Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have treated Native Americans as equals and forced Native American tribes to suffer. Events such as the Trail of Tears, the Sand Creek Massacre, and the Long March of the Navajo, to name a few, will forever mark a dark moment in American history. Upon the arrival of the Europeans, the Native American population size is estimated at five to fifteen million, with liberals preferring the higher estimates and conservatives preferring the lower estimates. Today, the Native American population in the United States is estimated at two million, as determined by the census. The number of Native Americans dropped to nearly 250,000 during the late 19th century. The population loss and treatment of Native Americans should be discussed more in high school and college courses to ensure that this treatment is not repeated to any other race. It is a miracle that the number of Native Americans has reached nearly two million since then. the near extinction of the Native American race in the late 19th century. Today, India's population is increasing at a faster rate. The article, The Popularity of Being Indian: A New Trend in Contemporary American Society, written by Vine Deloria, Jr. in 1984, describes the rise of Native American populations in more detail. The article suggests a different perspective on the increase, not that there is a noticeable increase in India's birth rate, but rather a new social phenomenon. During the 1970s, a new perspective developed, as Vine Deloria, Jr. suggests: “the assertion of Indian ancestry as evidence of respectability and acceptance in American life replaced the old concept of American respectability... middle of paper ...difficult for Native Americans to overcome racial barriers. Overall, the Native American population has increased significantly since the late 19th century. Much of this population increase can be attributed to increased self-identification within Native American tribes. However, despite population growth, Native Americans continue to suffer in the twenty-first century. The U.S. government must take a stand and take on the greater responsibility that has been demonstrated. One of the few U.S. government apologies came on September 8, 2000. The presidents of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs formally apologized for the agency's participation in the “ethical cleansing” of Western tribes. However, this is not enough, as Native Americans continue to suffer, more must be done to ensure humanity within Native American tribes..