There can be no denial of the fact that native Indians constitute a very important part of the American society. They carry the essence of their own indigenous culture and practices even to this day in the society. It would truly be an erroneous thing to surmise that they do not evolve their own traditions behind the scenes while living in the urban locales. It is commonly believed that they might have discarded their own culture as they have come to get assimilated in the cities. Another very important aspect about the native urban Indians is that they have excelled in several fields in the present era, and have made a name for themselves so as to gain respect and recognition for their entire community. One can take into consideration the domains of athletics and academics to comprehend the influence of the native urban Indians. Their contributions to the respective fields have earned their community fame and acclaim all over the world in the present era.
For instance, one needs to know about the stalwart literary artist, Sherman Alexie who is surely is one of the very best known native urban Indian writers in the present times. He has written a number of novels and short stories that have brought him acclaim. He had even won the National Book Award for his contribution in the field. Janet Campbell Hale is a famous writer and professor who belong to the community of urban Indians. Her most notable works include the novel The Jailing of Cecelia Capture and Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter. She has won the American Book Award for her creative excellence. Also, Paula Gunn Allen has made a significant contribution to the anthropological understanding of the culture of the Native Indian people of the country. Her seminal work, The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions delves into the paramount role of women in upholding the native culture. She even draws a comparison with the cultural ambiance of the European society to show the difference of role of the women in that culture. Apart from this, Vine Deloria’s works have explored issues like stereotypes and have challenged the accepted ideas about American history. (oedb.org 1)
The native unban Indians have also excelled in the field of sports to bring respect to the entire community in America. Native athletes have played a major role in modern sports. There are personalities like Begay, Thorpe as well as George Johnson who have made a name for themselves. Also, Thomas Yarr or Louis Francis Sockalexis are quite famous in the American society. They have toiled really hard to come to the forefront and gain success in all these years. Apart from these people, another basketball player named SuAnne Big Crow is well-known for his achievements. Their hard work must be respected, while they have come to inspire many other people in the country to embark upon the journey of achieving success in sports. In fact, there are a number of native athletic teams like the Shiprock Cardinals which is a women’s basketball team, and Oorang Indians of NFL who have popularized sports among the people of the native community in America. (King 143-45)
Hence, it would be correct to conclude by saying that the native urban Indians contribute a lot to the holistic betterment of the society and the nation. They should not be stereotyped. Rather, people from other communities should endeavor to understand how the urban Indians follow their own cultural norms and even excel in many fields of work. Native urban Indians only catapult the cultural richness of the country of the United States, and would surely continue to do so with their commendable contribution.
Works Cited
“20 Native American Authors You Need to Read.” Open Education Database. oedb.org,
King, C. Richard, ed. Native Athletes in Sport and Society. Lincoln: University of
Nebraska Press, 2005. Print.
