Native Americans

[JaniceSW]

Today, Native Americans are the poorest population in the entire Northern Hemisphere and have the highest need in the U.S. Harsh government policies concentrated Native Americans in barren regions inadequate for farming and distant from settlers, supplies, and jobs.  Most reservations are so remote that the added costs of transporting supplies and products on and off the reservations make local production impractical.  What's more, the U.S. government holds reservation land in trust so outside businesses are reluctant to invest and create jobs on reservation lands.

Today, between 35-85% of the Native Americans who live on reservations are unemployed.  To find work, many must move away from their reservation and leave families behind.  This is why half the children living on reservations are being raised by grandparents.

This is an issue which needs to be addressed.  Drilling, fracking, mining or taking any lands which belong to a reservation should not be done without agreement of the reservation and providing renumeration.

[potluck6]

It's terrible how we treat them. They are not getting supplies in this pandemic. Something is being done I hope. They also have a  huge problem with alcoholism. Saw a documentary recently.  They see Little help in their conditions  so start drinking young.

[Nancy5]

It is a disgrace the way they are treated.  We stoled their land and have treated them badly ever since. Many years ago I sponsored a Native American girl from North Dakota.  My money, I hope, when to help her village.  I sent her birthday and Christmas presents and always got wonderful thank you cards.  Her mom also wrote me thanking me for the gifts she received.  Unfortunately after about 6 years she stopped writing, I never knew what happened.

[sfreeman8]

It's terrible how we treat them. They are not getting supplies in this pandemic. Something is being done I hope. They also have a  huge problem with alcoholism. Saw a documentary recently.  They see Little help in their conditions  so start drinking young.

FYI: The federal government reserved $8 billion dollars in funding for Native American tribes during the pandemic BUT it's held up in court because a Native Alaskan corporation wants some of the money while the government stipulates it goes to Native American governments. Mnuchin did releat $4.8 billion while this case is going on.  It was the Seattle, WA health group that sent the body bags "by mistake." I don't believe that. According to the IHS's June update, they have testing kits, lab equipment, infrared thermometers, and they are able to test approximately 117 tests per 1,000 patients. That's a little below the U.S. average, but getting better.  Tribal governments are to request tests and equipment through either the IHS or FEMA.

As for drinking, they've always had a problem with drinking and when they drink, a lot of them get aggressive. Alaska has a big problem with that and that's why a lot of the towns are dry, but booze is smuggled in to them at a very expensive price.

[JaniceSW]

It's terrible how we treat them. They are not getting supplies in this pandemic. Something is being done I hope. They also have a  huge problem with alcoholism. Saw a documentary recently.  They see Little help in their conditions  so start drinking young.

FYI: The federal government reserved $8 billion dollars in funding for Native American tribes during the pandemic BUT it's held up in court because a Native Alaskan corporation wants some of the money while the government stipulates it goes to Native American governments. Mnuchin did releat $4.8 billion while this case is going on.  It was the Seattle, WA health group that sent the body bags "by mistake." I don't believe that. According to the IHS's June update, they have testing kits, lab equipment, infrared thermometers, and they are able to test approximately 117 tests per 1,000 patients. That's a little below the U.S. average, but getting better.  Tribal governments are to request tests and equipment through either the IHS or FEMA.

As for drinking, they've always had a problem with drinking and when they drink, a lot of them get aggressive. Alaska has a big problem with that and that's why a lot of the towns are dry, but booze is smuggled in to them at a very expensive price.

Yes, by all means believe this administration and blame the Indians.  WTH!!!

[aflyingmonkey]

Don't all indigenous people receive a US government paycheck monthly? & isn't the reason the alcoholism is high is because they don't have an incentive to achieve because they get that monthly paycheck?  Similar to the Universal Basic Income that Norway has experimented with, & then they found out it doesn't work because people became less productive?

I know in California most of the tribes own Casinos, in fact out of the 120 various tribes here, over 80 own Casinos.  Modern world adaptions to modern day life... such is the way of the world.