Total population | |
---|---|
American Indian and Alaska Native One race: 2.5 million[1] In combination with one or more other races: 1.6 million[2] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
United States (predominantly the Midwest and West) | |
Languages | |
Mainly American English, Spanish, and Native American languages | |
Religion | |
Native American Church Protestantism Sacred Pipe Kiva Religion Long House Roman Catholicism Russian Orthodox | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Other Indigenous peoples of the Americas |
Native Americans in the United States (also known as American Indians)[3] are the indigenous people from the areas of North America now part of the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. The US government recognizes 574 tribes.[4] There are about 310 Indian reservations in the US. Most Native Americans do not live on a reservation anymore.[5]
There were and still are many diverse groups of Natives in what is now the US. The diversity includes various and rich languages and cultures. The arrival of Europeans in the Americas drastically changed Native Americans in the US. The history of these Native Americans is a story of suppression and the forced removal from their lands. During American history, there were various Native responses to European colonization and American expansion.[6] In the 20th century, Natives got more rights and were recognized as citizens.
There are still problems today that impact Native Americans in the United States. Natives Americans face discrimination from other groups. There is also racism and cultural appropriation. There are also public health issues connected to historical trauma and generations of misstreatment.