Today, there are approximately 5.2 million Native Americans living in the United States (Infoplease, 2011), of which 2.1 million are under the age of twenty-four (American Fact Finder, 2010). For those who belong to one of the 565 federally-recognized Indian tribes, the federal government has definite legal, treaty and trust obligations to provide these individuals health care, education, public safety and other services. However, the systems serving Indian Country have suffered from historical underfunding and tribes continue to experience limited access to adequate health, education, housing and law enforcement services.
Lack of access to these fundamental services has contributed to the tragic disparities that Native American youth face. These young Americans often live in communities that have long suffered from high rates of poverty and unemployment, health disparities, substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse, and increased youth gang activity.
The impact of these combined burdens is reflected in the shockingly high rate of suicide among youth in Indian Country. Native American youth suffer the highest rate of suicide of any group in the United States – at least 3.5 times the national average (Hummingbird, 2011).
The Center for Native American Youth seeks to reverse the impact of historic neglect by raising awareness of these issues, bringing them into the national dialogue and collaborating with tribes, organizations, foundations, and others engaged in the lives of Native youth to foster solutions. (author introduction)