Today’s Native Americans

• According to the 2003 U.S. Census Bureau there are 2,786,652 registered Native Americans.

• There are 563 federally recognized tribes as well as many others not federally recognized.

• Native Americans comprise great linguistic, religious, and social diversity. There are over two hundred different Indian languages not including dialects.

• They are scattered from the northern reaches of Alaska to the southern tip of Florida and coast to cost. A large percentage live on reservations, in rural America, where they preserve their culture and maintain sovereignty over their governmental, fiscal, and social affairs.

Great strides and great challenges

Though Native Americans are making great strides in developing businesses, improving education, and addressing social issues, they still face great challenges. Consider the following statistics:

• 30% of rural Indians live in poverty.

• 20% abuse illicit drugs compared to 13% among Mexican Americans.

• 28% suffer from diabetes, though, Alaskan Natives fair better at 8%.

• Between the years of 1976-2001 3,738 Native Americans were murdered.

• For ages 25-34 the rate of violent crimes for both males and females is higher than for all other races.

• 80% of Native American adolescents have tried alcohol.

• One out of four Native American males is an alcoholic and one out of eight females.

• Native Americans suffer from cirrhosis of the liver three times more than non-Natives.

• The suicide rate is about 2 times higher than the national average. One out of six adolescents have tried to commit suicide.

• Buffalo County, South Dakota has the unenviable distinction of being the poorest county in the nation, with 56.9% of its population living below the poverty level. It is also home of the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.