Wednesday, March 20, 2013

WHY WE NEED TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Due to the complexities of correlating information from 565 federally recognized tribes in 35 states in the Unites States of America, it is extremely difficult to locate statistics. The following are some of the most shocking numbers. The term Native American Indian refers to all American Indian and Alaskan Native populations. Nearly 30% of Native American Indians lived in poverty in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding rate was 15.9 %.

Nearly 28% of Native American Indians (NAI) lacked health insurance coverage in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding percentage was 15.1 %. This is one factor leading to major health disparities. Alcoholism mortality rates are 514 % higher than the general population. Suicide rates are more than double, and NAI teens experience the highest rate of suicide of any population group in the United States. Diabetes incidence is 177 % higher, with the highest rate of type 2 diabetes of any specific population in the United States. Tuberculosis incidence is 500 % higher.

Native American Indian youth attain the lowest level of education of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. Graduation rates for NAI high school students hover around 50% nationwide, as compared to over 75% for caucasian students.

These depressing statistics are due, in part, to the terrible legacy of the Indian Residential Boarding School system. The IRBS broke apart families and communities and we are living with the tragic legacy. The establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the United States of America will open the dialogue and lead to healing. The truth must be spoken to heal the pain in Indian Country. It doesn’t matter where the Native American Indian descendent resides, the healing process affects us all. Healing will move the statistics in a more positive direction. Improve the 2020 Census by establishing a Commission!


PETITION:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the USA will be established to contribute to truth, healing and reconciliation between Native American Indian Nations and the United States of America.

Please join our Facebook page, search for "Petition to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the USA"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Petition-to-establish-a-Truth-and-Reconciliation-Commission-of-the-USA/127454177426801?ref=hl

* * * * * STATISTICS * * * * *
Listed below is a brief review of verifiable facts. If more recent statistics are available, please send me a message with a link to the statistics. Please note that the term Native American Indian is interchangeable with American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/NA). Thank you!

Population:
5.1 million
As of the 2011 American Community Survey, the nation’s population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up 1.6 percent of the total population. Of this total, about half were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and about half were American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~009

8.6 million
The projected population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, on July 1, 2050. They would comprise 2 percent of the total population.
Source: Population projections
http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/summarytables.html

Income and Poverty:
$35,192
The median income of American Indian and Alaska Native alone households in 2011. This compares with $50,502 for the nation as a whole.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~006

29.5%
The percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone that were in poverty in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding rate was 15.9 percent.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~006

Health Insurance:
27.6%
The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives alone who lacked health insurance coverage in 2011. For the nation as a whole, the corresponding percentage was 15.1 percent.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0201//popgroup~006

[Lack of health insurance] is one factor leading to major health disparities among the American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) population:
* Alcoholism mortality rates are 514 percent higher than the general population.
* Suicide rates are more than double, and Native teens experience the highest rate of suicide of any population group in the United States.
* Diabetes incidence is 177 percent higher, with the highest rate of type 2 diabetes of any specific population in the U.S.
* Tuberculosis incidence is 500 percent higher.

Statistics on Native American Youth:
*According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 16 percent of students at Bureau of Indian Affairs schools in 2001 reported having attempted suicide in the preceding 12 months.
* About 2 percent of US children are American Indian/Alaska Native, but AI/ANs represent 8.4 percent of the children in foster care. (NICWA. & Kids Are Waiting, 2007)
* AI/AN youth are arrested at a rate of 3 times the national average, and 79% of youth in the Federal Bureau of Prison’s custody are AI/AN. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2004)
* Violence, including intentional injuries, homicide and suicide account for 75% of deaths for AI/AN youth age 12-20.
* AI/ANs attain the lowest level of education of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. Graduation rates for AI/AN high school students hover around 50% nationwide, as compared to over 75% for white students. (NIEA)
* Adolescent AI/ANs have death rates 2 to 5 times the rate of Whites in the same age group (SAMHSA), resulting from higher levels of suicide and a variety of risky behaviors.
* Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death – and 2.5 times the national rate – for AI/AN youth in the 15-24 age group.
* 22% of females and 12% of males reported to have attempted suicide, while 5% had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.
* The reported rate of binge alcohol use over the past month was higher among AI/AN adults than the national average (30.6 percent vs. 24.5 percent). (SAMHSA)
* Only 1 in 8 (12.6 percent) of AI/AN adults (24,000 people) in need of alcohol or illicit drug use treatment in the past year received treatment at a specialty facility.

Sources:
“American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2012” http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb12ff-22_aian.pdf
- and -
“Fast Facts on Native American Youth and Indian Country” http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/upload/1302012%20Fast%20Facts.pdf

********** END OF FACTS ***********

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© 2013 Ima B. Musing

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