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Hello C-D friends! Let's take a moment to think and debate as to which states still retain a strong and visible Native presence. Based on some of the primary contenders (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Alaska, Oklahoma, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Montana, etc.) which state seems to retain its Native American influence above all others. I find this topic to be somewhat interesting as authentic Native American culture and influence on daily life often appears to be rather non-existent for much of the country. So based on your experiences, which states tend to have the most active and influential Native American populations.
There's still a very strong native culture and presence here in Washington (state). I'm not sure about Oregon, but the PNW on the whole retains a strong native presence. This also extends well into the inland part of the region (Northern Idaho, Western Montana), and over the border in British Columbia.
There's still a very strong native culture and presence here in Washington (state). I'm not sure about Oregon, but the PNW on the whole retains a strong native presence. This also extends well into the inland part of the region (Northern Idaho, Western Montana), and over the border in British Columbia.
Very interesting. Indeed there is a noticeable NA presence in parts of eastern Washington and Oregon that often gets overlooked.
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New Mexico and Oklahoma get my vote.
I believe New Mexico just recently surpassed Oklahoma in terms of % of folks who identify as Native American. Second only to Alaska. I know South Dakota is up there percentage-wise as well.
I find this topic to be somewhat interesting as authentic Native American culture and influence on daily life often appears to be rather non-existent for much of the country.
Besides the obvious fact that Native Americans now make up a very small portion of the population and *are* practically non-existent in much of the country, another limiting factor is the fact that most NA communities exist entirely on reservations. In order to experience NA life in most of the country you have to go to them. It's the opposite of many immigrant cultures that still retain strong presences in major cities (Chinese on the west coast, Italians in New Jersey, Irish in Boston, etc.) so people can easily access that culture.
Having traveled widely all over the west I'd have to argue for Oklahoma, South Dakota, or New Mexico as having the strongest NA effect on the state.
edit: And, IMO it's more noticeable in Oklahoma or South Dakota because of the lack of competing cultures. When travelling in New Mexico the old Spanish culture is often more noticeable and distinct than the Native American one.
Very interesting. Indeed there is a noticeable NA presence in parts of eastern Washington and Oregon that often gets overlooked.
Yeah, it's more prominent in central and Eastern WA than it is in the Puget Sound area for sure. It's more muted in and around Seattle, but only because that's the most urbanized part of the state. Still, there's a strong presence on the coast as well. Especially on the Olympic peninsula.
The town I live in is sandwiched between two very large reservations (Spokane reservation and Colville reservation), and immediately to the East there's the Couer D'Alene reservation. I work for the Spokane tribe myself, though I'm not native. Many of my friends here are.
Having lived in Arizona for 8 years, I would say that the presence of natives and native culture is just as strong here in WA as it is down there, though the culture is quite different up here.
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