View a video of the 2008 Native American Month Celebration. The progam includes a screening of the "Bad Sugar" episode of the PBS series Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? followed by a panel discussion about how to address the impact of the social determinants of health and health equity of Native American Indians in Virginia.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are people having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, those who identify only as AI/AN constitute 0.9 percent of the United States population, or approximately 2.5 million individuals. The Census Bureau projects modest growth by AI/AN communities in the next few decades, topping 5 million individuals by the year 2065 and comprising 1.1 percent of the population. The greatest concentrations of AI/AN populations are in the West, Southwest, and Midwest, especially in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
There are 569 federally recognized AI/AN tribes, plus an unknown number of tribes that are not federally
recognized. Each tribe has its own culture, beliefs, and practices. AI/ANs have a unique relationship with the
federal government due to historic conflict and subsequent treaties. Tribes exist as sovereign entities, but
federally recognized tribes are entitled to health and educational services provided by the federal
government. Though the Indian Health Service (IHS) is charged with serving the health needs of these
populations, more than half of the AI/AN population does not permanently reside on a reservation, and
therefore have limited or no access to IHS services. Geographic isolation, economic factors, and suspicion
toward traditional spiritual beliefs are some of the reasons why health among AI/ANs is poorer than other
groups. Other factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes for AI/ANs include cultural barriers,
geographic isolation, inadequate sewage disposal, and economic factors.
(Eight Native American tribes are recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. These include the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Mattaponi, the Upper Mattaponi, the Monacan, the Nansemond, the Pamunkey and the Rappahannock. These tribes are not recognized by the U.S. Government but are seeking a change in status.)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Minority Health
For more details about American Indian and Alaska Native populations:
US Census 2000 Brief: The American Indian and Alaska Native Population
US Census Bureau American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Data and Links
Ten Leading Causes of death in the U.S. in 2002 for American Indians and Alaska Natives:
1. Heart disease
2. Cancer
3. Unintentional injuries
4. Diabetes
5. Stroke
6. Chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis
7. Chronic lower respiratory disease
8. Suicide
9. Influenza and Pneumonia
10. Homicide
Source: Health, U.S., 2004, Table 31.
In addition, American Indians and Alaska Natives have disproportionately high prevalence of the following conditions and risk factors: