The Current Statistics of Modern Day Native America
             Native American people make up less than two percent of the entire population, and are economically poorer, experience more unemployment, and are less formally educated than the national average. Indian people are disadvantaged in the development of education, economics, and politics, because of the lack of experience, opportunity, and resources (Tierney 1992). At the beginning of the 20th century the Indian population dropped to a mere 237,000 (Carney 1999). There were many reasons for the massive decrease in population of Indian people in the past such as, genocide, assimilation, government policy and intervention, unfulfilled treaty obligations by the government, and prejudice. Such reasons still account for the majority of the problems that face Indian people now. Although Indian people have increased in population since, these reasons still affect Indian people in the aftermath of Indian survival. Higher education is where many people of many groups understand and k!
             now that in order to advance in society an individual must first obtain a college diploma. Regardless of what type of degree an individual may receive their chances to earn more money, have more benefits, live a safer life, get better schooling, eat healthier etc. increases.
             For Indian people it is worth more than just these advantages, because not only do Indian people have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of education, but have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of their heritage and culture. Since Indian people are the first dwellers of this land and the majority of this society is not, the advantage of Indigenous culture can only truly be understood by Indigenous people. This idea proves that Indian people have the chance to increase their mental capabilities beyond others of the dominant culture. The main objective of Indian retention in higher education is to increas...