- There are currently over 5 million Native Americans in the United States. This represents around 2% of the total population.
- Between 2000 and 2010 there was a 26.7% increase in Native populations compared to only a 9.7% of the overall population.
- There are 324 federally recognized reservations and 567 recognized tribes in the United States.
- 12 tribes are located in Michigan
- Fourteen of these tribes have over one hundred thousand people in them.
- The largest tribes are:
- Cherokee
- Navajo
- Choctaw
- Mexican American Indian
- Chippewa
- Sioux
- Apache
- Blackfeet
- The largest tribes are:
Health
- In 2013 26.9% of Native Americans were without health insurance. That is more than double the national average which was 13.4%
- “The American Indian and Alaska Native people have long experienced lower health status when compared with other Americans. Lower life expectancy and the disproportionate disease burden exist perhaps because of inadequate education, disproportionate poverty, discrimination in the delivery of health services, and cultural differences. These are broad quality of life issues rooted in economic adversity and poor social conditions.” (IHS, 2015)
- The top ten Health issues are:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Unintentional Injuries
- Diabetes
- Chronic Liver Disease & Cirrhosis
- Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
- Stroke
- Suicide
- Influenza & Pneumonia
- Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome & Nephrosis
- It has been found that over 31% of Native Americans die before their forty-fifth birthday. (Appleby, Colon, Hamilton, 2011, p.129)
- In 2011 only 54% of the population owned their own home compared to 65% of the overall population.
Alcoholism has been an issue within numerous tribes for over a century.Native American men have the highest rate of alcohol abuse with over 40% being addicted. 11.7% of Native Americans die to alcohol related issues compared to only 3.3% of the overall American population.
Many tribes promote alcohol-free events, have support groups for men and women dealing with alcohol issues, and have drug abuse or alcoholic rehab centers. Although, not all reservations have the funds to afford those type of programs. Unfortunately, even with the programs many still remain addicted.
Alcoholism has been an issue within numerous tribes for over a century.Native American men have the highest rate of alcohol abuse with over 40% being addicted. 11.7% of Native Americans die to alcohol related issues compared to only 3.3% of the overall American population.
Many tribes promote alcohol-free events, have support groups for men and women dealing with alcohol issues, and have drug abuse or alcoholic rehab centers. Although, not all reservations have the funds to afford those type of programs. Unfortunately, even with the programs many still remain addicted.
SUICIDE:
Suicide is a current epidemic and major trend of many adolescents and young adults within Reservations. Among all population the suicide rate has been the highest within the Native American Community. Rates vary from tribe to tribe, but are always above the national average. In most cases it has been found that mental illness is the cause of the suicide, but unfortunately there is a lack of tribal mental health resources. An article called Native American Youth Suicide Rates Are At Crisis Levels stated,
"FIVE YEARS AGO, PSYCHIATRIST R. DALE WALKER WAS INVITED TO A SMALL NORTHERN PLAINS RESERVATION THAT HAD SUFFERED 17 SUICIDES IN EIGHT MONTHS. IT WAS THERE, LISTENING IN A GROUP THERAPY MEETING, THAT HE FIRST HEARD THE PHRASE "GRIEVED OUT....THE REPORT IS ALSO NOTABLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A TYPICAL ANALYSIS FOR THE CDC. IT WAS THE PASSION PROJECT OF TWO COLLEGE-AGED SUMMER INTERNS WHO WANTED TO INVESTIGATE THE SUICIDE DATA FOR THEIR AGE GROUP, MINIÑO EXPLAINED. IN ISOLATING THIS AGE GROUP AND DECIDING TO INCLUDE DATA ON AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKAN NATIVES (GROUPS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF ANALYSES BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE REPORTING), THE TEAM UNCOVERED THIS UNEXPECTED DISPARITY, WHICH MINIÑO ACKNOWLEDGED AS SHOCKING" (ALMENDRALA, 2015)
Suicide is a current epidemic and major trend of many adolescents and young adults within Reservations. Among all population the suicide rate has been the highest within the Native American Community. Rates vary from tribe to tribe, but are always above the national average. In most cases it has been found that mental illness is the cause of the suicide, but unfortunately there is a lack of tribal mental health resources. An article called Native American Youth Suicide Rates Are At Crisis Levels stated,
"FIVE YEARS AGO, PSYCHIATRIST R. DALE WALKER WAS INVITED TO A SMALL NORTHERN PLAINS RESERVATION THAT HAD SUFFERED 17 SUICIDES IN EIGHT MONTHS. IT WAS THERE, LISTENING IN A GROUP THERAPY MEETING, THAT HE FIRST HEARD THE PHRASE "GRIEVED OUT....THE REPORT IS ALSO NOTABLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A TYPICAL ANALYSIS FOR THE CDC. IT WAS THE PASSION PROJECT OF TWO COLLEGE-AGED SUMMER INTERNS WHO WANTED TO INVESTIGATE THE SUICIDE DATA FOR THEIR AGE GROUP, MINIÑO EXPLAINED. IN ISOLATING THIS AGE GROUP AND DECIDING TO INCLUDE DATA ON AMERICAN INDIANS/ALASKAN NATIVES (GROUPS OFTEN LEFT OUT OF ANALYSES BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE REPORTING), THE TEAM UNCOVERED THIS UNEXPECTED DISPARITY, WHICH MINIÑO ACKNOWLEDGED AS SHOCKING" (ALMENDRALA, 2015)
poverty
eDUCATION
“More than 60 are listed in poor condition. Less than one-third have the Internet and the computer capability to administer new student assessments that are rolling out in much of the country.” (Hefling, 2014) |
Education within reservations has risen over the years. Many families are having their children go to a typical American school during the day and a cultural tribal school at night. Parents are wanting their children to learn their cultural history, language, generational stories, and other significant learning objectives. However many tribal schools have a severe lack of funding and are extremely unsafe to be having people use the building as a space to teach. Many schools are old, run down, have ceilings that are leaky and falling apart, and do not have appropriate classroom necessities. Teachers go out of their way to pick students up in the morning since there are no bus routes and some schools offer showers, a place to do laundry, items that can take home, and more. The government oversees the running of 183 tribal schools.
