Book Description

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs received testimony from American Indian youth about the problems confronting Indian young people on reservations and in urban areas and about their own personal experiences with such problems. Witnesses included college and high school students representing various youth councils and youth organizations at a conference of United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY). Statements were also received from senators and from representatives of philanthropic foundations that provide funding to Indian youth programs. Included in the testimony and written statements are the following topics: (1) the efforts of tribal youth councils to involve young people in educational and cultural activities and activities helpful to their communities; (2) high rates of alcohol abuse and unemployment among Native Americans; (3) the need for Native American students attending public schools to be taught about their languages, cultures, and history; (4) the need for an American Indian university providing a full range of graduate degrees; (5) the importance of strong cultural identity and spirituality in preventing social problems and individual despair; (6) community programs to fight alcohol and drug abuse; (7) the involvement of urban Indian youth in gang violence; (8) the importance of positive role models for Indian youth; (9) water rights and traditional natural resources; (10) teen pregnancy; (11) the national youth agenda developed by UNITY; (12) youth leadership development programs, such as Running Strong for American Indian Youth; (13) programs for Native American children and youth funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation; and (14) juvenile justice needs. (SV)