...The Health Status of the American Indian Bonnie Watkins Grand Canyon University The Health Status of the American Indian The American Indian has long been without adequate healthcare. It was without choice that they were forced trade their land and resources for care and protection offered by the Anglo-Americans ("Barriers," 2016). In 1955 the Indian Health Service was created to provide healthcare to the American Indians. Although the intent was good, this service has lacked the necessary resources to provide proficient care to the American Indian. Unfortunately, little has changed, and the American Indian continues to lack the resources necessary to obtain adequate medical care. Studies show that since the early 1960’s disparity in health status exists between the American Indian and the Anglo American. It consistently documented poorer health, with an increase in diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, and depression. From the report: Invisible Tribes: Urban Indians and Their Health in a Changing World findings were: * 30 percent of American Indians/Alaska Natives adults suffer from depression ("American Indians Urban Needs," 2007). * American Indians/Alaska Natives have higher prevalence of diabetes ("American Indians Urban Needs," 2007). * Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives ("American Indians Urban Needs," 2007). One of the biggest challenges is the inability to access adequate...
Words: 990 - Pages: 4
...Life of a Native American Cultural Diversity January 14, 2012 Trina Hines Native Americans may be considered some sort of an outcast in our country but they are really the original founders of the United States. My people were the ones that were here when the European settlers arrived and began to explore the United States. It was a very awkward and complicated situation because they came over to the Americas with intentions to claim the land for themselves and settle here, when we thought the land was already our own. As part of our good nature, our leaders did try to negotiate the land and our living situations with the European leaders to the best of their ability. Many people may not understand how difficult the life of a Native American used to be like when we first began to come across those of other races and face the issues of everyday living amongst them. It has constantly been a long hard road for us of Native American race and culture. Our people were considered the first to live in the Americas, prior to the people of European descent, thus giving us the name Native Americans. Although we tried to cooperate with the European people and come to an agreement over the land, we were successful to no avail. The Europeans turned to methods such as scalping to torture my people and make us give up the most valued land. When this began to happen, many of our group decided to retreat to our own areas...
Words: 885 - Pages: 4
...Julie D Freece Tracy Derks History223 20 July 2015 Termination, Relocation and Assimilation Termination, Relocation and Assimilation; three words used by the United States government to describe programs designed to solve the “Indian problem”. These policies would provide the Indians an escape from impoverished reservations and a chance to live the American Dream. To the Indians, these three words described the incalculable loss of the “old ways” which included their culture, heritage and language. Without the support of their communities, thrust into urban life, many Indians found the experience demoralizing. Despite the unduly positive assertions made by those supporting the policies, in reality, termination and relocation policies exacted long-lasting social havoc on Indians in general and for the tribes terminated the consequences were devastating. Following World War II, there were those who believed the cost of treaty obligations to the American Indians could be better spent on rebuilding Germany and Japan. These politicians subscribed to the notion that there were tribes who were ready to be part of main stream America and no longer needed the protection or assistance of the federal government. If adopted, the policy of termination would dismantle Indian reservations; allowing the resource rich land to be sold, with the proceeds distributed to tribal members. This would “free” the Indians from their reservations allowing them to become fully assimilated citizens...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
...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
...Indian Health Services System Overview of Indian Health Service The Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal health system, cares for 2 million of the country's 5.2 million American Indian and Alaska Native people. This system has increasingly focused on innovative uses of health information technology and telemedicine, as well as comprehensive, locally tailored prevention and disease management programs, to promote health equity in a population facing multiple health disparities. Important recent achievements include a reduction in the life-expectancy gap between American Indian and Alaska Native people and whites (from eight years to five years) and improved measures of diabetes control (including 20 percent and 10 percent reductions in the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C, respectively). However, disparities persist between American Indian and Alaska Native people and the overall US population. Continued innovation and increased funding are required to further improve health and achieve equity (Trujillo, 2002). In the 2010 census, 5.2 million people identified themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native, representing 1.7 percent of the US population. American Indian and Alaska Native people experience poor health outcomes and have an average life expectancy that is more than five years shorter than that of the overall US population. The causes of this disparity span the life spectrum, beginning with high infant mortality rates, and include...
