Native American reservation politics

Native American politics remain divided over different issues such as assimilation, education, healthcare, and economic factors that affect reservations.

"[1] Despite the conditions, Natives continue to live on the reservations because they see it as a cultural center for their particular tribe, value the implied sense of community, and receive government-funded benefits that they wouldn't gain otherwise.

[3] They are devoted to the increase in economic innovation, and accomplish their mission by focusing on the growing number of Native youths and not placing a priority on traditional ways.

With Native American peoples being among the lowest socioeconomic class, they are vulnerable to exploitation by these waste facilities and other private sectors.

Many tribes are torn by these facilities - some encourage it because of the economic opportunities it would bring, others adamantly refuse it due to health and environmental degradation.

[6] Environmental Genocide has existed for hundreds of years, appearing as settlers burning a harvest or slaughtering livestock owned by Native Americans.

[7] The proposition of hosting hazardous waste management facilities or nuclear plants on native lands can be tempting to some tribal governments.

[8] Despite mines being abandoned, many chemicals that were required for ore extraction stayed behind and continued to contaminate the soil and groundwater that Native Americans relied on.

In 2007, the Skull Valley Band of Utah’s Goshute Tribe was considering granting a permit to the U.S. government to build a nuclear waste storage facility.

However, in this specific issue, the protesting often comes from outside sources (i.e public pressure) versus the directly oppressed group - Native Americans.

In a 2008 study by the Prevention Research Center, "Native American youth were more likely to have consumed alcohol in their lifetime and been intoxicated in the [time period of the test] than Whites.

"[10] One aspect of reservation life that discourages tribal members is healthcare, a service provided by the United States government for approximately 800,000 Natives.

"[11] According to Elaine Watson Jordan, Ph.D., the Native American education system is severely flawed with respect to cultural barriers.

In March 1974, the Department of Labor issued the results of their research concerning Native youth integrating American culture into their lives after leaving the reservation for educational and occupational pursuits.

[13] Research was done to determine the "occupational adjustment" of American Indian youth coming from reservations and seeking education away from home.

[13] Cultural values of Native American individuals are described as, "The traditional Indian's view of the world and his own place in it is one of living in harmony with nature".

Also, Native Americans are the second most disadvantaged minority group in the nation when it comes to transitioning from single parent households to a continued education.

"The Great Law of Peace included a section akin to the U.S. Bill of Rights, protecting the freedom of worship, speech, and assembly.

This opposes the Native standard that "prenatal values, integral to matrilineal clan membership, were expressed in pride in children".

Mae Chee Castillo is revered as a political activist for publicly "lecturing[24]" and requesting presidential actions to sustain economic policies within Native American societies.

Through the self-determination policy proposed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, tribal governments have the right to control federal programs directed at the Native Americans.