All of these current challenges—lack of educational opportunity, physical and mental health disparities, the intense impact of historical trauma, lack of economic independence—are part of the great tragedy facing Native Americans: the loss of Native American culture and identity. The traditional ways of life, the tribal languages, the songs and dances, the wisdom of elders, and the strong values that once animated Native cultures have in many cases been threatened or extinguished. Even for tribes who have managed to recover or maintain a strong sense of their cultural heritage, there is still the present difficulty of understanding how tribal identity can coexist with the modern, Western culture which opposes it in so many ways. Part of the challenge is that Native Americans are a diverse and scattered race of people. There are currently 6.7 million Native Americans living in the United States. However, only 22% of Native Americans live on reservations. The rest are scattered across the country. For people of Native American descent who live off reservations, the challenge is to see what their Native American identity and ancestry means for their lives. In many cases, people of Native American descent are full of a longing to know more about their ancestors and to reconnect with a tribe or culture they have lost. Many young Native Americans, like Starr Chief Eagle, are keeping their culture alive and sharing it with the world. Starr practices hoop dancing, art, language, history, and song to keep her native Lakota tradition alive by performing for visitors at schools, reservations, and national parks. Starr and others like her are fighting these challenges and bringing energy and hope to their people. Dennis Metcalf of the Hunkpati Oyate tribe is turning trauma and difficulties into healing through art.CHAPTER 7
How Native American Youth Overcome Challenges with Hope