Words: 4324 - Pages: 18
...the right that American Indians and Alaska Natives carry because they are the only true citizens of the United States who were born with a legal right to health care. Although this sentence carries truth from the very beginning in the making of what the United States is today, American Indians and Alaska natives are still labeled under the term as a “Vulnerable Population”. Funding: The term Vulnerable Population defined as, populations or groups whose needs are not fully addressed by traditional service providers. In short, the federal government was given an obligation to provide health care services to members of federally recognized tribes that were developed from a special relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes that was established in 1787. The federal government would exchange health care services for land and resources. Another exchange that the federal government failed to keep with American Indians was to provide quality education and health care to Indian people and tribes. The federal trust responsibility, has been defined in the U.S. Constitution, treaties, statutes, and in Supreme Court decisions and in efforts to fulfill the federal obligation, the Indian Health Service (IHS) was established within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 1955. Clearly it has failed. IHS has been responsible for providing culturally appropriate and personal and public health services according to the needs of the American Indian and Alaska...
Words: 2641 - Pages: 11
...Americanization of Immigrants and Native Americans In the late 1800’s immigration has increased immensely. Not only was the population growing but substantial problems went along with the immigration. In restatement, the immigrants came to America to find better opportunity upon a future they want to achieve. The types of immigrants were the Irish, Germans, Chinese, etc. These people wanted to seek for an opportunity to escape their religion, harsh government in their native country, and own land. As the population grew, the society had to change and step up to it’s capability of becoming a stable nation. Some of the significant things that occurred in the life of an immigrant in the society were economical and political problems. Some of the economical changes the immigrants have made, for example were the jobs they had to make money. Many of the 25 million immigrants that entered America between 1866 and 1915 became factory workers. However, for immigrants in the cities, factory work was one of the few options available. Agriculture jobs and factory jobs were the main areas of employment for a lot of former slaves and immigrants. In factories, they had poor lighting, unsanitary conditions, and the jobs were highly dangerous. Women, men and children were able to work in these conditions for up to 12 hours per day. As soon as one became ill or died another person would step over into their past job without a second thought. Another problem that occurred was the population...
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
...In the 1950s a government program had the largest movement of Native Americans in American history and is still affecting natives peoples today. During the 1700s and 1800s Native Americans were made into “yeomen farmers” and everyone forgot how beneficial natives were for the first european settlers. Tribes started suffering large levels of unemployment and poverty. In 1950 Native Americans were making four times less than the average white person. Relocation offices were set up in many different places to help Native Americans find jobs. Though not everyone was able to get housing and a job, so many ended up leaving and moving back to reservations. After reading The Urban Relocation Program I realized how unfairly Native Americans are still...
Words: 293 - Pages: 2
...United States experienced an urban revolution. Machines replaced people and corruption developed within the government. Industrialization improved the lives of many Americans between 1865 and 1920 but it created some issues for many Americans as well. The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in history. Every aspect of life was influenced in some way. Three major aspects of industrialization during 1865-1920 that influenced U.S. society are society, economy, and politics. The geography of Great Britain provided excellent waterways for transporting goods and raw materials. The Industrial Revolution played a major role in the development of American business. The productive environment created business opportunities for entrepreneurs like John D. Rockefeller. The development of mechanization had significant impact on employment and agriculture. As the wealth of industrialist grew, political power grew as well. Government corruption became more widespread and citizens began to complain. The government created laws like the Interstate Commerce Commission to eliminate businesses from trying to influence the government (Schultz, K. M. 2014). Five groups that were affected by industrialization include: Native Americans, immigrants, farmers, women, and middle and lower class workers. Native Americans were affected the most from industrialization. People wanted to live near the factories they worked. Because of the increase in population, urban areas quadrupled in size leading...
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...Enhancing the Awareness of Navajo Indians Michele Amoroso, Holly Bulian, and Tara Smallidge Loyola University Enhancing the Awareness of Navajo Indians Native Americans are composed of numerous, distant tribes, bands and ethnic groups, many of which survive as intact, sovereign nations. Once a self-governing, self-sufficient people, America Indians were forced to give up their homes and their land, and to subordinate themselves to an alien culture. From the origin of their tribes in the 1500’s to the early nineteenth century, American Indians have experienced oppression. Today, American Indians are more numerous than they have been for several centuries (Andersen & Collins, 2012). Today, Native Americans have a unique relationship with the United States. Since the late 1960’s, political participation has led to an expansion of efforts to teach and preserve Indigenous languages for younger generations and to establish a greater cultural infrastructure. This paper will discuss the specific tribe of the Navajo Indians to create awareness of their history, oppression, and current state in today’s world. The word Navajo comes from the phrase “Tewa Navahu”, meaning highly cultivated lands. The Indians largely reside in New Mexico and Arizona. The Navajo Indians originally began their tribes in the 1500’s. They traded maize, or corn crops, and woven cotton items such as blankets for things such as bison meat, and various materials, which were made for tools and weapons. Homes...
