Navajo Relief Conditions of Poverty
About 1,000,000 Native Americans live on reservations in our service area,
in conditions that are "four to five decades behind the majority of Americans" (Sept. 12, 2002, Rocky Mountain News). It is impossible to succinctly describe the many factors that have created the challenges that Native Americans face today, but the following facts about the most pressing issues of economics, health, and housing give a hint of what life is like for many of the first Americans.About 22% of our country’s 5.2 million Native Americans live on tribal lands (2010 U.S. Census). Living conditions on the reservations have been cited as "comparable to Third World," (May 5 2004, Gallup Independent). It is impossible to succinctly describe the many factors that have contributed to the challenges that Native America faces today, but the following facts about the most pressing issues of economics, health, and housing give a hint of what life is like for many first Americans.
FAQs
What is the poverty rate in the Navajo Nation? ›
Within the Navajo Nation, 35.8% of households have incomes below the federal poverty threshold. This is in comparison to 12.7% of all households nationally.
What is the poorest Indian reservation in the United States? ›Pine Ridge is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States and it is the poorest.
Who is the richest Native American tribe in the United States? ›1. Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is the wealthiest Native American tribe, with a total wealth amounting to $2.7 billion.
What is the source of income for the Navajo Nation? ›Coal, oil, and uranium have been the foundation of the Navajo economy since the 1920's. Leases for mineral and petroleum exploration or extraction currently total 400,000 acres, or about 2.5 percent of the reservations land area.
Where do the poorest Native Americans live? ›About half of all Native Americans living on reservations are concentrated on the ten largest reservations. Allen, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, has the lowest per capita income in the country.
What is the average per capita income of the Navajo Nation? ›With a per capita income of $10,220 (about a third the national level), the Navajo Nation's tax base is meager compared with other states [4]. Mining and tourism are the economic engines of the reservation [5].
Which Native American tribe owns the most land? ›The Navajo Nation has by far the largest land mass of any Native American tribe in the country.
How much do Native Americans get paid a month? ›| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $118,036 | $9,836 |
| Maryland | $116,708 | $9,725 |
| Louisiana | $116,081 | $9,673 |
| California | $114,920 | $9,576 |
Do Indians pay taxes? All Indians are subject to federal income taxes. As sovereign entities, tribal governments have the power to levy taxes on reservation lands.
How do Navajos make money? ›The Navajo depend on agriculture and live-stock but supplement their income through commerce in native crafts. In addition, contracts for resources such as timber, oil, coal, uranium, and gas provide the Navajo nation with income, and many men work on the railroads.
Do Navajos get money from the government? ›
Historically, treaties with the U.S. government have guaranteed the Navajo and many other tribes federal financial assistance for health, education and economic development.
What is the Native American poverty rate? ›U.S. Census Bureau statistics reveal that 27% of American Indian and Alaska Native families with children live in poverty, whereas 32% of those with children younger than 5 years do—rates that are again more than double those of the general population and again are even higher in certain tribal communities (e.g., 66%).
What is the obesity rate in the Navajo Nation? ›Recent studies have documented particularly high obesity rates among American Indian children living in the Southwest, with one study indicating 47% of children were overweight and 28% were obese in the region that includes the Navajo Nation.
What is the unemployment rate in the Navajo Nation? ›The socio-economic conditions on the Navajo Nation are highlighted by limited employment opportunities; the current unemployment rate is 48.5 percent, and average household income is $8,240, well below the federal poverty guidelines.
How big is the Navajo Nation compared to other states? ›The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the United States, comprising about 16 million acres, or about 25,000 square miles, approximately the size of the state of West Virginia.