Alcoholism

//**Jackie Menard**//

//**Alcoholism**// Alcoholism is a very serious condition that affects many Native American tribes. The Cherokee, Hopi, Chipewyan, Iroquois, Navajo, and Tlingit tribes are just a few tribes that are affected by alcoholism. These tribes all have different reasons for relying heavily on alcohol, yet all were caused by Europeans in some way. Throughout history, European Americans have inflicted cruelty and discrimination toward Native Americans which has led to the increasing alcohol problems among them.

//**Introduction to Native Americans**// In 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was built in America which gave European Americans a __cheap__ and fast way to travel all over America. Many Native Americans worked on the railroads and were taught binge drinking by European Americans. Binge drinking spread to Native Americans and taught them to believe that it was okay for a drunk to be obnoxious and irresponsible. Today, alcohol is related to 12% of all Native American deaths. Approximately 1 in 10 Native American deaths is ultimately caused by alcohol.This is triple the number of the general population's deaths by alcohol.

In 1838 the Cherokee tribe faced one of the saddest events in American history when they were forced to move from their homeland by the American government along the Trail of Tears. Over 4,000 Cherokees died along the way from starvation, hypothermia, and disease. This is one example of the horrible discrimination and treatment towards Native Americans that may have caused __alcohol abuse__ to be so high among Native Americans.
 * //Cherokee//**

In traditional Hopi culture, alcoholic beverages were shunned. However, after many Hopi returned home after fighting in World War II, alcoholic beverages became very popular as a way to cope with the violence and harsh conditions forced upon them by the war. Many Hopi clans died out because of alcoholism among them.
 * //Hopi//**

For many years, alcohol was a Chipewyan tradition and was involved in rituals and everyday life. However, after European Americans pushed their language, religion, and __education__ system onto Chipewyan tribes, many drank because of the loss of their customs and identity. Many felt that they were no longer Chipewyan, as they had once been, and also would never truly be European. These Chipewyan drank because they lost their sense of identity and life became meaningless to them. By the 1980s, alcohol had caused lots of violence and death to many Chipewyan people.
 * //Chipewyan//**

Alcoholism became a problem to the Navajo people in the 1930s when Mexicans began selling to the Navajo. Also, in the 1930s many drank because the American government took over Navajo land and livestock. They also forced many Navajo children to go to boarding __schools__ where they were taught "proper" European American language and religion and were punished for speaking Navajo. These events caused many Navajo to begin abusing alcohol.
 * //Navajo//**

In the early 1800s Tlingit traditions began to change when the trade of intoxicants became increasingly popular. Women and men also began to __work__ for whites as trappers, fisherman and laborers. Whites forced many harsh __working__ conditions to the Tlingit people. As a result, many Tlingit people turned to alcohol as a way to escape the intense pressures forced upon them.
 * //Tlingit//**

These Native American tribes are just a few of the many tribes that have been affected by alcohol. Alcohol became a very drastic problem among Native Americans in the late 1900s. However today many tribes recognize alcoholism as a problem and have taken __steps__ to reduce alcoholism among themselves. Many support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous have also helped to reduce this problem.
 * //Conclusion//**


 * //References//**

Oswalt, Wendell H. //This Land Was Theirs: A __Study__ of Native North Americans.// New York: Oxford __University__ Press, 2009.

"American Indians and Alcoholism". //Pajolek Honors//. Retrieved 28 April 2011 from //.//

//"1 in 10 Native American Deaths Alcohol Related".// MSNBC.// 28 August 2008. .