All of the indian nations were given the short stick many years ago by our government....have been mistreated by same also for years . Yet in reality nothing has really changed for them...our congressional leaders have never given them their due....this country was taken from them .... and placed a very proud people on reservations and pretty much locked away....If you think on it , our government is doing the same thing to us all now...selling this country out to others for their own benefit....if you think not, then consider the funds that both parties accept from lobbyist that are only looking to benefit themselves, not help any of us at all.

So true.

Ask for more accurate reporting. The suicides are male American Indians. Across all ethnic groups, 80% of the suicides are men. Women are known to attempt more, but men are either better at it or simply skip the drama and choose a reliable method of death. Probably most of the money is poorly spent on young ladies. How about allocate 80% of the money to help these young men that are killing themselves largely because they are treated as disposable people?

Anyone care to BET that this was preceded in the last couple of years, by an influx of 'mental health' care "professionals" on reservations plying their wares of psychiatric drugs & side effects* to "help the poor indians with their substance abuse, depression & supposed learning difficulties".

*Most drugs the mental health "industry" uses to "treat" such maladies have suicide as a side effect for these age groups.

The person who throws a drowning man an anvil probably ISN'T a friend.

They have 3 times as hard as any other Nationality. Cause they don't have many role models or sucess stories to look at. We don't care about money and we are Greedy like other races are? Money isn't important and lying and stealing all our lives to get where we are like other people do for sucess. I certainly know that stuff never made a difference to me in my life. I don't know about my sons they aren't money hungry either. They are in college and all but it's not for the money, I don't want them to have to do hard work. They need to get a better start than I did. They will be sucessful on their own, without having to step on people to get there like You know who I mean. All the NON-Indian people of the world.

Now I know where I can direct my attention and dollars - to my fellow Americans. Thank you Co-Mama. I will be googling for more info. I refuse to give to any other country before my own. I'm tired of the concerts asking for money for victims of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, etc. Those ego-driven concert givers have more money than the ones they are asking to help. Quit singing and give your own money to the cause. Charity begins at home, so I will be giving to anything in our own land. And now I will give to the previous owners.

Good point. We need to be aware and so many aren't. I wasn't. Is there any organized effort out there now to aid the Indians?

Linda - the Native American Rights Fund is starting a Many Paths to Peace project for healing broken relationships, peacemaking encouragement and assistance and needs all the resources possible.

I suggest that you check this article out about the bogus tribe charities.

http://www.citizensalliance.org/links/pages/articles%20and%20CERA%20news/Questionable%20Indian%20Charities.htm

NARF is far from bogus. Been working with them for years and everything they say or do is for our people.

This is all America has become: Poor Americans getting robbed in every aspect of their lives from ALL directions! I don't even see how Americans are paying their bills? It seems ALL Americans are broken down and so are the youth! The elite few want us all to be slaves one way or another. Our youth,they are targeted by law enforcement whom is supposed to protect them and their rights and instead they focus on criminalizing them ASAP! Making FELONS out of them for???? what's next? felony baggy pants? felony thoughts? I think our youth SEES the future clearly " PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX" while the corporate scum (REAL FELONS/HIGH CRIMES) rob and enslave us with our public servants blessings/help hence: Homeland security and Patriot Acts call Americans with dissent "terrorists" while they CIA brings drugs into almost every town in America. not to mention the NAU ( North American Union) We are ONE country with Mexico and Canada signed 3/2003 by Bush & co! Dissent is our right and duty as Americans! the folks that hurt and abused natives are the SAME evil that lurks and has destroyed FREEDOM in America! They feel they have NO future in the hypocrite, dysfunctional, backwards, unethical, HATER society! STAND for your kids futures now! votestrike.ning

No not Hitler they just know they are the last of their kind and want to survive as a people not a a messed up bunch of nobodies.

It isn't as if they can sell their homes to relocate, can they?

Assimilation was the plan all along, Worksforaliving. The Dawes Act prevented tribes from holding communal land and allocated individual parcels to individuals, with no provisions for subsequent generations, and sold the "extra" to white people. Once that fell apart (because the people were literally starving and had no space to expand upon) reservations were started.

Reservations are pretty much the only place that Native Americans can have a sense of cultural identity and are the last remaining land rights they have. They should NOT have to assimilate. That segregationist lifestyle is the only means of lifestyle preservation they have. People of European descent can go back to Europe. Africans can go back to Africa. Hispanics can go back to Latin America. Asians can go back to Asia. WHERE are Native Americans supposed to go? Last I checked, their tribal lands were under apartment complexes, shopping centers, highways, and industries.

