Did You Know...

The American government has broken every single one of the 300 treaties signed by the Indians.

120 million Native Americans have died as a result of the European settlement of the U.S.  In 2008, Colorado senator, Suzanne Williams, and others in the Colorado legislature, passed a resolution comparing deaths of millions of American Indians to the Holocaust.

According to the Wall Street Journal, life expectancy on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is the lowest in the Western Hemisphere, outside of Haiti.  It is considered the most impoverished community in America.  Unemployment is 85% and the average annual income is only $3,700.

Many American Indians live many miles from the nearest store or hospital.  Many do not have a legal vehicle or money to buy gasoline if they had one.

Most American Indian people on the reservations exist on commodities doled out by the government each month.  Often these rations do not last an entire month and people have gone hungry. 

American Indian children living on some reservations live in real poverty; some without adequate food, proper medical and dental care; without homes and without hope.

Often dilapidated homes or trailers, poor sanitation, not enough water and old wood stoves for heating and cooking is all too often today’s reality for many Indian people.

Many tribal elders live in deplorable conditions.  These elders are the keepers of tribal traditions and they preserve the tribe’s history through the language, stories and legends.  Despite efforts, many of these elders face true adversity.

Indians living on reservations are required to pay their full share of income, excise, and Social Security taxes.  Many people believe that American Indians are given special tax breaks, which is not true.

American Indian men and women proudly serve in our Armed forces to protect the rights that our citizens deserve. These proud veterans do not complain and continue to honor our flag and all it stands for.

Every Indian activity is started with prayer. Veterans, mothers, and families are honored with song and prayer.

33% more is spent on felons in the federal prisons than on American Indians. We as a society spend less than half on education for Native American children as we do on education for other American children. Why?

Native Americans suffer the highest high school dropout rate in the country.  Fewer than 1 in 5 graduate from high school or go to college.

The BIA has a maintenance backlog of many millions for such basic repairs as leaking roofs, broken windows, failed heaters/AC systems.  Schools have suffered for decades from neglect and disrepair.  Buildings in some areas are deteriorated to the point where servicing no longer meets today’s standards.

On some reservations, the people do not have adequate warm clothing or blankets to survive the winters.  Children and elders suffer the most in the cold, harsh climates.  Often used and donated items alleviate the needs, but not everyone benefits.

Foreign countries receive donations from groups, individuals, churches, and our government, yet so little for American Indian people.  These people did not ask to be disposed of their land, they only tried to defend it, and were sent to reservations.

Native American Proverbs

The wisdom and inspiration of the Native American proverbs have been passed down for generations.

First, you are to always think of God.  Second, you are to use all your powers to care for your people, especially the poor.

With all things and in all things, we are relatives.

Man has responsibility, not power.

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

Remember that your children are not your own but are lent to you by the Creator.

We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

Take only memories leave nothing but footprints.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  Live your life in a manner so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.

Give me knowledge so I may have kindness for all.  The more you give, the more good things come to you.