Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
by centuries of white domination and racism and that African-Americans and Native
Americans were the most frequent victims. Even though the integration of
immigrants and the promotion of people of color continue to progress significantly
today, segregation and discrimination remain a hot topic in the United States.
4.1. Native peoples
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Designed and made by JM Zaninetti, University of Orleans, CEDETE Institute
Figure 4.1.
Indian reservations in the United States
The “native” American group of the population is made up of Inuit, Aleuts,
Hawaiians and Native Americans whose ancestors preceded European settlement on
American soil. Some of these “natives” continue to live on Indian reservations
which are unevenly spread over the territory, and on which they benefit from certain
legal autonomy and special rights, such as the right to run casinos. The policy of
reservations was inaugurated in 1851. There was question at the time of making
Oklahoma an “Indian Territory,” but the state was finally opened for settlement in
1889. Today's reservations were established after the law of 1887 which followed
the Indian wars. There are approximately 300 reservations which span 225,410 km²
in all, or 2.3% of the country's total surface area (see Figure 4.1).
