American Indian Culture and Research Journal

American Indians in large numbers began to move off the reservations into urban centers at the end of World War II. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in the early 60s estimated 40 percent of the Indian population lived in an urban area. In 1970 that figure had risen to over 50 percent; today the estimates reach 60 percent or more. The Bureau of Indian Affairs contributed to this migration through their relocation program, Joint Resolution 108. This program was initiated in the 50s and, along with termination of tribal recognition, "assisted in moving one-third of the People to the cities. The government could assimilate the Indians faster by removing them from their traditional background into a totally urban area. They would either sink or swim. However, without proper orientation, problems in successful adaptation occur. A strong Indian identity and the attainment of adaptation skills insures urbanization without serious difficulty. But many People have clearly had a bitter experience to their attempt to urbanize. Some indigenous people have urged their children to forget the Indian part of themselves in order to become White; others have taken pride in the Indian spiritual tradition and have drawn upon this strength to aid their urban adaption; still others remain torn between two worlds. This synthesis of the Old Way and the American Way in Los Angeles is the main topic. This paper proposes spiritual adaptation in contrast to materialistic capitalism, as a way of life. Characteristics of spirituality include an inner balance of the self, harmony with creation, the awareness and understanding of urban pressures. This is a traditional way of life for the Peo-