Reservations are literally ALL THEY HAVE LEFT, which means the government and fellow citizens need to improve conditions on reservations. Why do you think they feel so suicidal? It's because life sucks and they have no where else to go. What would help Native Americans more than assimilating would be to get their plight in the spotlight. How about a documentary on the abysmal quality of reservations? How about someone traces the flow of money that goes to Natives, through all the various government agencies, states, and finally the people themselves? What if someone showed how alcohol has ravaged and destroyed entire communities? Or made a giant list of all the broken treaties? And then someone took all those things and made a movie about it? Once people stop living in la-la land about Natives and reservation life, people might be motivated to get &*#@ done and get our brothers the help they need.

your a idiot you gonna replace and give jobs to 500,000 people yeah right in america let me guess your daddy still takes care of you

THANK_YOU and probably the donations are being re-directed to the "legal" thieves like the hurricanes! Like native Americans, AMERICA"s youth are being DESTROYED by Christian haters! They are the ones that got all the laws passed "criminalizing" America's youth, therefore stripping them of their rights asap so they can NEVER even get a job, let alone change anything! OUR youth KNOW about the total hypocrisies like CIA bringing drugs in and the ones that live have NO life! Alcohol, cocaine, heroin, meth and FDA approved "dangerous" drugs have destroyed countless AMERICAN families. They have NO hope for a future with the corporate fascism, pro-corporate masters of OUR public servants whom SERVE them! Don't die... REVOLT! It is your American right and duty!

The reason tribal nations become extinct is because a tyrant comes along who thinks that their way of life is so much better and tries to force it onto them.That leads to the downfall and the end.The tribal people were doing fine until the great know it all's in the eighteen hundreds went west.

Tribal members are now living until an average age in the 70's today instead of 40's before the "tyrant" came along.

Not so. Today, the average age for Indian males is 56 - all Indian males. In the older days, before dominant society, elders lived 'til their 80's and 90's. After the introduction of dominant society, the ages went to 30's to late 40's due to diet, bullets, and disease.

Wilberta......what an ignorant thing to say. You are so wrong in your assessment of what is happening with the American Indians.

You need to do some research and keep quiet for awhile.

fstwarrior wrote "Today, the average age for Indian males is 56 - all Indian males."

So, current average age of Indians in dominant society age is 56? Elders by definition are those that lived longer, and there are only a few individuals that live that long. Are you saying that the average Indian lived to age 80-100 before 1620? Such a broad range indicates a guess. If you're not sure, that's ok. If you are sure, post your source.

This source (just a Google, I'm not an expert) compares Indian health to US averages and lists that the average age is six years less, which would be 75-6=69 for men and 80-6=74 for women :

http://www.neatproject.org/learning_objects/test/Indian.pdf

Actually, the 1985 study said the average age was 70 - but I'm "thinking" that is for non-res Indians. Most Res Indians don't quite make it that long.

Dee Brown - "Trail of Tears" - Jack Weatherford - "Native Roots" - give the ages in the 80's/90's. Just going by what I've read since I wasn't there.

wilberta: I now SEE clearly exactly why America should be called "hypocrite dysfunction" and why robbery is "legal" for the "chosen few", However NOT chosen by me or mine!

I agree with WarChief, tribalism worked JUST FINE until Europeans came along and destroyed nearly every aspect of traditional life for the Natives. And Ian, who cares if they might be living longer, when they are forced to choose between wretched conditions on reservations or losing their cultural identity by assimilating? Not much of a choice there...

"losing their cultural identity by assimilating?"

Every other American immigrant managed this. I struggle with the generation loss of my own parent's culture (both are from same country), but at least I can still speak, read, write, sing their language and recite their history and culture fluently.

Were the glorious Indian conditions of past before or after the Spaniards introduced horses and metallurgy ? When I visit the glorious land of that my grandparents left behind, it is much different that the stories told about it. The reality is that many fantasize about ideal past conditions, yet exactly zero would go back to exactly the same place and lifestyle today given the choice. They would still be calling in Medevac helicopters.

There are 600,000 Jews in the US. There are about 3,000,000 American Indians in the US, depending on how you count them. There are probably 10x that claiming Indian blood for profit. Somehow, Jews managed to organize and purchase contested land in the Middle East and create a land for their people. What's stopping all of the Indians collecting the big bucks from casino proceeds to purchase land in South America and start their own country? If the rich Indians do not want to contribute, ask every Indian to put $100 in a land repurchase fund and fund 1000 Indians for $300M to live in South America.

Ian-can you go back to your parents' homeland? Can you go visit your culture, see it with your own eyes, and see others who have maintained their traditional ways? Probably, yes. That is all the Native Americans want for themselves. Many can't speak their native languages because the government forced the children to attend schools in English, and they were beaten if they spoke their traditional language.

