On the Navajo People

The Navajo people of the southwestern United States are one of many Native tribes who have been neglected by both federal and state governments for far too long.

Native autonomy is a given, but the afflictions faced by many Native groups--the Navajo included--are so gravely disturbing that it should be the federal and state government's responsibility to step in.

Contaminated water. Because of uranium projects during the Cold War, the Navajo Nation was home to thousands of mining operations. During the time of operation, the mining brought prosperity to the Navajo people, but at a great cost to the environment and health of the general population. According to the EPA, "The Navajo Nation estimates that up to 30% of the population (approximately 54,000 people) do not have piped water to their homes," and, "The number of unregulated water sources is estimated to be in the low thousands." Source.

Unemployment is rampant. According to a Navajo economic source, Navajo unemployment is at 42%. Only 28% of the population of 180,462 people (2000 Census) partake in the labor force.

Absurd rates of poverty. The poverty rate of the Navajo Nation is 43%, far higher than the national average. Median household income is $20,005.

Education is very, very poor. For ages 25+, only 56% of Navajo peoples have a high school degree, and a meager seven percent have a college degree. How in the world are the Navajo people supposed to improve their community with such a poor standard of education?

Here's another source with slightly different economic data. This source is about a decade more recent than the other collected information, yet the afflictions of the Navajo remain the same. This fact only highlights lawmakers' anomy and inaction in regards to their issues.

The Navajo people are Americans. Given the United States' cruelty to Native Americans in the past, it's absurd that legislators have done absolutely nothing to help the Navajo. There is no reason companies like Enron, who are responsible for contaminating some of the water sources in Navajo land, are not being held responsible for what they've done. The Navajo need justice.