Summary
The Native American or Indigenous population has historically been challenged by severe oppression ever since the European population’s first arrival in the Americas. Centuries characterized by severe generational trauma, forced segregation and migration, as well as discrimination, have been important determinants of health disparities and socioeconomic disadvantages (Van Dyke et al., 2016). Prior research has indicated that for some US minorities, their status in society, geographic variation, and neighborhood conditions can impact connections between race, discrimination, and well-being (Findling et al., 2019). While the Latino and African American socioeconomic disparities have been studied extensively, more attention is needed to the issues that the Native American population experiences. Therefore, this population has been chosen for more profound research and insight into the impact of discriminatory experiences on the social position in society, including the consequences in life quality, social mobility, and overall health and well-being. The following presents a list of ten questions for gaining a deeper understanding of the issues that the diverse population faces and expanding the social work needs of the group.
Understanding the Issues That the Diverse Population Faces
Historical events contributed to defining the position of Native Americans in the United States
The question pertains to having a deeper understanding of the events that have shaped the socioeconomic position of the population, pointing to its social work needs. The defining historical events can help shed light on why the group has been experiencing oppression and marginalization by the majority. Importantly, Native Americans had their land that was captured by foreigners and transformed into what the United States is today.
The landmark historical event was the arrival of Christopher Columbus on a Caribbean Island in 1492. As the explorer had thought that he had reached the East Indies, the natives were referred to as “Indians” (History.com Editors, 2021). In 1830, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, entailing the seizure of land from Native American tribes in exchange for plots of land to the west of the Mississippi River (History.com Editors, 2021). In 1851, the Indian Appropriations Act was signed, initiating the Indian reservation system, which prevented them from leaving reservations without permission (History.com Editors, 2021). In 1968, the signing of the Indian Civil Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which guaranteed Native American tribes the benefits under the Bill of Rights (History.com Editors, 2021). While Native Americans are not restricted severely today, their history indicates systematic oppression and reduction of their value to American society.
The current living conditions for Native Americans
The conditions in which specific populations live are indicative of their quality of life, access to vital services, and opportunities for personal, educational, and professional development. Answering the question will also help illuminate the significant socioeconomic challenges as well as reveal relevant data. Besides, there may be stereotypes regarding the living conditions of Native Americans, and it is essential to disprove them.
Recent data shows that around 78% of Native Americans live off-reservations and 72% live in urban and suburban settings (Whittle, 2017). However, the living conditions are dire for those who live on the reservations. Native American households have higher chances of experiencing homelessness or residing in incredibly overcrowded conditions. In both tribal and non-tribal areas, the homes are consistently overcrowded, which has primarily been concerning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natural resources available to the Native American population
Access to natural resources and land is essential for the rural and urban development of communities, the expansion of households, as well as the overall improvement of communities’ daily lives. The question needs answering because it can illuminate the quality of life and health issues. When there is limited access to resources or if they are improperly used, there is a higher chance that the population experiences a poor quality of life.
There is a great challenge associated with private companies exploiting resource-rich land on which Native Americans live, with the exploitation leaving many people in reservations without access to clean water and other natural resources. Besides, the use of land for multiple purposes disrupts the populations of fish and wildlife, limiting the opportunities for Native Americans to hunt and fish and maintain traditional sustenance forms.
The state of employment among Native Americans
The question needs to be answered to illustrate the employment opportunities that the population has for sustaining households. Employment is imperative for providing income, especially for lower-income families whose earnings are not diversified, supporting the demand for goods and services, and stimulating the overall growth of communities. Answering the question is essential for illuminating the possible challenges that Native Americans experience when it comes to their livelihood.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), American Indian and Alaska Native populations experience a 6.6% rate of unemployment as compared to the national average of 3.9%. Besides, a third of Native Americans live in poverty, while the average personal median income is $23,000 annually (Redbird, 2020). The statistics indicate an unfavorable financial position of the population, which has further deteriorated as a result of the pandemic.
The educational situation within the Native American population
The educational opportunities available to a particular population are essential to consider because they are illustrative of future generations’ potential. Answering the question can be revealing the available educational resources to the population, including funding, educational attainment, as well as participation in higher education. Understanding the educational situation within the community is also essential for identifying social work needs when it comes to improving the educational situation.
There is a high school dropout rate among Native American youth because the educational system is not accommodative to their needs. The schools have limited resources and funding, which contributes to the declining academic levels of students. According to the data from the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (2020), only seventeen percent of Native American students continue education after finishing high school compared to the national average among the US population.