And yes, some claim tribal status for profit, but most tribes have safeguards to prevent this. You know what they do? The Cherokee Nation, for example, requires an ancestor be found on the Dawes List for tribal membership. The Dawes List was basically a list of all the Natives with the intent on parceling out land (it failed miserably). Are there lists of all the Jews? Are there lists of all the African descendants? Are there lists of any other races? Not that I'm aware of. Oh, and to add insult to injury, the Cherokee Nation is refusing to recognize certain [self-proclaimed] Black Cherokees tribal membership because they can't find an ancestor on the Dawes List, and people nationwide are outraged that the Cherokees "would be so racist." If people don't meet the requirements, they don't get in. Doesn't leave a ton of room for abusing the tribe for money.

Native Americans shouldn't have to move to South America. Their lands are here. And honestly, if you really think there were a bunch of "rich Indians" running around, and that all tribes are rolling in the dough, you probably haven't been to the average Indian reservation. I'd rather be in Compton, myself. Basically, the people need health care. They need counselors that understand the culture. That shouldn't be too hard to do.

Handout - mortgage payment - handout - mortgage payment - hmmmmm. Does the word "Treaties" mean anything to you? Read some Indian law by Felix Cohen - then you will be able to talk a little more knowledgeable.

Didn't our government cheat them out of massive amounts of oil royalties that should have been paid to them?

Somewhere in the neighborhood of $41B for all royalty paid to the gvnmnt.

Yes, Life is unfair. Anybody still alive to blame for these wrong doings. NO. I have relatives on the Reservations in Oklahoma. Some have done well. Some have not. Life is about choices. Do what you can today to make life better tomorrow. We cannot stagnate. We must pick ourselves up from the britchs and help ourselves. My family came off the Trail of Tears. They were mountain people from Kentucy moving to Arkansas. My father was born in the Log Cabin (Shack) that his great grandparents built. Until my father, now in his 80's went to WWII, they lived off the land without electricity, no running water, used outhouses, trapped for food making homemade traps and raised vegetables and transportation was by use of the mule. In 100 years from now our offspring will talk about how backwards and life was in the late 1900's. Life is tough and that is a fact.

Please, please open your mind and do some reading. I get sick at my stomach when I read or hear someone say something like you did.

You speak of caring for "our own". What did you do this week to help someone else? Thanks.

Because they are all part of the Christian fanatacism whom believe in destruction/murdering in the name of their God. Christopher Columbus we find out murdered and enslaved natives. I grew up In Arizona too with a lot of native people whom actually respect MOTHER earth. They've been cheated out of their way of life and the US govt, our corpocracy has gone backwards and has/is cheating AMERICAN tax paying families out of a FREE America, because they HATE the youth and anyone whom is NOT them, they think we should all be their slaves or should be executed, they think women, their mothers are "LESS" than, and they think "THEY" have the right to enslave others, they THINK they are superior and they are a cancer to this planet and American freedom. The hypocrisies are disgusting! One thing for sure...They are NOT " The fittest"!

Kim, I have no idea what you're talking about. Eric, thank you!!! Finally someone who isn't reduced to stereotyping Natives, and uses personal encounters and friendships to make the point that they are good people, who need help and aren't getting it.

As for centuries ago i'm afraid not.The Indian wars as they were called officially ended on December 29th 1890.Go to the reservations out west and see how many AC's you can find.These people were not even considered citizens of this country until 1924 when finally all were granted citizenship.By the way.The last three lines you wrote sound good to me.

Rick - read "Custer Died for Your Sins" by Vine DeLoria or "God is Red" - then open your mouth because you will then have "some" idea of how false and misdirected your comments are. But, they are your opinion and you are entitled to them.

For those of us with compassion and a modicum of intelligence, you rant is meaningless. These issues can not be solved with the sad and tired "the taxpayers of America" slop.

Warchief #1 wrote "The last three lines you wrote sound good to me."

How about Medevacs and anti-biotics? Clean water technology. Booze. TV. You may talk about giving this up, but no one will follow you. Personally, I would like to be free of the burdens of consumerism myself, but not even I will follow myself. Read my paragraph above on funding Indians in a new land. Have you heard of any such relocation movements along the lines of Israel and Liveria? I'm curious.

It moves me to tears, also. Records were kept on blacks because they were worth something but Indians didn't matter. So many of us wish we could find our ancestry that we know is there. I'm glad you got a hand up.

world, it doesn't solve anything to go on and on about the problem.

Gregorovich, it solves more to bring these issues to light than to pretend they never happened and cover up the atrocities that took place (and some which are ongoing).

