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According to the United States Census, critical rates of poverty in New Mexico are directly linked to areas of Native American reservations.
Native Americans living on these reservations often times feel forgotten, or pushed to the side, by the United States government.
There is a serious negative stigma associated with these reservations which makes it harder on the residents. Suicide rates are extremely high, and they have little to no political voice.
When is the last time anyone heard “I’m going to fight to improve the Native American reservations” in a campaign message?
When negative stigma is associated with any area, it can lead to the area becoming an unattractive place for expanding businesses, teachers, and health care professionals who might otherwise consider working in the area.
This results in a serious lack of jobs and high unemployment rates, low-quality education, and low-quality health care. All of this then makes the problem of poverty even worse in the area, which then reinforces the negative stigma attached to it.
Without some public and private investment in these areas, better communication with tribal governments, and more attention to the needs of these reservations, the poverty rate in these areas is expected to rise.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
I did most of my Xmas shopping online, at the Southwest Indian Foundation in Gallup. They have really nice stuff. The Native Americans are a largely forgotten people.
I did most of my Xmas shopping online, at the Southwest Indian Foundation in Gallup. They have really nice stuff. The Native Americans are a largely forgotten people.
I used to do the same, until they charged my card without shipping the items. They were out of stock, and they didn't bother to let me know until after the fact. It would not have been that big a deal except that I needed them for Christmas.
I ordered in early November. They finally called me about a week before Christmas and told me that the order would not arrive until the middle of January. Needless to say, I canceled the order, and demanded that they refund the charge. I finally found similar items locally.
I doubt I will ever order anything from them again.
There are some fundamental issues on the Navajo Nation that preclude business success. First and formost is the political climate, followed by an incredibly arcane bureaucracy, and then private property laws.
Opening any type of business on the rez is a years-long process, and one will have to deal with an ever changing landscape of players who may or may not like you and who have the power to stonewall you at any point. There are successful businesses out there, but by and large businessmen and businesswomen choose to locate in border towns where there are standardized laws and procedures for opening and operating a business.
The reservation system itself is pretty much a total failure, as was the system in the old Soviet Union. The federal government forced a system on the Navajo that's as close to socialism as one can find, and it has done nothing but create dependency. Pretty much a third world nation right out there right now, totally at the mercy of the outside world.
I've read elsewhere on the NM forum that it is an act of futility to even come from the outside to educate reservation children. The natives perpetuate non-competitiveness as no child really answers a question out of fear of showing up or humiliating their peers.
It was described in postings on this forum by idealistic Anglos from the outside, in broader terms that I could explain here, that they could make a difference, but largely gave up after getting stonewalled/or discouraged by reservation politics/beliefs.
According to the United States Census, critical rates of poverty in New Mexico are directly linked to areas of Native American reservations.
Native Americans living on these reservations often times feel forgotten, or pushed to the side, by the United States government.
There is a serious negative stigma associated with these reservations which makes it harder on the residents. Suicide rates are extremely high, and they have little to no political voice.
When is the last time anyone heard “I’m going to fight to improve the Native American reservations” in a campaign message?
When negative stigma is associated with any area, it can lead to the area becoming an unattractive place for expanding businesses, teachers, and health care professionals who might otherwise consider working in the area.
This results in a serious lack of jobs and high unemployment rates, low-quality education, and low-quality health care. All of this then makes the problem of poverty even worse in the area, which then reinforces the negative stigma attached to it.
Without some public and private investment in these areas, better communication with tribal governments, and more attention to the needs of these reservations, the poverty rate in these areas is expected to rise.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
good post! this is all so true. the reservations all over the united startes are hurt so much by poverty and dispair. there are tribes that have casino money but many of the natives families dont see much of it.
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