Premium Essay

Native American Adolescents

Submitted By
Words 1439
Pages 6
Poverty, education and unemployment are all interconnected in the Native American community. The number of dropouts among Native American youth is exceptionally high with a graduation rate “46% lower than the graduation rates for all ethnic groups” (Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012). These low graduation rates are accompanied by an unemployment rate of “50% or higher” and a poverty rate of 30% on Native American reservations (Mileviciute, Trujillo, Gray, & Scott 2013). These conditions can greatly affect adolescents’ learning environment quality and their ability to become thriving individuals. Even when varied levels of education were found, job opportunities of equal caliber were not attainable on reservations (Kaufman, Beals, Croy, Jiang, …show more content…
Native American adolescents develop a sense of pride and belonging by taking part in their culture (Brockie, Dana-Sacco, Wallen, Wilcox, & Campbell, 2015). Taking part in cultural activities was confirmed to greatly benefit adolescents, lowering “substance use, stronger antidrug norms and increased resiliency” by researchers (Soto et al., 2015). The constructive aspects of such group activities were supported by a study on the healthy development of adolescents, where researchers Meschke et al., (2012) stated that “structured activities with peers are most beneficial in promoting prosocial behavior”, which can help them succeed in society. Native American adolescents can use their tribal identity to shield them from other harmful occurrences on the reservation, strengthening their goals for the future. This form of cultural identification helped to “lower levels of hopelessness” among reservation dwelling Native Americans when compared to natives living off the reservation in one study (Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012). A sense of identity is important for the development of adolescence as Erik Erickson’s fifth stage of development, identity vs. role confusion emphasizes (Meschke et al., 2012). Tribal identity enhances the “overall wellbeing, positive self-concept, collective identity, sense of belonging, and positive relationships with family and community members” of Native American …show more content…
The adversities that Native American adolescents face on reservations greatly affect how they develop in terms of the identity and habits they acquire on their way to adulthood. The drug, crime and poverty rates accompanied with unemployment and high instances of unfinished educations on reservations normalize and contribute to an unhealthy and dangerous living and learning environment. Discrimination was shown to be a large concern for Native Americans and contributed to many emotions that led to both aggression and depression, emotions which were also associated with many of the other problems of reservation life. These negative influences lead to violent crimes, substance abuse and other unhealthy experiences for individuals of any age. The stressful, emotionally and physically tolling experiences on reservations also have a long-lasting effect on adolescents’ ability to thrive in adulthood. Although the positives of community and family support and tribal identity combat these barriers, the emotional stressors and other pressures on reservations are hard for Native American adolescents to overcome in order to develop in a functional and healthy

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

How Does Suicide Affect Native Americans

...Native American Teen Health " Nearly one in Native American adolescents has attempted suicide, a rate four times that of other teenagers, according to a study that found alarming health problems on reservations." Suicide has a big affect on Native American teens. Providing more awareness about teen health in the Native American culture, would result in a fewer teen suicide." Native American teenagers/ Youth are planning on taking their life's or they have already took their life's for many reasons. Out of all the races Native American/ Alaskan Natives have the highest risk for teen suicide. In the article " Teen Suicide Statistics" has noted that "77.9% of all suicide are male and females has attempted suicide 3 times as often as males, fire arms are used in 51% of males suicides, also 38% of females suicides are use drugs ( poising) as the method of suicide." Statistics like these have shown many times they have tried to commit suicide. Suicide very's from Native communities to other Native communities around Native country. So many Native people are overwhelmed to be going to funerals...

Words: 1776 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Discrimination

...dollars in war efforts. With the great depression, it brought blue collar working class to white underclass status. The unemployed white underclass used to work in the automotive industry and made decent money. The automotive industries were not located in the cities, but in rural towns like Duluth, Minnesota and Portland, Maine. There was no reason for blue collar class people of Lakeside to attend school. Their education level did not exceed the tenth grade. With no extended education, it made the white underclass underemployed. Parents told their sons to not waste their time with school and come to work in the automotive industry as young as 14 to 15 years old. The girls were told to go to college to find a husband (Lecture). Today, American car parts are being manufactured overseas. In Flint, Michigan the majority of people made parts and worked on the assembly line. It went from fifty people working on the assembly line to just having three people making sure the machines were working properly (Lecture). The economy once driven by industry is now lead by technology. The parts that were made in the white underclass’s town were now being outsourced due to cheaper labor. Chrysler dealership was notorious for their layoffs of over thousands of employees. The race riots of 1960’started due to lack of jobs and economic distress. The white underclasses are individuals who are welfare dependent, labor, and school dropouts. The urban census...

