Natives in America?

Although second class’ subject was the immigration in America, I’d like to write about the first immigrant of this nation: Native Americans.

Due to my lack of knowledge, I used to think that there were not inhabitants in America before Europeans arrived. How wrong I was! I have just learnt that first Americans came from Eurasia via Beringia, a former land bridge which connected America to present-day Europe across what is now Bering Strait. Several ethnic groups and tribes settled in the vast central lands of present-day United States and occupied them for many centuries.

However, European arrival resulted in a huge change in Native tribes: the population decreased dramatically since natives did not have immunity to new diseases brought from the Old World. Besides, many tribes had to cede a great quantity of their territories after bloody, long-term wars; they were forced to settle in specific areas.

Nowadays, most of the Native Americans live in Indian Reservations and possess sovereignty, even though it is limited. On the other hand, there is an important number of native which do not live in reservations but in big western cities such as Phoenix and Los Angeles.

I wonder why these people do not have much presence in American culture, I mean, why they do not appear much in American films or series. Of course I believe there are plenty of studies about Native Americans, but it seems that they are not part of US’ history. Perhaps I am exaggerating…