Special Report

Federal and private agencies have made a series of depressing reports as to the condition of American Indian youth, both in the home and in their interaction with the judicial system.

The reports bring little good news as to the life of the average Indian child.

Before birth, the cards are stacked. Indian children have a 500% greater chance of being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS is a debilitating disease that affects children of mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. FAS spawns a variety of problems, from organ dysfunction and seizures to hyperactivity and erratic behavior.

After birth, Indian children have three times the chance of dying of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Escaping those challenges, they face a home life rife with alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and gang violence. Thirty-eight percent of American Indian women and twelve percent of men report being victims of domestic violence. Sixteen percent of the women report being raped by at least one intimate domestic partner.

Unemployment on the reservation hovers at 37% nationally, with some reservations reporting over 70%. Those jobs that are available are mostly in the service industry with little chance of career growth.

Alcohol abuse runs rampant through the reservations, with effective programs losing funding just as soon as they begin to show progress. Says Dr. Wayne Mitchell of Indian Health Services, “They can be as young as eight or nine years old and have drinking problems.”

Depression is a serious problem for Indian youth. The suicide rate is three times the national average. Teen pregnancy rates have increased 15% over the last ten years, putting it at a recent high.