Native AmericansSOC321 Cultural DiversityBy Annette Williams

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

Domestic Dependent Nations

▪ Segregated from general population

▪ Culturally maintained

▪ Rights to tribal sovereignty▪ Govern themselves▪ Define members▪ Manage tribal property▪ Regulate tribal business▪ Domestic relations

SOCIAL STATUS

▪ High poverty rates

▪ Government oppression▪ Violation of treaties▪ Supreme Court rulings▪ Americanization▪ Ethnocide

▪ Economically challenged▪ Income below poverty▪ Barren or rural areas▪ Jobs less accessible

▪ Low Status

▪ Negative consequences▪ Alcoholism▪ Suicide▪ Gangs▪ Public and domestic

violence▪ Psychiatric disorders

▪ Anxiety▪ Depression▪ PTSD▪ Oppositional Defiant

Disorder

WORKPLACE

Population 1.5% 5.2 Million

▪ Government employment▪ Tribal▪ Federal

▪ High unemployment▪ 4-8 out of 10▪ Geographic location

▪ Poverty level▪ 28.2% total population▪ 38%-63% reservations▪ 27% children▪ 32% children < 5

Native American Population

HEALTHCARE

▪ INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE (IHS)▪ Life expectancy 5 years <

national average▪ 55% rely on HIS

▪ Indian Health Care Improvement Act▪ Meet 60% health needs▪ Insufficient funding

▪ Crisis driven▪ Inadequate preventative care

▪ Most areas▪ Lack doctor’s office▪ Pharmacies

▪ SUBCULTURE▪ Reject Assimilation▪ Higher death rates:

▪ Heart disease 36% by age 65▪ Diabetes 177%▪ Tuberculosis 500%▪ Cancer & disparities of

treatment ▪ Suicide 82%▪ Infant deaths 60%

HOUSING

“Third World” Similarities

▪ Sub-standard▪ Telephone service 71%▪ Indoor plumbing 54%▪ Considered inadequate 40%

▪ Indian Housing Authority (IHA)▪ 90,000 Homeless or under-

housed▪ 30% overcrowded

▪ Housing waiting list > 3 years▪ 3 or more generations

▪ Public sewer < 50%▪ Increased health risk

EDUCATION

Evidence of education discrepancies:

Kindergarden-4th Grade

Math

Reading

High School dropout more than double

Unemployment 14.4%-35%

H.S. DIPLOMA/GED BACHELOR'S DEGREE0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

EDUCATION

AMERICAN INDIAN U.S. POPULATION

REFERENCES

Brookeman, C. (1990). The Native American Peoples of The United States. Retrieved from http://www.americansc.org.uk/Online/brookman.htm

Living Conditions. (2015, January 1). Retrieved from http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=naa_livingconditions

Native Americans. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/native.html

Sarche, M., & Spicer, P. (2009, June 1). Poverty and Health Disparities for American Indian and Alaska Native Children: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2567901/