Native Injustice: The Neglected Reality - Part 1

There is a group of people that I feel the rest of the country forget and have overlooked for many years: Native Americans. As we get into a new year and are still dealing with a global pandemic, it is also time for us to address the many issues that Native Americans face every day. They are our fellow Americans whether we like it or not. Some of them have served honorably in our military and in many other aspects in this country. Yet they are living in conditions that are not livable to the average person.

Unfortunately, American Indians and Alaskan Natives are most likely to be victims of crime, especially violent and sex crimes. Native men and women are victims of violence but in different ways. Have we as a country forgotten about the atrocities that led to the deaths of many Natives by the thousands - better yet - close to millions? We also know the healthcare system also known as the Indian Health Service (IHS) is antiquated and not properly funded so Natives can receive quality healthcare and services they need. Many native families when on the reservations are currently living in poverty and in sub-par living conditions. Public safety entities in many Native American nations are inadequately funded or even understaffed that it would take long for tribal first responders to respond to a 911 call for service.

American Indians and Alaska Native men and women are more likely to be victims of crime but in different ways. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Justice, more than four out of five Native men and women are victims of violence at higher rates than anyone else. (Justice, 2016). Native men are likely to be victims of psychological aggression and violent crimes (i.e. domestic violence, homicide, assault and threats). Meanwhile, Native women are likely to be victims of sexual violence along with every other form of violent crime. There needs to be more resources to protect Native men and women from acts of violence.

Honestly, I think more needs to be done to protect our Native brothers and sisters especially in the reservations and beyond. We as a nation need to do a better job in providing funding for tribal public safety agencies, protect the waterways effectively from pollution in tribal lands, provide quality healthcare and education in all tribal nations besides leaving them with just a casino and that's it. I feel we need to treat our Native people with the utmost dignity and respect they deserve. They need better living conditions so their families can be able enjoy and grow in the many years to come.

Our American Indian and Alaskan Natives need to know that we are there for them. They need the rest of the country and the world to know that we hear their voices loud and clear. We need to do our part and listen to their requests, demands, and protests in order to get a better understanding of how we can do our part in making their quality of life a lot better. The first and foremost we should be building more hospitals and medical centers within the reservations instead of them being too far for people to travel. There should be more emergency rooms built in the reservation so Natives have easy access to care. Tribal law enforcement agencies need to provide additional funding to hire and retain good officers. I strongly recommend departments should implement two-officer patrols in the reservation for officer safety and accountability. They should be living in better housing on the reservation. Our government has a duty to Native Americans to enforce laws that protect them from harm.