles

Walking a mile: How Indians and non-Indians think about each other

Public Agenda Alert
August 29, 2007

This new study is one of the most in-depth examinations ever made of the thinking of American Indians and non-Indians about each other. The research, based on 12 focus groups conducted in 2006 and 2007, explores Indians' perceptions of their place in contemporary American society and how non-Indians view American Indians, what they know (or think they know), the generalizations they make and stereotypes they hold, how their perceptions were formed and their interest in learning more.

The research shows how little most Americans know about the diversity of contemporary Indian experience, and points to the need for depictions of Indians outside of casinos and impoverished reservations.

While the Indians interviewed for the research described their sadness about the past and widespread prejudice and discrimination against Indians today, they also talked about their hopes and feelings of success, their pride in the great strides Indians have made economically and their sense that their lives are improving.

The study also points to a number of revelations that call for additional research. For instance, why do non-Indians acknowledge that Indians have been badly mistreated in the past, on the one hand, and yet at the same time resent what they see as "preferential treatment" by the government on the other? The report also notes generally more favorable attitudes toward Indians among Americans living far from concentrations of Indian populations and a somewhat higher prevalence of more negative views among those living closer to Indian reservations.

This study was made possible by a grant from The Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation. While some Indians interviewed for this project prefer to use the term "Native American," the Bureau of Indian Affairs reports that the tribes it represents generally prefer the term "American Indian." Consequently, the latter is used exclusively in the report.

Download the full report and discuss the findings at: http://www.publicagenda.org/WalkingaMile/

Copyright 2007 Public Agenda. More information: www.publicagenda.org.

To make a comment on the Faith And The City weblog, click here.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

For more information, visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.