Jon, Reyher. “Cultural Survival vs. Forced Assimilation: the Renewed War on Diversity.” Cultural Survival, 1 June 2001, www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/cultural-survival-vs-forced-assimilation-renewed-war.

In the article, “Cultural Survival vs. Forced Assimilation: the renewed war on diversity,” the author focuses on the significant historical events that lead to language loss in more than half of the original indigenous languages throughout the country. The idea that English is the primary language in America was first instituted in the U.S Constitution, and essentially limited the legal use of other languages. However, the Native American Languages Act of 1990, established, “the right of Native Americans to express themselves through the use of Native American Language shall not be restricted in any public proceedings, including publicly-supported education programs,” (Reyher). This Act allowed support in future precedings that oppose language preservation, such as Proposition 203 and 227. In addition, the author notes the importance of understanding the government's attempt of suppression of minority languages that have violated our constitutional right of freedom, liberty, and free speech. Concluding that adhering to these principles established in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and United Nations Charter is essential to the preservation of Native sovereignty.

Lucero, Nancy M. “‘It's Not about Place, It's about What's inside’: American Indian Women Negotiating Cultural Connectedness and Identity in Urban Spaces.” Women's Studies International Forum, Pergamon, 1 Dec. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027753951300188X.

Found in the article, Nancy Lucero focuses on how Native women in urban areas stay connected to their traditional ways in the modern world. She first gives a brief history of the large-scale urbanization of Native people in large cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles. She also takes a look at the common misconceptions and stereotypes seen with Urban Natives in both ‘Indian country’ and mainstream America. She notes that “A common identity discourse that appears to have accompanied Relocation and increasing urbanization is one that stresses that living in an urban area inherently affects cultural identity in a negative way,” (Lucero). Furthermore, she continues her research by conducting a study to understand how multigenerational women create cultural identity and connection while living in urban areas. As a result of her study, she was able to conclude that cultural identity and cultural connectedness were two distinct phenomena. She found that these women actively resist assimilation into the dominant culture while simultaneously engaging in the non-Indian way. This balance allows for these women to strengthen cultural identity and becoming more aware of the elements found in each ‘culture’. By establishing connections to traditional communities by language, traditions, and gatherings in suburban areas is a key way for Women to remain resilient and understand their cultural identity.

Urban Indian Health Commission.“Appendix A: A History of Broken Promises.” Invisible Tribes: Urban Indians and Their Health in a Changing World, Urban Indian Health Commission, 2007, pp. 24–28.

In the subsection, “A history of Broken Promises,” it gives a brief overview of the history of American Indian Urbanization. It gives explanations of how Natives, for decades, have been forced out of their traditional homeland. This was first seen with the American Removal Act of 1830 which, “the government began forcing many Indians to move off their lands to designated areas called reservations,” (Health Commision). As a result of the first reservations, the impact affected Indian ownership overland which caused an extreme economic hardship, thus encouraging Natives to search for work in the nearby non-indian towns. In addition the assimilation continued with the, “government sponsored mission, boarding and trade schools where officials expected they would be assimilated into mainstream culture,” (Health Commision). From the years of unjust treatment in the assimilation of Natives, the focus on providing health care became vitally important. As we see currently, the Indian Health Services (IHS) have seen a significant decrease in yearly budget and the governments push to demolish this organization. The mainstream care couldn’t be able to provide adequate care to the urban native population, which is needed as these Natives struggle with poor health and lack of income.

Porter, Libby. “Indigenous Communities Are Reworking Urban Planning, but Planners Need to Accept Their History.” The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2020, theconversation.com/indigenous-communities-are-reworking-urban-planning-but-planners-need-to-accept-their-history-92351.

In the article about modern urban planning for indigenous people, the author explains the demand for representation of Indigenous communities in Australia as they fight for their land and culture. Porter expresses that, “Nearly 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia live in urban areas but cities often exclude and marginalize them.” The need for representation in their urban communities is needed, as many of them feel out of place and misrepresented. In addition, “Their rights and interests remain largely invisible in urban history, policy, and planning practices,” (Porter). This treatment was controlled through the settlement and reservations of these indigenous people, losing the connection to their traditions. The transition for urban land justice is key for the success in their cultural revival, with the incorporation of strong native individuals who express these concerns. Establishing new policies that, “requires teachers and students to engage more deeply with the histories theories and ethics of the professions and to define what the problems are and what values matter.” (Porter). These efforts are seen throughout Australia in an attempt to have urban native voices heard and understood.

Neale, Katherine. “Feeling 'At Home': Re-Evaluating Indigenous Identity-Making In Canadian Cities.” 10 Jan. 2018.

In the article by Katherine Neale, she gathered information on the efforts to develop an identity for urban indigenous people in Canada. She introduces that more than half of the indigenous population resigns in urban Canadian cities and the growing dilemma of the lack of connection for the urban native to their homeland and traditions. Also, she gives background history similar to the United States with forced removal onto reservations, “As cities expanded, the Crown Implemented the 1876 Indian Act which sanctioned the forced relocation of First Nations communities to remote plots of land, often located great distanced from urban centers.” (Neale). From here the idea of urbanization was the same as Natives searched for jobs and better opportunities. As a result of this, assimilation into mainstream society has resulted in a lack of resources in the urban areas, causing these individuals to feel as they do not ‘belong’. Neale also explains that “sociologists problematized urban indigenous experience, emphasizing issues of substance abuse, crime, and homelessness as chronic to the urban ‘culture of poverty’”. With these common misconceptions, the need for aid and resources has been dier in the urban areas. Along with the Natives who desire the connection to their communities, “interviews demonstrate how indigenous peoples who feel ‘placeless’ in the city often seek out diverse ways, such as language revitalization and tracing ancestral lineage, to create social linkage that bridge the ‘urban’ and ‘rural,’” (Neale). To concluded her research, Neale introducing some of the programs that are being implemented and developed as a way to combat this, “Sustained in part by private funding and federal grants, urban indigenous-run organizations such as Friendship Centres, employment and healthcare facilities, and other community centers become a key resource for urban dwellers.” (Neale). All of which contribute to the overall need for development and programs as a way to aid urban indigenous people in Canada as a way to preserve the culture and traditions.