Ethnocentrism can be seen most clearly in the policies of the late 1800s. Specifically, we can see it in the boarding school system where Native Americans were prohibited from speaking their own language or wear your hair in a traditional way. The plan of US policy from the beginning has always been to exterminate native populations and take over their lands. Those that were not exterminated, attempts were made to exterminate cultures such as language and religion. They were often brutally successful (Dawes-Severalty Act). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe Dawes Differentty Act (1887), gave Native American tribes ward status of the United States government by prohibiting the making of other treaties between the United States and the tribes or tribal nations. This public policy presupposed the ethnocentric position of tribal inferiority compared to the superiority of the dominant group. While we view positive aspects of American policy such as the Indian Reorganization Act and other similar decisions, we must not be blind to the ways in which indigenous peoples have been marginalized and systematically sidelined over a long historical period. Even though Native Americans now have their own reservations, this certainly did not allow them to become more respected by some part of mainstream society. This is an ongoing problem, because there is no doubt that Native American lands were taken from them by the United States government, and there is no practical or legal way to avoid such a crime. The real question now is whether Native tribes deserve more federal compensation for those lands and, based on existing reservations, what rights and authorities Native Americans living there have over non-Natives. When Americans were colonized, land was taken away from the natives. and were systematically massacred, enslaved, or “civilized” by their new neighbors. When we felt guilty, we gave them land in reserves and forced them to stay there. They can leave, but what opportunities are there for them? That being said, I feel that Native Americans have begun to take back their independence and opportunities may increase to some extent. In the early 21st century, Native American communities remain a fixture in the landscape of the United States, in the American economy, and in Native American life. Communities have consistently formed governments that administer services such as firefighting, natural resource management, and law enforcement. Most Native American communities have established court systems to adjudicate matters relating to local ordinances, and most also turn to various forms of moral and social authority vested in traditional affiliations within the community. There are 563 federally recognized tribal governments in the United States. The United States recognizes the right of these tribes to self-government and supports their tribal independence and self-determination. These tribes possess the right to form their own government; enforce the laws, both civil and criminal; tax; establish membership; authorize and regulate activities; to the area; and to exclude people from tribal lands. Limitations on tribal powers of self-government include the same limitations that apply to states; for example, neither tribes nor states have the power to wage war, engage in foreign relations, or mint money. I think it's difficult to draw conclusions on a topic like this, because there are huge economic and situational disparities between, for example, the Sioux of the Pine Ridge Reservation,.”.