Photo: Native American veterans stand at attention at the Winfield Thompson Sr. Memorial dance arena near Agency Village, S.D., June 30, 2017, by The National Guard, Wikimedia
One of the many unique aspects of this first-ever summit on veteran debt, health, and suicide is its use of organizations, individuals, and approaches that most people don’t recognize as being important in fighting intractable problems: independent journalists and media, artists, and whistleblowers.
Pull up this calendar while reading this article and be prepared to save the date. It’s that important.
Focus on Whistleblowing and Indie Media
What exactly is a Whistleblower “Pillar” award – the one touted by the National Whistleblower Summit and Film Festival which was held last month in Washington, DC?
It’s an award that native Americans needs to receive, because there is no single demographic in our country that needs to have stories of injustice revealed more than the indigenous.
Americans seldom see or hear those stories in mainstream media. And, if our current administration is successful in removing references to these wrongs – thank you, Smithsonian Institute – they will never even view historical truths.
Before I share a few examples, let’s identify some key traits and values of whistleblowers.
We rabble-rouse, say something when we see something, join shamelessly with civilian, military, and veteran camps to right wrongs, and make sure, through a growing community of independent press, that people hear about it.
Because if people don’t know about you, they can’t do anything about you. No matter how important your cause, how consuming your fight, or how necessary to bring about change, nothing happens until public outrage is ignited.
As EVD staff writer Meta Mereday points out smartly in Now Hear This, mainstream media will not be the megaphone. It will be the efforts of the free press, independent journalists, and the drumbeat of incessant social media and its myriad of journalists and whistleblowers that will raise awareness to bring America back from the precipice.
Not to forget the “factions”
Even with growing awareness, nothing’s gonna happen if we don’t get out of our silos, off the rez (reinforced by algorithms to keep us in that bubble), away from our VFW/Veteran halls, our Rotary/Kiwanis/et al lunches, separate, competitive charities, and start working with others to supercharge our effectiveness.
Just how that can, and will, be done will be on the table at the summit, along with our Civ-Vet approach to ending veteran debt as a social determinant of suicidal ideation and the horrific act itself.
Now that I have your attention, here are some facts that need to be brought to greater public attention and remedied at the highest level:
Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at exceptionally high rates:
• Service Rate: Native Americans serve at five times the national average
• Current Population: Native Americans comprise 1.4% of U.S. population but 1.7% of military personnel
• Active Duty: More than 24,000 of 1.2 million current active-duty servicemembers are American Indians/Alaska Natives
• Total Veterans: Over 140,000-160,000 American Indian and Alaska Native veterans currently living in the U.S.
Historical Service Record
• World War I: 12,000 Native Americans served (despite not being U.S. citizens)
• World War II: 44,000 served (from a total population of 350,000)
• Korean War: 10,000 served
• Vietnam War: 42,000 served (90% volunteers)
• Post-9/11: Nearly 19% of Native Americans have served since 9/11
Gender Distribution
• Nearly 20% of Native American servicemembers are women (compared to 15.6% for other groups)
• Highest female participation rate of any demographic
Economic Challenges for Native Veterans
• Lower incomes: Native veterans earn less than veterans of other races
• Higher unemployment: 8.04% unemployment rate for Native veterans in 2019
• Lower educational attainment: Despite high GI Bill usage (82% rely on it for school)
• Median earnings: $50,000 for Native veterans vs. $61,000 for non-minority veterans
Suicide Rates Among Native Americans - Crisis-Level Statistics
Native American communities face the highest suicide rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S.:
• Overall Rate: 50% higher than non-Hispanic whites
• Youth Impact: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Native Americans ages 10-34
• Youth Rate: Native youth suicide rate is 2.5 times higher than national average
• Teen Girls: Native American females ages 15-19 have suicide rates five times higher than non-Hispanic white females in the same age group
• NCAI, We Have A Problem
And, if the native American reaches outside its borders and comfort level, it will find a slew of Civ-Vet organizations that have solutions and will step up and share them. Frankly, they need your help just as much.
Curious? Here’s the link to click on: https://endveterandebt.org/donate/event-fordham-university-veteran-debt-summit
