Issues
There are poorly funded, outdated medical and educational facilities far from major civilization. Because of their obscurity, most of the medical facilities are incapable of offering large scale procedures. Education on the reservations leans heavily into culture and tradition which, when left alone, leaves many children who decide to eventually attend public school with a scholastic disadvantage. Universities across the country offer programs and scholarships for indigenous people, which incentivizes the young to receive an education but tradition within the reservations end up alienating graduates when they return. The reservations are operating on land they were “gifted” with negotiations they agreed to 70 years ago. Some people don’t have electricity or running water. Attempts to make changes and build new opportunities are met with severe restrictions as the current regulations regarding how to use the land is time consuming and prohibitive.
Solutions
We need to revisit the treaties with an eye toward modern technologies. None of the current properties or previous gifts need to be retracted but programs need to be reevaluated to ensure the indigenous people are able to incorporate modern amenities in their homes, businesses, and other buildings. The government needs to offer general training courses to help educate the general indigenous public about newer technologies and amenities. The ability to do with the land as they please needs to be better constructed to alleviate a lot of the governmental holds. The young need more educational opportunities, and the people as a whole need greater opportunities for expansion and expression. There should be incentives from the government to help the people lean toward new development.
There are many more issues and thousands of possible solutions. Ultimately there needs to be a liaison, an ambassador that can communicate for the indigenous people, someone that understands the unique intricacies of their culture AND the viewpoints and perspectives of our rising generation. We need someone to be able to help lead their people into the new century, someone they trust, someone they will listen to, someone that will be able to help set up technology classes, business opportunities to help introduce internet, electricity, water, plumbing, etc.
There are many more issues and thousands of possible solutions. Ultimately there needs to be a liaison, an ambassador that can communicate for the indigenous people, someone that understands the unique intricacies of their culture AND the viewpoints and perspectives of our rising generation. We need someone to be able to help lead their people into the new century, someone they trust, someone they will listen to, someone that will be able to help set up technology classes, business opportunities to help introduce internet, electricity, water, plumbing, etc.