Reformers disdained native cultures. Taking samples of things said by different reformers both historical as well as modern.
Christians / Catholics: "Heathen religions" - "Kill the Indian to save the child" - "Their ceremonies must be banned, their dances forbidden, the whole of their culture must be stamped out in order to bring them to God" [sic]. Reformers then setup schools and got laws passed that forced native children into American [christian & catholic] schools where they were beaten, tortured, forced to wear American clothes, forbidden to speak native languages, forced to worship 'christian gods', imprisoned if they attempted to run away, raped (both male and female), and often never sent home to their families. American's claim this was discontinued in 1965, but I have seen it happen as recently as 2007.
US Government: "They are children and we must take their lands and money into trust for their own benefit" - "They stand as guardians of the treasure vaults of this land"
Society: "The only good Indian is a dead Indian" (The only good Injun is a dead Injun) - "Indian Givers" (Derogatory claim, term) - "Prairie N*ggers." Every white family (per se) has a story about how someone in their family was raped, murdered, and or scalped by an Indian at some point.
Modern Society: (These things still exist and can be found):
- "No Indians Allowed" (restaurants, bars, hotels) throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, North and South Dakota.
- Laws; "Indians are prohibited from playing cards in public" - "Indians may not be on Main Street, on any Sunday" - "Indians are prohibited from the City Limits."
- Police arrest Indians for driving with Indian Nation plates or drivers licenses in: Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. In these states they seize the vehicle and force them to pay to get it back, and refuse to release it if they have seized it more than once.
- Homeland Security, Airports, Embarkation points, FBI & Boarder Patrol will not allow an Indian to cross the border with Indian Nation issued ID & the US State department will not issue a passport to an Indian who is not a BIA registered tribe. In all of these cases they are arrested and or held (some tribal members are 'deported' (back to the US??))
- Airlines, Trains, Bus lines will not allow an Indian to embark with Indian Nation issued ID - must have a United States Identification (please note that no US Indian ID exists).
- Banks will not allow an Indian to open an account without a US Issued ID (which does not exist) & SSN - (Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America)
- Sports teams continue to use "mascots" of Indians, such use is derogatory.
- Indians cannot buy, or own cars in some states (Texas, Nevada, Missouri)
- Indians cannot get some services (Cable, Phone, etc) because they are not issued Social Security Numbers (SS Numbers are for US Citizens only), and companies will not provide services without them.
- Wal-Mart refuses to recognize Indians or issued tax exemptions for them.
- Some Counties refuse to allow Indians to live there; Wise County Texas (Letter from Wise County Sheriff to tribal members "...go back to your homelands, where ever that maybe.")
Note: Some terms used herein are derogatory in nature and not intended to offend but to educate. Current laws, arrests, and Policies are from personal experience in those states. I am in personal possession of any notification letter noted.