Words: 3190 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Teen Suicide in Male Native Americans

...Teen suicide in male Native American teens Elizabeth Nather Teen suicide in male Native American teens Community can be interpreted and defined in a variety of ways depending on the group, it’s purpose, size, their interests, makeup, history, and bonds. Some communities have a history together while others form for just a short period of time. Because of these variables, a community can exist for different reasons, and have a unique make up with its own particular standards and goals. While one community may exist to counsel its members short term, another may have existed for many years with the goal of promoting future generations and preserving the history and traditions of their community. Webster defines community as, “a group of people with a common background or with shared interests within a society (Meriam Webster, 2010). The Native American Indians are an identified community. They share a common history and have shared interests within their society. Theirs is a unique culture with rich traditions and beliefs that have been passed on through many generations; a culture very different from many typical US ones. Historically, Native American communities have encouraged interdependence among Indian youth, families, and community connections (Long, et al.,2006). As these communities foster interdependence, many Native American youth are faced with a one sided knowledge of American society. The reservation is all they know so they cannot acclimate to...

Words: 5109 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Diabetes

...disadvantages to health based on various factors. Certain factors that can contribute to health disparities may include race or ethnicity; socioeconomic status; cognitive or physical disabilities; age; gender of the individual/s; and/or mental health. A group of individuals geographic location or community can also play a role in health disparity ( U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). One of the diseases that has demonstrated significant health disparities over the last few decades is Diabetes. Minority groups which include, African Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Latino Americans, constitute 25 percent of all adult patients with diabetes in the United States and represent the majority of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). An individual of the Native American population is 2 to 5 times more likely to have developed Diabetes, while Latino Americans are twice as likely to have Diabetes in comparison to a Caucasian client. It is important for the health care system to make appropriate changes to decrease the incidence of Diabetes in today’s society, particularly with groups of the community who have the greatest potential for development of the disease (CDC, 2008). Diabetes was listed as the 7th cause of death in the United States in 2007. As of 2011, Diabetes has affected close to 25.8 million individuals. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of...

Words: 318 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Native Americans in the United States

...Running Head: SCOTT SMITH ON NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE Scott Smith on Native American Culture Scott Smith Regis University Abstract The Native American culture is explored in general terms, including their history, cultural values, and racial identity to better understand them as fellow human beings and to gain insight into how best to provide them counseling services within their cultural context. In addition, Scott Smith, a therapist-in-training, provides some of his personal feelings and thoughts about various topics pertaining to Native Americans as a cultural group within this framework and along this path of his own learning about Native American culture and how he can be the most affective therapist he can be for Native American clients. Scott Smith on Native American Culture To begin examining their Native American culture, I would like to discuss some important Native American terminology; however, I also want to note I will be presenting additional terminology as appropriate and depending on the topics I’m discussing, i.e. history, racial identity development, and so on. So what term or terms are acceptable to Native Americans when referring to them as a cultural group? Do they prefer to be called Indians, American Indians, Native Americans, Indigenous People, none of those, or some of those? For most of my life, I’ve only felt comfortable using the term “Native American” primarily because I associated the word “Indian” early on in grade school...

Words: 3409 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

661 Treatment Plan

...Instructions and Rubric for Elementary School Individual Counseling Case Conceptualization and Treatment Plan Individual counseling is a responsive service that involves one-to-one counseling with a student. Please use the case noted below to conceptualize the case and answer the questions on the rubric. Please use the rubric as your template for the assignment. That is, save a copy of the rubric as “Elementary School Treatment Plan”. Then, simply type your responses within the rubric template row and under each bulleted item. References will be included at the end of the document on a separate page in APA style. There is no required page length; just be sure to cover the rubric components completely and succinctly. The only information under each heading is the responses and required information as outlined in the rubric. Just answer the questions/address what the item indicates. The instructor will follow this rubric for grading. Please submit the assignment by the deadline noted on the Course Schedule. CASE: Geoffrey, a 10-year-old male student, expressed to you, his elementary school counselor, that he is angry because of his parents’ recent divorce. Geoffrey came to you nearly in tears with disheveled hair and wearing dirty clothes. During the session, Geoffrey sat slumped over with his hands clinched and began to cry, saying that his mother must now work so he never sees her, and his dad doesn’t care enough to even visit on the days he has visitation. He expresses...

