American Indian Reservations
Present Day Issues
Since the Native American reservations were first founded, there have always been issues. These problems have multiplied, altered, and intensified. They include gang violence, alcoholism, a lack of education, gambling, and vast poverty. They have tarnished and somewhat obliterated the traditional Native American culture. (IR)
Then and Now
GAMBLING
VAST POVERTY
Tribal and Federal governments are the largest employers on the reservations although approximately 28.2% of Native Americans are unemployed. Often heads of the households are forced to leave the reservations to find work leaving their parents (the kids' grandparents) in charge of their children. There is a huge gap between how much money the families make and how much they need to survive on the reservation. The scarcity of jobs and lack of economic opportunity means that 4-8 out of 10 adults on a reservation are unemployed.
ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism has become a generational problem in the American Indian reservations. FAS and inherited alcoholism has become one of the most prevalent issues in modern reservations. When it comes down to statistics, alcoholism seems to be a sore thumb sticking out from the already sore Indian Reservations. The Pine Ridge Reservation as a whole purchased 4.5 million cans of beer in one year. What usually happens since alcohol is outlawed on the reservations is; people will cross reservation borders where it is legal, buy the alcohol, and come back. This is obviously due to poor monitoring of the problem since 4.5 millions cans went over borders in one year on one single reservation.
Modern hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco spoke on this issue in his 2012 single “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free). He talks about Pine Ridge Reservation, which is one of the worst reservations with alcoholism. Alcoholism affects 8 out of 10 families on this reservation
“First off say peace to Pine Ridge
Shame on all the damage that the white man wine did
Ghost dance, Trail of Tears, 5 million beers a year
And all that other crime did”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S77zUWqawag
Watch 0:00-0:30
(IR) [6] [7]GANG VIOLENCE
Due to the rising number of poverty stricken inhabitants of many Indian Reservations, gang violence has taken a giant step forward. Many reservations have become normal places for illegal drug and gun trafficking. Some gangs have already been found with ties to known Mexican drug cartels. Most Native American gangs are found toward the west, but some have been founded as far east as Virginia and Michigan. The activities of these gangs has been said to almost exactly mirror those of gangs in Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. One specific gang, the Native Mob, is well known for targeting people who cooperate with the federal authorities. They have also been charged for illegal drugs, murders, robberies, and multiple various assaults. (KA) [8]