The Little Singer Community School is on a Navajo Indian reservation. The school is home to 81 students. An article called Indian Schools Face Decayed Buildings, Poverty stated, “Principal Etta Shirley's day starts at 6 a.m., when on her way to work, she picks up kids off the bus routes. Because there's no teacher housing, a caravan of teachers commutes together about 90 minutes each morning on barely passable dirt roads. All this, to teach in barely passable quarters….The school is on the government's priority list for replacement. It's been there since at least 2004.” (Hefling, 2014) |
Employment
REFERENCES:
Almendrala, A. (2015, October 2). Native American Youth Suicide Rates Are At Crisis Levels. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/native-american-youth-suicide-rates-are-at-crisis-levels_560c3084e4b0768127005591
Austin, A. (2013, December 17). High Unemployment Means Native Americans Are Still Waiting for an Economic Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org/publication/high-unemployment-means-native-americans/
Centers for Disease Control: American Indian & Alaska Native Populations (2015, July 31). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/aian.html
Facts for Features: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2012. (2012, October 25). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff22.html
Heffling, K. (2014, October 20). Indian Schools Face Decayed Buildings, Poverty. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/reservation-schools-disrepair_n_6015360.html
Krogstad, J. (2014, June 13). One-in-four Native Americans and Alaska Natives are living in poverty. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/13/1-in-4-native-americans-and-alaska-natives-are-living-in-poverty/
Levinson, D. (2011, September 1). ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND TRIBAL FACILITIES. Retrieved from http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-09-08-00580.pdf
Peralta, K. (2014, November 27). Native Americans Left Behind in the Economic Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/27/native-americans-left-behind-in-the-economic-recovery
Press, A. (2008, August 28). 1 in 10 Native American deaths alcohol related. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26439767/ns/health-addictions/t/native-american-deaths-alcohol-related/#.VmXNvXarTIV
You are here MDHHS Adult & Children's Services Native American Services Native American Resources. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7209_7885---,00.html
Almendrala, A. (2015, October 2). Native American Youth Suicide Rates Are At Crisis Levels. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/native-american-youth-suicide-rates-are-at-crisis-levels_560c3084e4b0768127005591
Austin, A. (2013, December 17). High Unemployment Means Native Americans Are Still Waiting for an Economic Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org/publication/high-unemployment-means-native-americans/
Centers for Disease Control: American Indian & Alaska Native Populations (2015, July 31). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/aian.html
Facts for Features: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2012. (2012, October 25). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff22.html
Heffling, K. (2014, October 20). Indian Schools Face Decayed Buildings, Poverty. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/reservation-schools-disrepair_n_6015360.html
Krogstad, J. (2014, June 13). One-in-four Native Americans and Alaska Natives are living in poverty. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/13/1-in-4-native-americans-and-alaska-natives-are-living-in-poverty/
Levinson, D. (2011, September 1). ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND TRIBAL FACILITIES. Retrieved from http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-09-08-00580.pdf
Peralta, K. (2014, November 27). Native Americans Left Behind in the Economic Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/27/native-americans-left-behind-in-the-economic-recovery
Press, A. (2008, August 28). 1 in 10 Native American deaths alcohol related. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26439767/ns/health-addictions/t/native-american-deaths-alcohol-related/#.VmXNvXarTIV
You are here MDHHS Adult & Children's Services Native American Services Native American Resources. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7209_7885---,00.html