Words: 3713 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

American Frontier History

...AMERICAN FRONTIER HISTORY Name: Course Title: Date Due: Introduction American frontier symbolizes the geology, history, fables, and social expression of natural life in the wave of American westward extension. It started with English pioneer settlements in the early seventeenth century and finished with the concession of the last terrain domains in the twentieth century. A period called the Old West, much of the time misrepresenting the sentiment and brutality of the period. By the late nineteenth century, ranchers had developed progressively reliant on huge organizations. Railroads transported their yields; banks credited that cash; producers sold them cultivate hardware, and shaky universal markets for wheat and corn decided their salary. Overproduction, in the interim, drove costs down. Agriculturists were baffled by listing costs, climbing obligation, high-investment rates, and such railroad polishes, as settled costs or separation among clients. Agriculturists probably won't felt responsible for their destinies[1]. Body Some Western tribes separated eastern tribes in "Indian Territory," from other western tribes, for example, Pueblos had lasting settlements and homesteads. They communicated with Spanish and Mexicans. Plains Indians were migrants and, some were ranchers. Warriors were not able to thrashing white pilgrims because they separated, had inward clashes, and sicknesses. The Plains people groups protected their territory and their lifestyle from...

Words: 764 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Test

...season is long enough for plant germination and maturation.(A) Farm (B) Farming (C) When farming (D) To farm5. Among the most famous products of the Aesthetic Movement were the Tiffany lamps, first _____in 1899.(A) had been producing (B) had been produced (C) produced (D) were producing6. Refrigerating meats _____ the spread of bacteria.(A) retards (B) retarding (C) to retard (D) is retarded7. The islands of the Florida Keys are joined to the mainland by an overseas highway _____ a railroad destroyed in the hurricane of 1935.(A) replaces (B) and replaces (C) hat replaces (D) that it replaces8. The _____ east of the Mississippi River is made up of the Lumbee people. (A) Native American nation largest (B) largest Native American nation (C) largest nation Native American (D) Native American largest nation9. Kim Campbell was the nineteenth Prime Minister of Canada, _____.(A) heid the office the...

Words: 1104 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Working in the Field

...between Arab, Middle-Eastern and Muslim people. The author talks about the region in which a person is from, as well as language and religion is what determines which group one would identify with. The history and cultures of Arabic people are provided in this article. Cacho, L. M. (2001). Asian Americans. University of Hawaii Press The article discusses the relationships between Asian Americans and their families. The author explains how they have to deal with certain stereotypes in order to succeed in a place where they are Americans, but still considered to be foreigners. The article is a good resource for understanding how Asian Americans feel in a country where so many barriers are placed upon them. Caroll, S.R. (1994, December). Why poor black children succeed or fail. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/africanamericancultue The conceptual article begins with the broad discussion about African American culture. It projects today’s youth and the inconsistency of what Americans idolize as equality in school systems. It discusses the present’s findings of family and individual studies that factor in the high and low achieving African-American students. It schemes the risk factors that are associated with the group of disadvantage kids and why it is important to identify them earlier on. These factors are to include those who are born with low birth rate, the home environment and low socioeconomic statue. The author describes how the aspects...

Words: 2515 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

The Alaskan Native and Health Promotion

...Alaskan Native and Health Promotion The Alaskan Native and Health Promotion In the United States in 2013 there were 11.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives nation wide representing approx. 2% of the population. The state with the highest population percentage of natives was Alaska, with 134,361 accounting for 14.3% of the population (United States Census Bureau. 2013). It is this group that is going to be focused on now in this paper because of the unique issues and barriers that are found in attempting health promotion within this minority. Many different problems arise when attempting change in the region ranging from education levels, large cultural differences, geological isolation, and substance abuse. There is a strong and deep-seated lack of trust towards anyone who is not from the area because of past mistakes and abuses. In 1950 46% of all Alaskan native deaths were because of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases which were brought in by outsiders (Alaska Native Health Status Report. 2009). The medical profession to this day is still regarded as a possible threat instead of an asset especially by the older population. What level of health promotion prevention will work best to facilitate the changes needed in Alaskan Native health? The current health status of Alaska natives is well below the national average in a multitude of ways. It has improved markedly in the past couple of decades but still needs considerable attention. The Alaskan Native population...

Words: 1353 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Indian Healthcare Improvement Act

...IHS Affirmative Observation One: Inherency 2 Advantage One: Health 5 Advantage Two: Indigenous Economy 9 Observation Two: Solvency 14 Only federal action can solve the case- denying Indian health care furthers an ongoing policy of American Indian genocide 17 Inherency – Lack of Funding 18 Inherency – Lack of Funding 19 Inherency – Lack of Funding 20 Inherency – Lack of Funding 21 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 22 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 23 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 24 IMPACT: Mental Health and Suicide 25 IMPACT: Mental Health and Suicide 26 Extensions to Genocide/Racism Impact 27 Extensions to Genocide/Racism Impact 28 IMPACT: Moral Obligation/Human Rights 29 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 30 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 31 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 32 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 33 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves for cultural sensitive health 34 Solvency Extension – Congress Key 35 Solvency Extension – Federal Government Key 36 A2: I.H.S. is Racist 37 A2: Transportation 38 A2: “Structural/Distribution Barriers” 39 A2: No Qualified Professionals 40 A2: Bureaucrats 41 A2: IHS has arbitrary eligibility standards 42 A2: Blood Quantum 43 A2: Medicaid Solves 44 AT: Medicaid Solves 45 AT: Medicaid Solves 46 A2: IHS doesn’t use traditional medicine 47 Tribal...

