Poverty USA - Native Americans - 16 Nov 07

Summary

The video script explores the plight of Native Americans in the United States, highlighting their struggle for political power and economic independence. Despite the rich natural resources on Indian land, many Native communities, such as the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, suffer from extreme poverty, high unemployment, and social issues like alcoholism and suicide. The script reveals the harsh reality of life on the reservation, where basic amenities are scarce, and the desperation leads to self-destructive behaviors. It also touches on the perceived conspiracy to keep Native Americans impoverished, a sentiment shared by some community leaders, though no concrete evidence is presented.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ Native Americans in the United States are striving for political power and economic independence.
• 🌍 Indian lands possess significant natural resources, with some areas benefiting from casinos and other developments.
• 💔 Many Native American communities are among the poorest in the U.S., facing high unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide rates.
• 🏞️ The Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota is highlighted as an example of such communities.
• 🏠 Living conditions on the reservation are challenging, with some families only recently gaining access to basic amenities like electricity.
• 😢 The script describes a harsh reality where extreme poverty leads to despair and high rates of teenage suicide.
• 📉 Life expectancy in Pine Ridge is alarmingly low at just 50 years, one of the lowest in the Western world.
• 🚗 The script recounts an anecdote of a family pushing a car to a pawn shop to sell a TV for food, illustrating the depth of poverty.
• 🍻 Alcoholism is prevalent in Pine Ridge, deeply rooted in the despair caused by poverty and leading to additional social issues.
• 🗣️ Some Native Americans believe in a conspiracy to keep them poor and eliminate their culture, though there is no concrete evidence of this.
• 🌐 The script mentions the contrast between the billions spent in Iraq by the U.S. government and the lack of resources allocated to improve conditions on reservations.

Q & A

What is the main issue faced by Native American communities in the United States according to the script?

The main issue faced by Native American communities in the United States, as described in the script, is extreme poverty, which leads to high rates of unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide.

What economic activities have some Native American areas benefited from?

Some Native American areas have profited from casinos and other developments, which have helped them become economically independent.

What is the significance of the Pine Ridge reservation in the script?

The Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota is highlighted as an example of a Native American community that, despite having vast natural resources, remains among the poorest in the United States.

What are the living conditions like for the families living in Pine Ridge?

Many families in Pine Ridge live in extreme poverty, with some having only recently gained access to basic amenities like electricity and lacking what is considered normal by the rest of America.

What is the teenage suicide rate like in Pine Ridge?

Pine Ridge has the highest teenage suicide rate in the United States, indicating the severity of the social issues faced by the community.

What is the life expectancy in Pine Ridge compared to the rest of the Western World?

The life expectancy in Pine Ridge is just 50, which is the lowest in the Western World apart from Haiti.

What is the connection between poverty and alcohol abuse in Pine Ridge?

Poverty in Pine Ridge leads to alcohol abuse, which in turn causes other social problems such as domestic violence.

What does the script suggest about the attitude of the U.S. government towards Native American communities?

The script suggests that some Native Americans believe there is a conspiracy to keep them poor and wipe them out, but there is no firm evidence of this, and Washington administrations deny it.

What is the role of community leader Paul Little in the script?

Community leader Paul Little is mentioned as someone who keeps a treasured painting called 'The End of the Trail,' symbolizing the struggles of the Native American community.

What is the painting 'The End of the Trail' symbolic of according to the script?

The painting 'The End of the Trail' is ironically symbolic of the struggles and the current state of the Native American community, reflecting their descent from proud ancestors to a situation of extreme poverty.

What is the script's perspective on the situation of the Native American descendants of legends like Sitting Bull?

The script presents a bleak perspective, showing that extreme poverty has reduced the descendants of legends like Sitting Bull to a state of despair and hardship.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Native American Struggles and Resources

This paragraph discusses the political and economic challenges faced by Native Americans in the United States. Despite the rich natural resources on Indian land and some areas benefiting from casinos and other developments, many Native communities are among the poorest in the country, struggling with high unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide rates. The report highlights the situation at Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, where the lack of basic amenities and extreme poverty has led to a tragically low life expectancy and the highest teenage suicide rate in the US.

🚗 Desperate Measures for Survival at Pine Ridge

The paragraph describes the desperate living conditions at Pine Ridge reservation, where families are seen pushing cars due to lack of fuel, intending to pawn a TV for food. It illustrates the harsh reality of everyday life for the residents, who are driven to despair by extreme poverty, leading to alcohol abuse and other social issues such as domestic violence. The paragraph also touches on the high rate of teenage suicide and the community's belief in a conspiracy to keep them poor and marginalized.

🤔 Conspiracy Theories and the Reality of Poverty

This section of the script delves into the conspiracy theories believed by some Native Americans, who think there is a deliberate effort to keep them impoverished and exterminated. Community leader Paul Little is mentioned, who keeps a painting symbolizing the end of their struggle. The paragraph contrasts these beliefs with the lack of concrete evidence and the denial by Washington administrations. It emphasizes the undeniable fact of extreme poverty affecting the once proud descendants of legendary figures like Sitting Bull.

Keywords

💡Native Americans

Native Americans are the indigenous peoples of the United States, with a rich history and culture that predates the arrival of European settlers. In the video's context, they are striving for political power and economic independence, which highlights the ongoing struggle for self-determination and the challenges they face in the modern era.

💡Politically powerful

To be 'politically powerful' means to have significant influence over governmental policies and decisions. The script suggests that Native Americans are working towards this status, which is crucial for them to advocate for their rights and improve their living conditions.

