As of October, the population of the United States was approximately 273,645,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Only 2,031,000, or less than 1 percent, of those people reported being of American Indian descent.

Because they are such a small minority, Indians do everything they can to keep their heritage alive.

"Staying in our own race is basically the only way you can keep it alive," said Allison Codynah, 13, an Indian from Indianapolis.

"My grandma and grandpa always said, 'Marry your own race, especially if you have kids. That's the only way you'll keep it alive.'"

Indians are so concerned about maintaining their lineage that they carry cards that show the tribes they come from as well as the percentage of Indian blood they possess.

"We have Indian cards that tell us how much Native American blood we have," said Allison, a member of Unity, which is a network of Indian youth councils. "Like, I'm Comanche and Cherokee."

While the percentages are important, so is an Indian's pride in his or her heritage.

"Your blood can be more American, but in your heart you're more Native American," explained Josh Thompson, 17, an Indian from Muncie at a traditional powwow in Lebanon late last summer.

Preserving their culture is not easy. Indians have to overcome obstacles such as discrimination, stereotypes and suspicion about their unique beliefs.

The widespread use of Indian caricatures in movies and other media can lead to stereotypes and discrimination.

"When I first moved here, they asked if we still lived in teepees and if we had cable," said Allison, who lived most her life on a reservation in North Carolina. "We live in regular houses and we do have cable."

"We live pretty much the same as Americans do," said Cameron Williams, 12, from Carmel. "We're not full Native Americans, so we don't live in our tribes together."

Other stereotypes are hurtful. Another Indian, Crystal Jackson, 12, of Middletown, explained the embarrassment of her school's mascot: "My dad wouldn't let me be in cheerleading because they put me on the Redskins team."

School is one place where cruel things are done and said to many minorities. Indian youths have been criticized for both looking and not looking Indian.

Tracey Brettnacher, 13, of West Lafayette recalled an early incident that still troubles her.

"When I was in like first or second grade, we had this day called 'You're a Native American.' I wore my (native) dress that day, and nobody believed me," she said.

Amber Tave, 22, of Indianapolis remembered hearing similar comments in her early years.

"It was dealing with people saying, 'Well, you don't look Native American,'" she said.

Amber's 16-year-old sister has the opposite problem.

"My little sister has long black hair. She's got brown skin. She looks Native American," Amber explained. "She's in high school, and she is the only dark person in the whole school.

"Our house has been vandalized," she continued. "I think we've gone through a lot of discrimination."

Some of this discrimination could be due to the unique beliefs and philosophies of Indians.

Although practices differ among tribes, most revolve around reverence for nature.

"To me, this is my church, the outside -- the earth is my church," Amber said.

Allison explained how her family gets rid of an evil spirit, which she defined as "just a really bad feeling."

"If we have evil spirits, we can get rid of them with a pine needle. You have to turn it all four winds," she said.

When a tribe member is injured or sick, some tribes do not believe in hospitals or in medical doctors. Instead, they turn to medicine men.

"If we're sick, we call on the medicine men to cure us," Allison explained. "(Tribal leaders) believe that if you go to a hospital, there's no cure that they can do because you've already had the white man's medicine in your body."

She finds the medicine man more effective, too. "We prefer a medicine man because it seems like he heals a lot faster and it's a lot less painful."

Despite all of the differences in the lives of Indians and other members of society, we all share the need to know where we came from and where we are going.

Most Indian children have an advantage: They know their roots.

"If you're Native American, you know who you are, you know what you are, and you know where you came from," Josh said.

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EDITED BY: Shannon Cook, 16.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Emerson Barnett, 15; Samantha Gray, 17; and Drew Reissaus, 15.

REPORTERS: Olivia Mozzi, 12; Clay Smith, 12; and Tyler Smith, 12.