When I was researching for evidence of alcoholism and poverty for my analysis paper of Sherman Alexie's novel, I found shocking facts that really made me think:
- "Indians face grim statistivs for most diseases...4.9 times higher for liver disease and cirrhosis, more than 7 times higher for death due to alcoholism, 3 times higher for accidental deaths, and more than 6 times higher for tuberculosis" (West 93).
- "Many reservations...continue...with very high levels of poverty and unemployment amond residents, few economic oppurtunities, and high incidences of alcohol and drug abuse" (West 124).
West, Rick. Do All Indians Live In Tipis? New York: Collins, In Association with the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, 2007. Print.
All other facts I found on Native Americans were very similar on the topics of alcoholism and poverty. I think that these statistics may be very accurate but I do not think that all Natives are like this. It was just a big eye opener on topics I never thought about before.
Hi Mahea,
ReplyDeleteThese are challenging topics, and glad you note you know these statistics don't apply to everyone or tell the whole story.
The statistics are grim, yet there is hope for some. There is a movement called Wellbriety, which uses Native American traditions to help heal the whole person, not just get them off drugs and/or alcohol. The canoe journeys in our area are another way people in Native communities are working to heal themselves. There are surely others, yet I am also still learning myself.