| In a Congress
report, referenced below, the magnitude of the
problem that we are discussing has been highlighted.
The authenticity of the Congress report is beyond
doubt so it is safe to quote the relevant excerpts
here. It says “Native American communities
continue to be plagued by alcohol and substance
abuse at staggering rates….. The incidence
of alcohol and substance abuse among American
Indian and Alaskan Native adults is far greater
than that of the general population…. Alcoholism
occurs among American Indian and Alaskan Natives
at a rate that is 579% greater than the general
population. Deaths due to alcoholism occur at
a rate that is 440% higher than that of the general
population.” This same report goes on to
say that the rate of death caused by alcoholism
among the American Indian youth was 5.2 per 100,000
which is 17 times the rate for white youth. Further
statistics in the report show that According to
the survey report in this report 82% of Native
youth confessed to having used alcohol, compared
with 66% of non-Native youth. (Purpose, 2002)
Another relevant statistic is reproduced below
to illustrate the gravity of the problem:
“Native Americans have the highest percentage
of alcohol-involved driver, passenger, and pedestrian
fatalities of any ethnic group. Three out of four
drivers and eight out of ten pedestrian fatalities
occur in alcohol- related crashes” (For
Native Americans, 2001).
The problems arising out of the alcohol and drug
abuse include inter alia:
- Automobile accidents
- Suicide
- Homicide
- Sexual abuse of minors and spouse
- Higher rate of school and college drop outs
- Low academic achievements (grades)
- Unsatisfactory job performance
- High divorce rate and broken homes
- Depression and psychological conditions
The ‘Native American Alcohol and Substance
Abuse Program Consolidation Act of 2002’
has been enacted with a view to allow the problems
to be handled by a single agency instead of the
plethora of agencies ( 20 programs administered
by seven Federal agencies) which meant running
from pillar to post and which were administratively
also not cost effective. This Act also recognizes
the inadequacy of the funds and promises to allocate
much higher funds as the requirements. As a matter
of fact this Act is modeled on the pattern of
the successful Indian Employment, Training and
Related Services Demonstration act of 1992, as
amended, Pub. L. 102-477, which envisages a single
consolidated plan of action for all Federal employment
and training activities.
In their paper ‘Alcohol Use and Related
Problems Among Ethnic Minorities in the United
States’ by Frank H. Galvan, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.,
and Raul Caetano, M.D., Ph.D., contend that “Among
the elements thought to account for these ethnic
differences are social or cultural factors such
as drinking norms and attitudes and, in some cases,
genetic factors” (Alcohol use….2003).
This writer does not agree with the contention
on the grounds that the drinking norms and attitudes
are symptoms and not the cause. No individual
inherits bad habits. These are acquired due to
the prevalent environment and circumstances surrounding
the individual. We have to look beyond the symptoms
in order to have a proper diagnosis and then have
the proper remedy and cure. This we propose to
do in the following paragraphs.
The Native Americans already inhabited the land
that is the United States now and in that sense
they are the true inheritors. They resisted the
white settlers who came to these shores from Continental
Europe. Because the white man had the ‘magic’
gun powder they were quickly in a winning position.
With their bows, arrows and spears the Natives
were no match to the rifles and cannons of the
white settlers. The natives were hunted down mercilessly,
overpowered and turned into a under privileged
minority with little or no rights. The white settlers
grabbed land freely and the Natives lost ground
retreating to smaller and smaller land holdings
which go under the name of ‘reserves’
today.
The deep scars of barbarities and torture suffered
by the native Indians have quite conceivably played
heavily on the psyche of the Native Americans.
However, that was many generations ago and much
water has flowed under the bridge since those
times. And time, as is said, is a great healer.
So those wounds would have healed considerably.
The cruelties faced then would have only fringe
effect on the present day predicament of drug
and alcohol abuse among the Native American youth.
So we have to move to more potent and relevant
factors.
The plight of the Natives stems largely from social
and cultural factors which in turn are the outcome
of the historical issues. For the entire length
of the history of United States the Natives have
been subjugated and suppressed and treated nowhere
near at par with the majority whites. This is
hardly surprising. The natives’ skills were
primarily for hunting for food, wild herbs for
medicinal purposes and primitive thatched houses
for shelter. They hardly had any background of
education. The racial bias and prejudice against
the African Americans who were first brought in
as slave labor is a black chapter in the US history.
The Natives were treated no differently. They
have not been given equal status notwithstanding
constitutional provisions and guarantees. In actual
fact these two are intermingled as one has bearing
on the other.
The point being made here is the centuries of
neglect and apathy shown towards the Native Americans.
It is not so much the past atrocities perpetrated
on the Native Americans but the continued neglect,
apathy and indifference to their plight. They
have been given the fancy title of Native Americans.
This tantamounts to lip service beyond which there
is not much by way of practical steps to address
this issue in a practical and well meaning way.
Precious little has been done to bring them into
the mainstream American life. The only way that
will guarantee the Native American youth to attain
the same academic, vocational, professional status
and standards as the other youth is to bring them
in the fold of the mainstream society. Their sense
of alienation has to end. No amount of governmental
grants or ‘dole’ will bring about
the long term success that is the desired goal.
Financial help may provide some relief but in
actual fact it breeds complacence and dependence.
At best it is a short term benefit which sadly
has addictive properties also.
We can now make some suggestion and recommendations
for debate and discussion so that necessary thought
is given to the matter.
There should be special quotas in the universities
for Native Americans. They may be considered
for admission as a ‘disadvantaged’
group. This means relaxation in entrance qualifications.
Church may get involved in the efforts for the
upliftment of the Native American youth. Church
will
need to break fresh grounds and devise special
programs.
Non-government organizations (NGO’s) should
also undertake reform programs.
Sports men and women and other celebrities should
be encouraged to work as ambassadors at large
to act as role models and do community motivation.
Media should play their role in creating awareness
so the employers support programs to voluntary
induct
the Native American youth.
The major initiative must come from the government.
The ‘Native American Alcohol and Substance
Abuse Program Consolidation Act of 2002’
is a bold initiative and needs strengthening and
nurturing. More resources need to be diverted
to improve the lot of these young people as they
have been a victim of their environment which
environment has been historically imposed on them
by the majority. It is time for every American
to do a bit of soul searching and come out openly
to right the wrongs of the past and help these
young people to come out from a life of despair
and live a life of honor, personal fulfillment
and as worthy citizens of this great nation.
|