The current health status of the Native American populations
Answering the question of the population’s health status is pertinent to social work services because the physical and mental well-being of a group significantly contributes to its development and position in society. If notable preventable illnesses persist in the population, it is essential to determine whether they are ethnicity-related. Besides, health disparities may prevent people from reaching a good quality of health and well-being.
Native Americans have high mortality rates from preventable illnesses as compared to other ethnicities. Native adults are 50% more likely to be obese, while adolescents are 30% more likely to be obese, which increases the risks of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or stroke (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). In addition, because of the limited financial capacity of Native Americans, they are more likely to experience food insecurity and adverse mental health outcomes.
The preserved human rights of the Native American population
It is the human right of minority representatives to have the same level of recognition as others and to be equal in court and protected by the law. Therefore, social workers are concerned with whether the human rights of minorities are preserved to address further issues of oppression and discrimination. Native Americans’ human rights must be an area of concern as a historically marginalized group.
In the Native American community, there is an epidemic of violence targeted at women. Specifically, 84% of Native women said that they had experienced violence at some point in their lives (Gilpin, 2016). Native women and girls are ten times more likely to be murdered than representatives of other ethnicities (Deer, 2018). Moreover, it is notable that only a fraction of deaths is being reported and logged into the relevant databases.
Cultural exploitation or erasure targeted at Native Americans
Due to the historical oppression and marginalization of Native Americans, it is essential to understand how their cultural heritage is being approached today. There is a challenge of Native American culture being treated as something irrelevant and outdated. However, it is social workers’ job to help preserve the cultural heritage of the population and recognize it as a valuable contribution to American society.
Native Americans have been subjected to forced assimilation, which resulted in many native languages and traditions becoming extinct. Besides, the Native culture has been significantly exploited, illustrated by the totem symbols used as sports mascots or non-Natives dressing in costumes resembling Native regalia. Thus, there is a lack of concern for Indigenous traditions and symbols due to misinformation and the absence of respect.
The pressing social work needs of the Native American population
As many social work interventions aimed at Native communities have been deliberately undermined, it is crucial that social workers understand the needs of the population and work on addressing them in the future. Besides, by understanding the core social work needs, it is possible to rank them by the importance of implementation and inclusion in policy change proposals to improve the population’s well-being and socioeconomic position.
Employment, housing, and health are the most pressing social work needs of Native Americans. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, socioeconomic and health outcomes have deteriorated within minority groups, causing some challenges to social workers. It is crucial for social workers to initiate governmental support for Native American groups to alleviate the financial and health burdens, guaranteeing an improved life quality. By meeting these needs first, it will be easier to improve the outcomes in other areas.
Social workers’ help to the Native American population
The question is important to answer as it encourages social workers to consider the available information on the population and think about ways of solving the identified challenges. Social workers’ roles are diverse, and when applied to a specific community, they become more targeted and strategic. The support can range from spreading awareness on social platforms to working on the mezzo level with the population’s representatives.
Social workers can work in collaboration with the National Indian Education Association, advocate for Native women’s safety and human rights, or protest major construction projects built on Native lands. Thus, social workers should take the role of advocates who listen to the voices of representatives of the Native populations. It is also imperative to facilitate cultural awareness and support local Indigenous business owners and artisans.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S. labor force.
Deer, S. (2018). Native people and violent crime: Gendered violence and tribal jurisdiction. Du Bois Review, 15(1), 89-106.
Findling, M., G., Casey, L. S., Fryberg, S. A., Hafner, S., Blendon, R. J., Benson, J. M.,… Miller, C. (2019). Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of Native Americans. Health Services Research, 54(S2), 1431-1441.
Gilpin, L. (2016). Native American women still have the highest rates of rape and assault. High Country News.
History.com Editors. (2021). Native American history timeline.
Postsecondary National Policy Institute. (2020). Native American students in higher education.
Redbird, B. (2020). What drives Native American poverty?
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Obesity and American Indians/Alaska Natives.
Van Dyke, E. R., Blacksher, E., Echo-Hawk, A. L., Bassett, D., Harris, R. M., & Buchwald, D. S. (2016). Health disparities research among small tribal populations: Describing appropriate criteria for aggregating tribal health data. American Journal of Epidemiology, 184(1), 1-6.
Whittle, J. (2017). Most Native Americans live in cities, not reservations. Here are their stories. The Guardian.