WOLE

Web of Life Enterprises, INC.

217 So. 2nd. St.    Sterling, Ks. 67579

620-278-3842

Greets,

My name is J. Porter Selman, Founder and et al of Web of Life Enterprises, Inc.

I am speaking to you about a small local non-profit charitable orgaination based in Sterling, Ks that has been in business 3 years. We provide clothing, household goods and other needs to those living in poverty conditions in the central states. We also provided for the needs of local residents who have lost their homes as a result of fires or other natural disaters such and tornados. We make regular trips to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Central South Dakota, providing the same services to the Native Americans residing in sub-poverty conditions.

Our organization is supported solely by the donations of concerned citizens of this country, and some residing in other countries. During this time of social and economic upheaval in our country, donations have dropped extremely low, making it difficult to help others.

While many are sympathetic to the needs and misfortunes of others, it is often hard to comprehend the extent of the difficulties some people on Indian Reservations can face. For most people who live in the dominant culture, almost everyone has the potential to find a job and the money or resources to clothe their children, feed their elders, and repair their homes. It is almost beyond our ability to comprehend that these are priviledges, hard to come by for people who live on these reservations.

With unemployment on the reservations reaching as high as 85%, and 45% of the children living below the governmental poverty standards and a life expectancy of only 45 years, it is clear to see that America is not always a place of liberty and justice for all.

While some tribes seem to be thriving with their casinos, it's important to realize that very little of that money ever reaches the people who are most in need. We are used to seeing the faces of poverty overseas, but in fact, there are many faces right here at home that can use our help.

A disadvantaged community marked by economic and social flux, high turnover of residents, and low levels of supervision of teenagers and young adults creates an environment conducive to violence. In 1996, one out of every five children growing up in the United States (14.5 million) lived in poverty. A breakdown by ethnic group further defined the statistics with regard to American Indians where it was determined that 90% of American Indian children live in poverty - a number double or more than any other ethnic group in the United States.

The poverty on these reservations is so severe many can not afford heat in the winter, or warm coats and blankets. Many don't have electricity or a telephone, things we take for granted. The commodities they receive through the food program is so bad and full of carbohydrates and sugars, it has been discovered to be a contributing cause of the rampant diabetes epidemic.

Insufficient program funding through the BIA in 2000 resulted in $7.4 billion in unmet federal service needs among American Indians, including child welfare and adult vocational training. Because American Indian nations have continually suffered this type of economic instability, this has created a societal environment of hopelessness and desperation that extends back two or more generations.

The lack of funding has created an absence or lack of adequate prevention and intervention programs throughout Indian Country.  Culturally, American Indian people believe that children are both sacred and the hope of the future.

The federal government, which promised in treaties to provide for Native Americans, spends less than half as much per tribal member as it does for programs covering other Americans.

Housing must be paid for, which goes against the stipulations in the treaties, HUD is responsible for this housing. Why do these people have to pay to live in sub-standard housing, and where is the money going? Certaintly not into repairs or to provide adequite housing for the many homeless that wander about the reserve.

While it is not possible to "fix" all the problems within the Indian communities, it is possible to implement a program that changes the behavior patterns and outlook of a specific group of individuals who, in turn and upon return to their home communities, may be able to motivate others to do the same. It will require, however, a combination of several treatment components to address the most critical needs - pride in and strength drawn from cultural identity, educational self-confidence and success, and mental and physical health and well-being.

America waged war against the Native people for hundreds of years and in some ways that war continues. In South Dakota, where businesses are encouraged to invest in the bigger cities and tourism is kept to the areas where the dominant population can profit, the economy on the reservations is almost non-existant. It is time for all of us to take a stand and come to the aid of our Native relations and help to alleviate some of the suffering inflicted by an unyielding political situation.

Web of Life Enterprises seeks to bring some comfort and help to those who are suffering on the reservations as well as those in immediate need. We strive to end the hardships that some people have faced, especially the children, and I am calling on you for your help and assistance in furthering our goals. Money, goods and services are are all required to bring change, to providing better housing, decent food, warm clothing and blankets, and snow boots and coats for children who sometimes have to walk to the nearest schools or community centers for meals.

In a place where winter seems to begin just after it has ended, contibutions of money, goods or services that are so hard to come by in these remote areas, will not only alleviate discomfort, but can also provide the means for people on these reservations to work towards bettering the future for the children.