💡Economically independent

Economic independence refers to the ability of a group or community to sustain itself financially without reliance on external aid. The video discusses the efforts of Native Americans to achieve this, which is a key factor in their pursuit of self-sufficiency and empowerment.

💡Natural resources

Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature, such as minerals, forests, and water. The script mentions that Indian land possesses vast natural resources, which are a potential source of wealth and economic development for Native American communities.

💡Casinos

Casinos are establishments that offer gambling activities. In the context of the video, some Native American areas have profited from the establishment of casinos, which have become a significant source of revenue for certain tribes, though not all communities have benefited equally.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment refers to the state of being without a job while actively seeking work. The script highlights high rates of unemployment among Native American communities, which contributes to their economic hardship and social issues.

💡Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a condition characterized by the excessive and compulsive consumption of alcohol, often leading to health and social problems. The video script describes how poverty leads to alcohol abuse in Pine Ridge, which in turn causes further social issues.

💡Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. The script reveals that Pine Ridge has the highest teenage suicide rate in the US, underscoring the severity of the social and psychological distress faced by the community.

💡Life expectancy

Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live, which can be influenced by various factors including health, living conditions, and socioeconomic status. The video points out that Pine Ridge has a life expectancy of just 50, which is significantly lower than the national average, indicating the harsh living conditions.

💡Pawn shop

A pawn shop is a business where people can sell or pawn items, usually for a quick cash loan. In the script, a family is seen taking a TV to a pawn shop to exchange for food, illustrating the extreme poverty and the desperate measures some families must take to survive.

💡Conspiracy

A conspiracy is a secret plan or agreement between people to commit an unlawful or harmful act. The script mentions Native Americans' belief in a conspiracy to keep them poor and wipe them out, reflecting their sense of marginalization and suspicion of external forces.

💡Lotas Sue Indians

The Lotas Sue Indians, also known as the Oglala Sioux Tribe, are one of the seven council fires of the Sioux Nation. The video script uses them as an example to illustrate the living conditions and challenges faced by Native American communities, particularly in Pine Ridge.

Highlights

Native Americans are striving for political power and economic independence despite facing numerous challenges.

Indian land possesses vast natural resources, but many Native communities remain impoverished.

Some areas have profited from casinos and other developments, but the overall situation remains dire for many.

High rates of unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide plague Native American communities.

John Cookson's special report focuses on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, revealing the harsh realities faced by its inhabitants.

Many families at Pine Ridge have only recently gained access to basic amenities like electricity.

The living conditions at Pine Ridge are stark, with some families still lacking essential services.

Pine Ridge has the highest teenage suicide rate in the US, highlighting the severity of the social issues.

Life expectancy at Pine Ridge is shockingly low at just 50 years, the lowest in the Western World outside of Haiti.

Alcohol abuse, stemming from poverty, is rampant and leads to additional social problems like domestic violence.

Desperate measures, such as pawning a TV for food, are a part of everyday life for some Pine Ridge residents.

Community leader Paul Little believes there may be a conspiracy to keep Native Americans poor and eliminate their presence.

Despite no concrete evidence of a conspiracy, the extreme poverty faced by Native Americans is undeniable.

Successive Washington administrations deny any conspiracy, but the plight of Native Americans continues to be a pressing issue.

The proud descendants of legendary figures like Sitting Bull are now reduced to living in extreme poverty.

John Cookson's report from South Dakota sheds light on the tragic circumstances of the Native American reservation at Pine Ridge.

Transcripts

[Music]

Native Americans in the United States

are working to make themselves

politically powerful and economically

independent Indian land has vast natural

resources and some areas have profited

from casinos and other developments but

many of the Native communities remain

among the poorest in the United States

afflicted by high rates of unemployment

alcoholism and suicide in the second of

his special reports John cookson visited

the native American reservation at Pine

Ridge in the midwestern state of South

Dakota the traditional TPS and campfires

have long

[Music]

gone this is how the lotas Sue Indians

live

now many families have only recently got

Main's electricity and are still without

what the rest of America would regard as

normal to me life seems a bit tough oh

yeah I just have like um cold

water extreme poverty drives to the

despair here Pine Ridge has the highest

teenage suicide rate in the US and life

expectancy is just 50 the lowest in the

Western World apart from Haiti poverty

leads to alcohol abuse which leads to

other social problems like domestic

violence help me out Justin I came

across an extraordinary scene of a lotta

family pushing a car with no petrol but

with a TV on the back seat why are we

going to the pawn shop I'm going to the

pawn shop because I want to Hawk that TV

right there to get us something to eat

at a cover Wagon in Gordon this is a

tragedy just it it ain't a tragedy to me

it's not a

tragedy this everyday life to

lot alcoholism with its roots in the

despair of poverty pervades Pine

Ridge is to kill myself why do you want

to kill

yourself because of my brother's life

because your brother

died many Native Americans believe

there's a whitel conspiracy to keep them

poor and to wipe them

out Community leader Paul little keeps a

treasured painting ironically called the

end of the trail oh yeah there is a

conspiracy probably to do that you look

at President Bush and you know

and all the billions of dollars that

he's spending in in

Iraq when he should take care of our own

country but there's no firm evidence of

a conspiracy and successive Washington

administrations deny it but no one can

deny extreme poverty has reduced the

once proud lotas Su descendants of

Legends like sitting ball to this John

cookson Al jazer in South

Dakota he