Opinion: Indian Country continues to suffer in media silence

Indians who remain on reservations face severe problems with drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, child abuse, teen-age pregnancy, school drop-outs, gangs, crime not unlike similar situations with African-Americans, but there are far fewer programs to help them or media coverage to expose the conditions. Isolated in distant reservations, they are the forgotten. Poverty is extreme, 46 percent live below the poverty line. Little wonder that of all ethnic groups in America, theirs has the highest rate of child mortality, highest rate of suicide, highest rate of teenage suicide. They have the lowest life expectancy at 55 years of age which is no surprise considering the insufficient health care many receive.

Schools on the reservations are in deplorable state due to lack of funds and constant turnover of teachers. Any attempt at economic development is stymied by lack of capital, no natural resources, poor education leading to few skills and no experience at commerce. The reservations are (on purpose originally) in isolated areas that make it difficult to reach markets and business centers. It is hard to connect with the outside world when reservations often have no electricity, telephones or Internet. Some reservations struck gold when they built casinos which offered business experience and revenue to improve their communities although other reservations refuse to join because they feel it destroys Indian culture. What Indians lack today is an Indian version of Al Sharpton who would pop up here and there in an instant and start angry marches, fiery debates, inflaming emotions and cause tons of publicity.

Daydreaming aside, they at least need the Bureau of Indian Affairs to wake up and do their job, which so far has been appallingly ineffective. For poor uneducated people to cope with the bureaucracy involved in trying to get some help is a dead end. The bureau's chief concern appears to be management of the lands, real estate and tribal courts. On paper the bureau has good programs, it is results that are lacking. Outreach programs, social workers are essential if self-determination can be achieved. A good number of Indians work for the bureau and should be the first to identify with their needs. If funds are inadequate, appeal to Washington could bring results -- but without general public awareness of the issues, without media coverage, nothing is done.