NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH: THE HISTORY OF RESERVATIONS AND TODAY’S DISPARITIES

Written By Guest User

For this second post, we’re going to focus on the experience of Native Americans, specifically the history of Native American reservations and the continued disparities that Native Americans face today. While the experience of each Indigenous person is unique, exploring population-level statistics highlights the continued impacts of colonization.

In 2019, the median income for American Indian and Alaska Native households was $45,476. This is slightly higher than the median income for Black households ($43,862) and much lower than the white household median income of $69,823. Native Americans also have the highest percent of households below the poverty level among all races and ethnicities at 23%.

These disparities are exacerbated for those Native Americans who live on reservations. In the U.S., there are currently 326 federally recognized reservations (see map). In 2010, the median income on a reservation was $29,097, compared to the national median income for Native Americans of $40,315.

The U.S. government established the Reservation System in 1851. The creation of this system forced Native Americans to live on established tracts of land. The land assigned to Indigenous tribes often lacked fertile soil and abundant resources, which led to malnutrition in many communities.

In addition, Native Americans experienced pressure to assimilate to white culture and convert to Christianity. In the late 1800s, the U.S. government and Christian missionaries established Native American Boarding Schools, also known as Indian Residential Schools. The goal of these schools was to “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.” Multiple generations of Indigenous children were forced to attend schools where they were forbidden to speak their Indigenous languages or wear traditional clothing. Recently, thousands of reported cases of mental, physical, and sexual abuse at these schools came to light.

The legacy of the creation of the reservation system manifests itself in the poverty and lack of resources common on reservations today.

Throughout the country, less than 50% of homes on reservations connect to a public sewer system, and 16% lack indoor plumbing. On the largest reservation in the country, the Navajo Nation, up to 40% of households don’t have access to clean running water at home. Lack of access to clean water is common on reservations throughout the country, as is a lack of access to affordable, fresh, and healthy foods. This results in increased incidences of health issues, including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

As reservations are often located far from urban areas, limited access to healthcare facilities further exacerbates disparities in health outcomes. The distance from urban centers also contributes to a lack of nearby, sustaining-wage employment opportunities. In addition, 40% of housing found on reservations is considered substandard (6% of housing is substandard in the rest of the country), and 30% is overcrowded. On top of that, the U.S. government still legally owns most reservation land held in land trusts, making it extremely difficult for households to obtain ownership and build credit.

While there are no reservations in Kent County, 32% of white households fall below the ALICE threshold, compared to 46% of Native American and Alaskan Native households. As we to work to support and advocate for those who live below the ALICE threshold, it’s important that we continue to recognize and work to impact the disparate outcomes faced by minority households.

Sources and Further Reading:

Guest User
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