The relationships between Native Americans and Americans started in a positive way when the two groups began trading resources in the early 1600's. The Native Americans traded for household goods, tools, and traps, while the colonists traded for corn, fur, and other resources. However, the colonists started exploring and expanding the empire into Central and Western North America, and they felt the Native Americans were an interference and issue to their life of exploration and success. This is where the negative side of their relationship begins. The Americans started killing any tribes that got in their way, which led to the destruction of some of the tribes.
When the Americans realized that killing the Natives wouldn't solve their problems, the Americans put the Natives on reservations in an attempt to assimilate them. They believed this was the best way to deal with them. The Natives were forced to forget their cultural background to receive education become American citizens, and this further deteriorated their relationship. Although there were the negative aspects of relationship, some parts of the U.S. and Native American relations prove that Americans just wanted to assist the Native Americans in developing their culture. The Americans were noticed the cultural differences between the two groups and sought to, in the American eyes, "improve" the Indian culture and their education.
Current Relations
http://ag.ca.gov/nativeamerican/ -> " The Office of Native American Affairs will develop and maintain cooperative relationships between California's Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Indian citizens and the Department of Justice (DOJ). " With the support from the government, California is currently helping to improve life for the Native American citizens, whom reside in the rancherias, reservations, and urban communities. Some of the goals that the Office of Native American Affairs has established are to:
Examine the justice-related needs of Indian people of this state and provide technical assistance in the preparation of plans for the alleviation of such needs.
Coordinate mutually beneficial intergovernmental cooperation between tribal governments, DOJ and appropriate federal, state or local agencies.
Consult with tribal representatives on the development of DOJ policies, positions and cooperative programs between tribes and the department.
Act as liaison between DOJ, local law enforcement and tribal law enforcement.
Review and recommend a DOJ legislative agenda that promotes the health, safety and welfare for California's Indian citizens.
Assemble justice-related information and reports needed by tribal and state agencies to work together effectively.
Work for greater understanding and improved relationships between Indians and non-Indians by creating an awareness of the needs of the Indians of California.
The Affordable Care Act, which is improving the quality of health care and making it more accessible and affordable for all Americans, including Native Americans. The law permanently authorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the cornerstone legal authority for the provision of health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The Recovery Act, President Obama provided more than $3 billion to help tribal communities renovate schools on reservations, spur job creation in tribal economies, improve housing and energy efficiency, and support health facilities and policing services.