Conditions and Factors Contributing to Juvenile Crime in Indian Country

Much research in criminology has linked the probability of a child becoming involved in crime with his having grown up in a poor family, and/or in neighborhoods with high crime and poverty rates. Delinquency, substance use, abuse and dependence, and lack of access to adequate mental and
physical health care are just a few of the factors contributing to juvenile crime. Further, the manner in which a young offender or delinquent is adjudicated is an important determiner of the potential for recidivism. 

Poverty - A disadvantaged community marked by economic and social flux, high turnover of residents, and low levels of supervision of teenagers and young adults creates an environment conducive to violence. In 1996, one out of every five children growing up in the United States (14.5 million) lived in poverty. A breakdown by ethnic group further defined the statistics with regard to American Indians where it was determined that 90% of American Indian children live in poverty - a number double or more than any other ethnic group in the United States.

Insufficient funding has limited the success of development programs and perpetuated unstable economies. Additionally, insufficient program funding through the BIA in 2000 resulted in $7.4 billion in unmet federal service needs among American Indians, including child welfare and adult vocational training.5 Because American Indian nations have continually suffered this type of economic instability, this has created a societal environment of hopelessness and desperation that extends back two or more generations.

Delinquency - As a group, American Indian students are not afforded educational opportunities equal to other American students. They routinely face deteriorating school facilities, underpaid teachers, weak curricula, discriminatory treatment, outdated learning tools, and cultural isolation.
As a result, achievement gaps persist with American Indian students scoring lower than any other racial/ethnic group in basic levels of reading, math, and history. Further, Special Programs for Indian Adults has not been funded since 1995, and vocational rehabilitation programs are too poorly funded to meet the abundant need. Tribal colleges and universities receive 60% less federal funding per student than other public community colleges.

In short, the educational prospects for American Indians that would help to provide tools for a better future are abysmal.  Problems in youth, such as delinquency and dropping out of school can extend into adulthood, and often share common risk characteristics that can add to a climate conducive to inappropriate behavior. Data from educational studies suggests that, while Indian students achieve on a par with or beyond the performance of non-Indian students in elementary school, they show a crossover or decline in performance between fourth and seventh grades.

Regardless of the variance in explanations for this crossover, negative consequences often ensue.

The most recent studies indicate that Native American students have higher dropout rates than non-native students. In the last decade, only 66% of Native American students graduated from high
school, compared with 75% of the general population. Dropout rates among Native American students are high because, among other reasons, their civil rights and cultural identities are often at risk in the educational environment. Research shows that Native American students experience
difficulty maintaining rapport with teachers and establishing relationships with other students; feelings of isolation; racist threats; and frequent suspension, allowing miscommunication and confrontation leading to hostility, alienation, and dropping out.

Substance Use - Substance use, abuse, and dependence, including alcohol, are serious contributors to juvenile delinquency and crime, often extend into adulthood if left untreated, and carry the additional threat of subsequent mental and physical health issues that compound the problems.

Statistics indicate that the age of first involvement with alcohol is lower, the frequency of drinking and amount of alcohol consumed are higher, and the negative consequences of drinking are more prevalent and severe for American Indian and Alaska Native youth. The number of alcohol-related arrests for American Indian and Alaska Native youth under age 18 is twice the national average according to the American Indians and Crime Report.

According to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the rate of illicit drug use among civilian, non-institutionalized American Indians is the second highest in the country at 10.1%. Among youths aged 12 to 17, the rate of current illicit drug use among American Indians and Alaska Natives (20.9%) was significantly higher than the rate among all youths (11.6%). Among persons aged 12 or older in 2002, the rate of substance dependence or abuse was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (14.1%).

Approximately 21% of the total American Indian/Alaskan Native population ages 12 or older have used illegal drugs in their lifetime. Of that number (864,000), 33% had used within the past year, and 17% within the past month. The age category of 12-17 accounted for approximately 11% of the lifetime users, of which 68% (7% of the 12 or older category) within the last year, and 39% (4% of the 12 or older category) within the last month. 

