Intelligence Report - Winter, 2007

[KathyM]

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=721

This may not be a "feel good" thread, but I think it's very important. I have some friends who are American Indian, and the struggles they face are real - and overwhelming to me.

Many people don't understand why Indians are speaking out against stereotyping and exploitation of their culture. This is one of the reasons why.

[Neoma]

Kathy,
I read your site with interest. It's just one example of what happens on many different reservations across the US. I lived in Oklahoma and New Mexico as a girl and saw much of what the site describes. It's truly sad.

There's too many problems on the reservations to go into here but the alcohol
problem is terrible to say the least.
I did a lot of research many years ago concerning Native Americans and alcohol, it's been a problem in my family. I discovered that many Native Americans lack the genetic mechanism to metabolise alcohol. The research is not totally definitive but never the less some research supports my premise.
A little alcohol goes a long way very quickly!

IMHO, the possible metabolism factor along with the addictive aspects of alcohol is responsible for much of the alcohol problems. There doesn't seem to be any solution except education on the reservations. Hopefully, that will eventually happen.

Neoma