Current Demographic and Social Trends Among North American Indians

Abstract

The American Indian population has continued to increase at a rate greater than other identifiable populations in the United States. The 1970 census returns indicate that 45 percent of the Indian population resides in urban areas. Indians have moved to urban centers and urban life has moved to Indians since many communities are surrounded by urban and surburban sprawl. The total Indian population has experienced cultural and language loss. At the same time more Indians are being educated up to and beyond the college level. Young Indians with institutional experience, whether in schools or prisons, are becoming either militant or bureau cratic. We infer that the turmoil which has characterized American Indian life since 1950 is a function of Indians' deter mination to maintain their identity and values in the face of overwhelming pressures to change. The future will feature more of the same unless Indians feel free to make their own adjustment.