Large poverty populations, large populations not connected to sewers and life expectancy over five years under the average Americans sounds like we would be talking about a third world country but these are the living conditions experienced by Native Americans residing on Indian reservations today. This is a huge problem because today the United States is home to 5.2 million Native Americans and around 22% of them are currently living on tribal lands. So many Native Americans are struggling just to survive on reservations “The U.S. Census Bureau reports about one of every four American Indians lives below the poverty level.” As Mark Martin discusses in his article “Native Americans: A Forgotten People?” Native Americans statistically experience
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Indian Health Service facilities are only treating emergency situations and are not focused on preventing Native Americans on the reservations from getting these diseases creating a cycle the community cannot get out of. There are little to no health care facilities besides hospitals that residents of the reservations can go to seek medical attention or advice. The Native have been forced to move away from their traditional way of life and the generations before them lived and assimilate into the Western lifestyle has which has created a health crisis in experiencing many chronic diseases including tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes , and heart disease cancer. The statistics gathered by the Center for Disease Control are disturbing stating “36% of Natives with heart disease will die before age 65 compared to 15% of Caucasians… American Indians are 177% more likely to die from diabetes…500% are more likely to die from tuberculosis…82% are more likely to die from suicide…Infant death rates are 60% higher than for Caucasians” (Martin) These health issues are destroying Native American population and along with them their culture. This is very upsetting because the culture of Native Americans has been fought for a very long time and to see it wither away is a shame when it can be stopped. Suicide is becoming a huge problem among Native American teenagers as they are …show more content…
To battle these terrible conditions the underlying cause of a failing economy must be addressed by privatizing Native American land which in turn will promote growth of businesses which will create jobs and will attract bank to help stimulate the economy. Another is the major health crisis Indian reservation are facing today, reservation need more funding for preventative programs until their economy is strong enough to fund themselves. The federal government also needs to help with the unsafe conditions residents of tribal reservations live in by funding rebuilding programs. The bottom line is that people are living in the conditions of third world countries and until we fix the root of the problems being economics, health, and housing conditions people on Native American reservations are going to
Indian Health Service facilities are only treating emergency situations and are not focused on preventing Native Americans on the reservations from getting these diseases creating a cycle the community cannot get out of. There are little to no health care facilities besides hospitals that residents of the reservations can go to seek medical attention or advice. The Native have been forced to move away from their traditional way of life and the generations before them lived and assimilate into the Western lifestyle has which has created a health crisis in experiencing many chronic diseases including tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes , and heart disease cancer. The statistics gathered by the Center for Disease Control are disturbing stating “36% of Natives with heart disease will die before age 65 compared to 15% of Caucasians… American Indians are 177% more likely to die from diabetes…500% are more likely to die from tuberculosis…82% are more likely to die from suicide…Infant death rates are 60% higher than for Caucasians” (Martin) These health issues are destroying Native American population and along with them their culture. This is very upsetting because the culture of Native Americans has been fought for a very long time and to see it wither away is a shame when it can be stopped. Suicide is becoming a huge problem among Native American teenagers as they are …show more content…
To battle these terrible conditions the underlying cause of a failing economy must be addressed by privatizing Native American land which in turn will promote growth of businesses which will create jobs and will attract bank to help stimulate the economy. Another is the major health crisis Indian reservation are facing today, reservation need more funding for preventative programs until their economy is strong enough to fund themselves. The federal government also needs to help with the unsafe conditions residents of tribal reservations live in by funding rebuilding programs. The bottom line is that people are living in the conditions of third world countries and until we fix the root of the problems being economics, health, and housing conditions people on Native American reservations are going to