Access to Mental and Physical Health Care - The prominent medical afflictions of urban and rural Native Americans are largely the same and, not surprisingly, mirror the key areas of unmet funding needs identified in A Quiet Crisis: alcohol and substance abuse, domestic and community violence, diabetes, cancer, mental illness, heart disease, poor dental health, and infectious disease. Health facilities are frequently inaccessible and medically obsolete, and preventive care and specialty services are not readily available. Most American Indians do not have private health insurance and thus rely exclusively on the Indian Health Service (IHS) for health care.

Studies have shown that physical and mental health of the offenders before and after they commit their offenses, culture-bound syndromes, and historical and sociocultural factors (mistrust, racism, discrimination, and historically, segregation, forced assimilation, and acculturation), are all contributors to their proclivity to commit crime. Ethnic and racial minorities in the United States face a social and economic environment of inequality that includes greater exposure to racism and discrimination, violence, and poverty, all of which takes a toll on mental health.1 Deteriorating or poor mental health can adversely impact physical health.

The federal government spends less per capita on American Indian health care than on any other group for which it has this responsibility, including Medicaid recipients, prisoners, veterans, and military personnel. Annually, IHS spends 60% less on its beneficiaries than the average per person health care expenditure nationwide. Nationally, one-third of American Indians and Alaska Natives do not have a usual source of health care. Despite the creation of the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 1955 specifically to provide a comprehensive health service delivery system for American Indian and Alaska Natives, IHS reaches only 20% of the American Indian population. The majority of those treated by IHS reside on or near reservations. As of 1990, more than half of American Indians and Alaska Natives lived in urban areas.

Further, state recognized tribes are not covered by IHS services at all.

The Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services is the second largest resource for Indian health care through its Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health Insurance programs.5 Unfortunately, a bureaucracy exists when urban-based American Indians attempt to access state-administered Medicaid payment for services in areas other than their state of residence where, all to often, equivalent culture-based services do not exist. In those instances access to culturally appropriate treatment is often unnecessarily delayed and/or withheld due to the issuing state's refusal to cover out-of-state treatment costs.

Adjudication - All three components of law enforcement - policing, justice, and corrections - are substandard in Indian Country compared with the rest of the nation. Per capita spending on law enforcement in American Indian communities is roughly 60% of the national average. Crime prevention, law enforcement, and adjudication are significant factors due to the overrepresentation of American Indians in the justice system, and to the complexity of the justice system as it applies to American Indians, especially youth. In addition to being the victims of crime more often, American Indians are also overrepresented in jails and prisons. American Indians are incarcerated at a rate 38% higher than the national per capita rate. The number of American Indian youth in the federal prison system has increased 50% since 1994.5 Native American youth represent 1% of the US
population, yet they constitute 2 to 3% of youth arrested for such offenses as larceny-theft and liquor law violations. Additionally, Native American youth between the ages of 12 and 20 are 58% more likely to become crime victims than whites or blacks.

Unfortunately, the US criminal justice system conflicts in many respects with traditional views of justice held by Native American communities, and often fails to provide any form of resolution, most especially community-based solutions that are so vital in a tribal environment. The complexity of jurisdictional division among federal, state, and tribal governments adds to the breakdown of law and order in Native communities. In 2003, the Office of Justice Programs budget for Native Americans was 2.2% of its overall budget. While this figure reflects a 1.8% increase in funding over the past 5 years, important OJP Native programs have been decreased or cut entirely. The juvenile justice program budget has been cut nearly 80% since 1998, and the At-Risk Children's Initiative was cut by 40%. The Native American portion of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant has been phased out entirely, as have tribal drug courts. Additionally, several programs have been proposed over the years, but never funded including tribal youth mental health, police corps, sexual assault nurse examiners, drug testing and treatment, and an Indian law enforcement block grant.

This lack of funding has created an absence or lack of adequate prevention and intervention programs throughout Indian Country.  Culturally, American Indian people believe that children are both sacred and the future. Successful treatment of youth offenders, especially those who have been incarcerated or otherwise sentenced for their offenses, is critical not only to their own rehabilitation, and mental and physical well being, but also to reducing recidivism rates. While it is not possible
through this project to "fix" all the problems within the Indian communities, it is possible to implement a program that changes the behavior patterns and outlook of a specific group of individuals who, in turn and upon return to their home communities, may be able to motivate others to do the same. It will require, however, a combination of several treatment components to address the most critical needs - pride in and strength drawn from cultural identity, educational self-confidence and success, and mental and physical health and well-being.