Words: 29491 - Pages: 118

Premium Essay

American Indian Pride

...“Culture Paper: American Indian Pride” December 2. 2012 Survey of Exceptionalities 1. What is the name of this culture? The name of the culture of people I selected is the American Indians of North American. I did not want to select just one type or subgroup of this culture, but capture a few elements of the people altogether as one whole culture. The four largest tribes of American Indians are Navajo (308,013), Cherokee (285, 476), Sioux (131, 048), and Chippewa (115, 859). These tribes of American Indians are the most indentify by people of this culture - according to the website www.infoplease.com. Each tribe has a special tradition or custom that is passed down from generation to generation, but the three common core themes of American Indians were family, story telling, and ritual dance. (Wikipedia, 2012) 2. What language do the people of this culture speak? I will continue to discuss American Indians as one whole culture, but will use the Navajo tribe above and explain the native tongue of their people. The Navajo people speak the native language of Navajor. Each tribe had their own native tongue common to the people of that subgroup, but all American Indians shared a common core element of hieroglyphics that told stories of past experiences or explain the existence of mankind. For example, The Navajo had ancient text on the Sacred Mountains, which was described as the Four Sacred Mountain of the Dire. These ancient images could be found on the sides of rocks...

Words: 2512 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

The Arguments Against Gay Marriage

...mask. I chose this piece because just looking at it makes you wonder what all images it can produce. In the reading it states that the mask can change images by pulling on different strings located on it. The bright colors and shapes also attracted me to it. The frowning face, that represents the inside of the mask is quite unusual, it does directly depict an actual likeness of a face, and the outer parts look like the frame of the face. The book makes reference to the Kwakiutl people lived on the Vancouver Island, trading and warring with each other and their neighbors. But they produced great artwork like the mask which were used in Shaman ceremonies, and totem poles. The Kwakiutl are famed for their transformation masks. These massive American masks, up to eight feet long, are based around an animal form and open up during the ceremony to reveal an inner human character. This method links the human, animal and spiritual aspects of life. The winter period, called Tsetseka, meaning good humor, was used by the Kwakiutl as a time for celebrating. They believed that the spirits who had been at large in the world returned to the village to capture certain members of the population. The dances were often connected with the initiation of novices. Possessed by wild spirits the novices would disappear into the woods to be given the ancestral rites and then reappear as fully fledged members of the society. The spirit which possessed them was Bakbakwalanooksiwae (Cannibal at the north end...

Words: 324 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Native American Oppression

...Native American Oppression Santucee Bell Case Western Reserve University Native American Oppression Introduction & Focal Population Imagine living in a world that consistently devalues your existence and is heavily populated with individuals who are quick to use and abuse your resources, but are slow to share the wealth that is accumulated from those resources. How would you feel? Unfortunately, certain populations do not have to visualize the disparity that is pictured above. This is because inequity is one of the most demoralizing social issues that plague America today. The worst thing about inequity is the fact that it continues to disproportionately burden individuals who are categorize as being minority in today’s society. This is especially true for the American Indian/Alaska Native population. This population continues to be one of the most vulnerable minority groups. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010 (2011), “American Indian or Alaska Native refer to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central American) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment” (Humes, Jones, & Ramirez, 2011, p. 3). 2,475,956 out of 308, 745,538 people that live in America are believed to be American Indian/Alaska Native, including those who report affiliations with tribes and South and Central American Indian groups (Humes et. al,, 2011, p. 4). This number is...

Words: 5989 - Pages: 24

Free Essay

Ddfsdf

...more than 1 _ million copies. At first read, the small 216-page book would seem suitable for young readers up through High School (Recommendation by publishers is grades 9 through 12). The book has its moments that make you smile and wonder. When it was first introduced into our school systems as required reading, schoolchildren around the country formed Little Tree fan clubs. Yet, shockingly enough, the book, "The Education of Little Tree" was publicly exposed as a fraud the year it was published. However, despite this evidence, in 1991, 15 years after its publication and 12 years after the author's death, "Little Tree" won the Abby Award and made it onto the New York Times' bestseller list. The Abby Award is given out each year by the American Booksellers Association to honor "hidden treasures." Ironically the Award began in 1991 with its first award being the book, you guessed it, "The Education of Little Tree". In addition to its publication success in book form and the promotion from the Hollywood film industry the book continues to have a following today. The University of New Mexico Press, who publishes "The Education of Little Tree", presented the public with a 25th anniversary edition, which included a...

Words: 1181 - Pages: 5