Nonsense Jess. I had a history of the American West class in 1975 and we were blathering on about the same crap. That was 35 years ago. White people are bad and Native Americans are wonderful. I get it. Now let's get something done and put some personal responsibility on the parents so that they can get their kids out of the cult so that they quit spiraling downward into despair.

What's nonsense Greg? That these things happened? Or that we shouldn't continue to cover them up? We dedicate history to everyone else, and Native American history is just as important as the other topics. I'm sorry you took ONE CLASS 35 YEARS AGO that bored you to tears...but you really haven't been able to get over that? Must have been a really rough class, listening to people tell the truth.

If we keep pretending that Indians on reservations are living the perfect existence the suicide rates will continue to rise. If people don't know about how bad things are, no one will help, no one will care. How exactly are we to get the word out then, if talking about it is worthless? What are your suggestions?

getting them out of the cult might help also.

Greg? The cult? What cult? I am Choctaw and I'd love to know what cult I am in. Thank you.

I'm talking of the Native American religous cults that are the reservations of today.

I don't think that religion is a cult. your kinda misinformed if you ask me? How could anyone or why would they comitt suicide from going to church. Now I think that your blaming people for this. We need to help these kids and make sure that they get the some HELP before it comes to trying to Kill themselves. NObody should have no where to turn and think that death is the only option.

In NM, Gov Richardson is of Hispanic descent - which is why many, many things are tagged for the Hispanics. Whereas for the Tribes - nothing - not even a notable mention during Native American Month.

I get it. Blah blah blah. The United States of America has broken EVERY treaty with the Native Americans. Now that that's overwith. How do we fix the problem. All the Blah Blah Blah "white people suck" stuff doesn't solve a thing.

No, white people don't sux - the government does for making written, legal promises it has absolutely no intention of keeping. They've done that with every treaty they've ever signed, whether it was with Native Americans, Mexico, Japan, Germany, England or whomever. Just their nature of doing business. Why won't they sign the Kyoto Agreeement? Simply because they don't plan on keeping any of the provisions - and this is only an environmental document.

We fix the problem by learning to keep our word. The government, with its 486 treaties, agreed to furnish medical care to the Tribes. True, the Indian Health Service is on "SOME" reservations, but not many and not in a large enough capacity to help. Always short funded, understaffed, overworked, unappreciated. Read the article - the Mescalero have to rely on "outside" medical help because the IHS doesn't have the funding to keep up the clinic that was closed a few years ago. That would be a good place to start, especially since 'BammerCare just hit the streets. Establish a budget that is workable, liveable and conducive to meeting the goals of health care as agreed to in the treaties.

Please, Greg, explain the "indian cult" to me. I have a feeling that you've not met an "indian" and know nothing about us.

Well Pat. Native Americans (that live on reservations) tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the United States. Like cults they practice a religion that is beyond the mainstream (they have every right to do so, but it's not necessarily healthy for teenager's psyche). They live in sometimes extreme poverty because they are not living within the US society where they can assimilate and get jobs. (Note that they are in a cult and they don't want to assimilate). They go to Tribal Elders for advise (tell me that's not like a cult). And a million more examples.

It doesn't help at this point to say...hey they are farmers and you white people expect them to be hunters...or, hey they're hunters and you white people expect them to be farmers. Hey, they were doing fine hunting buffalo and you white people took away their territory and killed all of the buffalo. And it isn't helpful now using the argument that the US government has broken every single treaty with the Native Americans.

So knowing all that, what in the world should the Native Americans do about their teenagers that are committing suicide? What would any cult do? I know what I would do if my teenager were that troubled. I'd get them the hell away from wherever they are or whatever their situation is that is causing the problem. If it meant moving away and getting another job...damned right I'd do it. It beats having to bury your kid!

Greg, I personally think they are so depressed and suicidal because society wouldn't accept them if they tried to leave the reservations. And all that "cult" behavior? Native American "religions," if you can call them that, were more often than not a sincere respect for nature (not worship, just respect) and often the acknowledgment of a Creator. Sounds a lot like mild Christianity-is that a cult? They live in extreme poverty because the only land they have to their names is what the government gave them, which is crappy land in crappy places, often far from their traditional lands. When you grow up three hundred miles from a town (because that's where the gov. put you) how are you expected to "go out and get a job?" Plus, you're really gonna argue against tribal elders? Have you never asked your grandmother for advice? What it comes down to is, you're mad because Natives speak (truthfully) about all the harm that has been done to them, and are trying to get the resources to take care of themselves (i.e., a solution). Your solution seems to be "give up every part of your life, culture, traditions, family, society, and all that you know and just forget about who you are-this is white man's land now."

Her tears cover us