Nhung Nguyen

The report starts with the shocking figures that “American Indian and Alaskan Native children experience PTSD at the same rate as veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Furthermore, the Department of Justice advisory committee indicated that “22 percent of American-Indian and Alaskan Native juveniles have PTSD, three times higher than the national rate” (p.1).  The report also emphasizes the committee’s advocate for the requirements to Congress to grant tribes the ability to prosecute non-Indians who abuse children; given the fact that under the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, tribes were empowered to prosecute non-Indians who commit domestic violence. However other crimes, like sexual abuse were left untouched.

            The report includes 5 chapters (1) Building a Strong Foundation, (2)  Promoting Well-Being for American Indian and Alaska Native Children in the Home, (3) Well-Being for American Indian and Alaska Native Children in the Community, (4) Creating a Juvenile Justice System that Focuses on Prevention, Treatment, and Healing, and (5) Empowering Alaska Tribes, Removing Barriers, Providing Resources. Each chapter includes background information, data, an example of the problems, promising practices, and recommendations.  The reports showed that native children, as well as adults, are exposed to violence within the walls of their homes. Many efforts try to save and protect those children from physical abuse and domestic violence. However, the children, also, are re-traumatized by the child-serving system.

            There are clear efforts in trying to recommend suitable policies and approaches to protect native children and young people from different forms of violence. The report pointed out the disadvantages for native children to be exposed to violence, regarding “different for a variety of reasons including regional vastness and geographical isolation, extreme weather, exorbitant transportation costs, lack of economic opportunity and access to resources, a lack of respect for Alaska tribal sovereignty, and a lack of understanding and respect for Alaska Native history and culture, all of which have contributed to high levels of recurring violence” (p.28).

            However, I have not seen any efforts, at least in this report, to try to understand the different cultural aspects of the native family and community lives. It seems to draw a very negative and dark picture of the life of the native people in general, especially children and young people. Fortunately, the report also advocates for the sovereignty of the native family in dealing with such issues. In particular, “Alaska Tribes are best positioned to effectively address these problems so long as the current barriers are removed and Alaska Tribes are empowered to protect Alaska Native children” (p.29). At least, it is a proper approach to dealing with such issues for the ethnic minority communities.

Reference:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/11/native-children-have-same-rate-ptsd-combat-veterans/