Poverty Among

Native Americans
By Erica Guo
Pr. 2

Introduction to Impoverishment
American Indian communities are impoverished. Some report
unemployment as high as 85%.
Native Americans usually hold jobs within the tribal government,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, state social services, the school
systems, and the Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital.
Years of failed government policies have left reservation
economies with limited economic opportunity.
The government geographically isolate natives. It placed
reservations in areas away from fertile land, population
centers, water supplies and other resources.
While poverty is challenging, Natives are open to new ideas,
and optimistic on improving their communities and their
childrens future.

Causes for Native American

Poverty
Native Americans have the lowest employment rate of
any racial or ethnic group in the United States.
The slow federal bureaucracy prevents Natives from
managing or capitalizing their land effectively.
Because Indian land is federally owned, it is incredibly
difficult to start businesses.
High rates of poverty and violence are responsible for
Native Americans rate of incarceration, which is the
highest among all ethnic groups in America.

Solutions to Native American

Poverty
Federal Indian policies and tribal governments

should work together to

Provide and advocate for college education for

tribal youth
achieve market sustainability
streamline the land management process to
become more efficient
Increase number of jobs to tribal members
restore individual health
Increase funding for child and social services
improve housing

Example #1: Theres Hope

Kenny Dobbs, a member of the
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is an
ambassador for Nike N7 and the
Native American Basketball
Invitational (NABI) Foundation. He
often tells his story of fighting
substance abuse, gang violence, and
suicide, to engage Native youth. He
also shares messages of hope and
prevention.

Example #2: Education for

Everyone
Executive Order 13592: Improving American Indian and Alaska

Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges

and Universities was signed by President Barack Obama in December
2011. Its purpose was to improve the educational resources

available to students in Indian Country.

How? It provides funds to support the preservation of Native

languages and cultures, to support increased institutional
endowments; to assist schools in developing information systems, and
increasing resources for training teachers.

How this Relates to UN

Declaration
Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of
his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical
care and necessary social services, and the right to
security in the event of unemployment, sickness,
disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood
in circumstances beyond his control.
Because Native Americans suffer from poverty, they
have limited access to healthcare and often have lowquality housing, food, and social services. American
Indians face discrimination in health services as well.
American Indians die at higher rates of chronic liver
disease, diabetes, and suicide. Young Native Americans
are more likely to kill themselves than any other group.

Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and

freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national
or social origin, property, birth or other status.
If Native Americans suffer high rates of poverty, they
are treated less equally in society. This violates the
second article, which prohibits discrimination.

United States
This is related to the United States because
we pride ourselves in being of country of
equal opportunity. Although our country is
greater social mobility and others, that
does not grant erasure of the genocides we
have committed against Native Americans.
Native Americans still do not have the
same economic opportunities as other
Americans. We must further close the
social gap between the average middle
class American and on impoverished
reservations.