Segregation and American Indian Reservations

Abstract

Racial residential segregation is a key feature of the social organization of American society, and is also a fundamental cause of racial inequality. The body of literature on racial residential segregation and its effects on African Americans is expansive, and it is growing for other racial/ethnic groups as well. However, missing from the literature are American Indians. American Indian reservations are prime examples of racial residential segregation. This chapter strives to answer key questions: How is the racial residential segregation of American Indians different from that for other racial/ethnic groups? How can American Indian nations address issues on their reservations that result from segregation? What processes drove the segregation of American Indians onto reservations? American Indian nations are in a unique position to address the effects of racial residential segregation in ways that other racial/ethnic groups cannot. That is because American Indian reservations, despite segregation, are a place of healing.