This fact sheet documents the overrepresentation of status Indian youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems of Ontario (Canada). Data are limited to children and youth, age 0-19, whose parents resided on an Indian reserve; who were dealt with by the family court (not criminal court); and whose disposition was probation, training…

Research suggests that Indian youth who identify strongly with a specific tribal culture or with family members who maintain traditional Indian values are much less likely to be at risk for alcohol and drug abuse. This booklet describes four tribal programs that seek to increase the tribal identity of adolescents. Each of these programs emphasizes…

Provides a perspective on the conditions, attitudes, and problems that a teacher on a rural American Indian reservation may encounter. Stresses the personal benefits of living in a different culture. (DMM)

A study examining the links between cultural orientation and substance use surveyed 2,449 American Indians from 9 South Dakota reservations. After controlling for age, gender, education, and employment, biculturalism and low orientation to American Indian culture were associated with higher levels of alcohol abuse but were not correlated with drug…

Describes the Kickapoo tribe's successful adaptation to federal policies of Indian self-determination during the 1970s and its devastation by budget cuts in the 1980s. Argues that the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975 failed to establish concrete implementation mechanism, thereby impeding its own goals and perpetuating tribal dependence.…

Examines features of independent living philosophy with regard to compatibility with Native American cultures, including definition or conceptualization of disability; self-advocacy; systems advocacy; peer counseling; and consumer control and involvement. Discusses an actualizing process as one method of resolving cultural conflicts and…

A contemporary ethnographic account of the social organization of the Okanagan of British Columbia, written by Peter Carstens, differs strikingly from three accounts published 1900-39 by Teit, Walters, and Ray. Ethnography is affected by personal bias and ideology, particularly when attempting to understand otherness. (Author/SV)

A review of the literature was conducted to understand whether or not and how enterprise zones and other economic development strategies apply to Indian country. The review: (1) summarizes the effects of past and present federal policies on Indians and their economic development efforts; (2) examines the literature on enterprise zones, as…

A review of 1980 U.S. census figures indicates that there are 6.7 million Americans who claim American Indian ancestry, compared with 1.4 million who checked "American Indian" as their race. Responses on other sections of the 1980 census indicate different American Indian population totals. For the purposes of this report, the highest…

A study requested by the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs examined tribal implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Questionnaires were returned by TANF program directors in 34 states and by 148 American Indian tribes. Meetings were conducted with tribal leaders, program officials, and TANF officials in five states,…

Investigated cultural bias in 79 items of three verbal tests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). Administered three subtests to 40 Anglo- and 40 Native-American Navajo subjects. Results indicated 15 of 79 items (information, similarities, and vocabulary subtests) were biased against the Navajo sample. (Author)

A survey designed to elicit community school-design preferences was used in planning Pine Hill School (New Mexico), the nation's first all new, self-determined, Native American school. (Author/MLF)

Reports on cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural factors that differentiate between high and low academic achievers among 30 elementary Indian children. Suggests that the high achiever strongly identifies with the aims of education, and comes from a stable, somewhat acculturated, English-speaking family. Contains 11 references. (SV)

Describes a traditional Yaqui garden created by 13 at-risk teens participating in Arizona's innovative Pascua Yaqui Educational Group Effort, combining basic skills and pre-employment skills instruction. Participants are from an Indian reservation, nearly one-third of whose students drop out of Tucson high schools yearly. Students' attitudes…

Employers (N=1,369) on the Navajo reservation were identified, and a subgroup (N=122) participated in an Employer Account System (EAS) to provide detailed information about types of jobs available at their organizations. In addition, 239 closed client case files from the Navajo Vocational Rehabilitation Program (NVRP) were reviewed to determine…