Words: 3978 - Pages: 16
...Many American Indian communities are impoverished, with some tribes reporting unemployment as high as 85%. Existing jobs are found mainly within the tribal government, Bureau of Indian Affairs, state social services, the school systems, and the Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital. Additionally, years of failed government policies have left reservation economies with limited economic opportunity. The government placed reservations in areas away from fertile land, population centers, water supplies and other vital resources, compounding economic challenges with geographic isolation. While it is important to know these economic challenges, it is also important to know that tribes are dynamic, open to new ideas, and committed to improving their communities and their children’s future. Poverty-related statistics: Employment: Native Americans have the lowest employment rate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). In...
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...Weichao Xu Sciology 101 Chapter 7 Native American 1. Sociohistorical Perspective Early Encounters A. Place the pre-European colonization number of Native Americans become United States. a) Tribes changed their values, customs and beliefs. B. Debate about native American and European culture. a) Indigenous people to be savage. b) Incorrupt children of nature always engage in pleasurable activities. C. The stereotype of Native Americans is negative. 1. They obstruct Europeans from occupying the native americans’ land. 2. Cruel, treacherous, lying and dirty health. 3. Scalps, firearms and firewater. D. Outsiders frequently generalize about Native Americans. 1. The Native’s American language decrease from 300 to 175 . 2. English become the main language in home, school and work place. E. The relationship between Native Americans and whites. 1. Whits was the newcomers to Native Americans. a) Distrust b) Uneasy truces c) Violent hostilities F. The major issue whose way of life would prevail. 1. European a) Beatings, hangings , and imprisonment. b) The land would be developed further. 2. Native American Natural state, abounding with fish and wildlife. G. Forced relocation of Native American tribes to encourage westward expansion. ...
Words: 2177 - Pages: 9
...In Sherman Alexie’s “Distances” The story was intended to inform people that we Native Americans are adapting to the white world and other Natives are jealous that some “Urbans” are making a living. In my own perspective in my own reservation people are jealous of people who are doing good for themselves. Plus, the people who live on the rez cannot marry to a urban is complete bullshit because I have a cousin who is married to an “Urban” and they are happy with each other. Plus, my cousin’s wife is still a very traditional and most of the “Urbans” I have meet… never forget the roots and this Story is just from one person view. In my reservation, we push children and teenagers to limits so they can have better life for themselves but also support...
Words: 413 - Pages: 2
...Native Americans Deepak Patel HIS/135-The American Experience Since 1945 October 6, 2012 The Native Americans who were native of the United States have suffered many injustices during the 1960s. Many negative stereotypes still existed about Indians, showing Native Americans in a bad light. Native Americans had the highest unemployment rates, the lowest average income, and suffered from poor health that they could not have fixed. Eisenhower also set up the policy of ‘termination.’ This policy was made to “end the status of Indians as wards of the government and grant them all the rights and prerogatives pertaining to American citizenship” (Eckholm, 1994). The results of this were disastrous, and many Native Americans remained poor. Still, Native Americans were constantly relocated to reservations that were supposed to preserve their societies, but actually left them powerless. Native Americans eventually started to get mobilized to challenge the government on water, fishing, and treaty rights. The Red Power was a political movement in the 1960's. The Native Americans were fighting to get back their land. They felt that they had to get violent in order to regain their civil rights. Most them were willing to break the laws and confront the government. Most of these Native Americans came from the urban ghettos and were not Indians from reservations. They were influenced by the African Americans. This movement lead up to a series of...
Words: 484 - Pages: 2
...Even though Christopher Columbus has a national holiday named after himself, he does not deserve the celebration. Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492, Columbus found the Native americans and believed they'd be best when put into heavy labor. This investigation will show how the Columbus impacted the Natives.Many believe that Columbus was the first to discover the Americas, however many believe another may have found the land before, it's essential to look into the matter closely. The most reliable sources consist of credible online articles and websites. Christopher Columbus affected the daily lives of Native Americans by exploiting their abilities, their rights, and their freedom to be human. Columbus arrived at an island...
Words: 921 - Pages: 4
