Some Native Americans avoided reservations through various strategies and circumstances, including:
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Assimilation: Some individuals and groups sought to assimilate into Euro-American society, adopting Western customs, lifestyles, and religions. By doing so, they aimed to evade the restrictions and confinement of reservations.
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Mobility: Certain tribes adapted to the pressures of colonization by remaining nomadic or semi-nomadic, moving through their traditional territories and avoiding government encroachments. This mobility made it harder for authorities to confine them to specific areas.
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Negotiation and Treaty Rights: Some Native American groups negotiated treaties that allowed them to retain certain lands or autonomy. These treaties sometimes provided for reservations, but in other cases, they allowed tribes to remain outside the reservation system.
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Intermarriage: Some Native Americans intermarried with non-Native communities. This can create a blended identity and allow individuals or families to integrate more fully into wider society, thus avoiding the reservation system.
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Legal Challenges: In some instances, Native Americans utilized legal means to challenge their status, asserting their rights in courts and sometimes successfully arguing against being forced onto reservations.
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Living in Urban Areas: As federal policies shifted in the 20th century, many Native Americans moved to urban areas, seeking employment and better opportunities. While some continued to face discrimination and marginalization, urban life provided alternatives to life on reservations.
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Cultural Resilience: Some tribes maintained their cultural practices and cohesion despite outside pressure, allowing them to navigate the challenges posed by European settlers while avoiding reservations.
These strategies exhibited the resilience and adaptability of Native American communities in facing colonial and governmental pressures.
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