THE MILITARIZATION OF NATIVE AMERICA - HISTORICAL PROCESS AND CULTURAL PERCEPTION

Native Americans have experienced widespread militarization as the res ult of a number of factors. First, many Native nations militarized in reaction to the weaponry and threats presented by invading Europeans. Secondly, the Europeans and later the Americans used Native Americans as auxiliaries and allies in their wars against other Native nations. Finally, militarization came to several tribes by way of the U.S. poli cy of assimilating American Indians into mainstream American society. Militarization, in short, became a way of legitimizing Native citizens hip. Many Indians, however, look upon their military service in a diff erent way. Native American militarization resembles that of the Nepale se Gurkha veterans of the British Army.