Solo but Strong:
Single Parent Households in Native American Communities
Andreeya Garcia
Santo Domingo Pueblo
Embedded Files
Garcia, Andreeya. Me. September 2, 2025
Touzeau, Oliver. Santo Domingo Pueblo Symbol. 2021. Accessed 2021.
Garcia, Andreeya. Meeting a friend. May 4, 2025
Identity
Identity
Garcia. Andreeya. Corral. July 21, 2024
"Sharing One Skin" Okanagan Community
"Sharing One Skin" Okanagan Community
Jeanette Armstrong
The author uses the knowledge passed down from her tribe in order to explain identity. Jeanette's parents are from the river and mountain people. This is the identity that she was born into. With this knowledge, she learned to understand the deep connection between people. Our Identity is built on the four capacities of the self. The Physical Self, The Emotional Self, The Thinking Intellectual Self, and the Spirit Self. Jeanette states how these connections have been severed due to less community and loss of identity.
Tabb, William K. “Book review: The case against the global economy, and a turn toward the local the case against the global economy, and a turn toward the local , edited by Manderjerry and Goldsmithedward. Sierra Club Books, 1996. $28.00. pp. 514.” Science & Society: A Journal of Marxist Thought and Analysis, vol. 63, no. 1, Jan. 1999, pp. 460–470, https://doi.org/10.1177/003682379906300109.
"How place names impact the way we see landscape"
"How place names impact the way we see landscape"
B. Toastie
This article informs us that many places that we see today are named after a dead person. Whether that person is good or bad, and those people tend to be white/colonizers. Naming something after such a person shows a lack of respect and connection to the history of oppression within America. Native American people are criticizing those who choose to allow this lack of respect. The reason for this is to protect the original story/spirit of the land. Naming something after someone takes away the true meaning and purpose of the land. So Native people are fighting for the land in hopes of revealing the hidden stories of the Earth.
Oaster, B. ‘Toastie.’ “How Place Names Impact the Way We See Landscape.” High Country News, 24 Jan. 2024, www.hcn.org/issues/54-5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/.
Garcia, Andreeya. "Chocolate". May 17, 2022
Garcia, Andreeya. Notre Dame. July 14, 2024
"Then I went to school"
"Then I went to school"
Joe Suina
The Suina article is one of the many stories that hold the experiences of Native American children. In the early years of Suina's life, he lived with his grandmother. His way of life taught him responsibilities, things like chores, and participating in cultural activities. But this identity of his changed once he was sent away to the "White Man's" school. This is where he was assimilated into the white man's culture and education. His elders believed that this was the only way he could be fortunate in life. So he made the sacrifice that eventually broke his heart.
Suina, Joe, and Joseph H. Suina is an Associate Professors in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of New Mexico. “‘and Then I Went to School.’” Rethinking Schools, 22 June 2021, rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/.
History
History
Image 16(American Progress, 2025.)
During the arrival of European settlers, there was a takeover of the land on the East Coast side of Turtle Island. This was the beginning of English colonialism, which led up to genocide of Indigenous people
Image 17(Movement of Native Americans after the U.S. Indian Removal Act . 2025.)
During the 1830s, President Andrew Jackson ordered the removal of the 5 civilized tribes. This caused land to be stolen. And families were killed if they did not comply. Along with the many lives lossed of this forced relocation, this tragedy is known as the Trail Of Tears
Image 18(Oceti Sakowin family . 2025.)
During this era was the start of forced assimilation process of Native American people all over the United States began. This was aimed at upholding “Christian” values and Western education
Image 19(Indian boarding school. 2025.)
The Boarding School Era should be known as the MASS CHILD ABDUCTION ERA. During this time, Native children were taken from their families to kill their Indigenous heritage.
”Kill the Indian, Save the Man”
Image 20(Dawes General Allotment Act . 2025.)
The Dawes act was a way to take Indian land in order to give Non-Native settlers more land. This decreased Native land and increased poverty within many tribes
Image 21(Indian Child Welfare Act . 2025.)
ICWA fought for the Native children who were taken away from their families. This program helped tribes to get jurisdiction over their children
Current State of the Issue
Current State of the Issue
Figure 26 -n“Grandparent Co-Residence Is Common When American Indian and Alaska Native Children Live with Single or No Parents.” Child Trends, 20 Nov. 2025,
In Indian Country
A sizeable share of American Indian and Alaska Native Children live in each family structure shows the data between 2017-2021 on Native kids in different family structures. Those family structures tent ot meet challenges with education and employment. Along with generational trauma passed down, these families need a lot of support. This relates to my topic because I am focusing on the current issues that single parents are facing. We see this with money problems. That causes stress on parents. And the children tend to have limited opportunities. Along with having that empty position.
National Research Council (US) Committee on Population. “The Demography of American Indian Families.” Changing Numbers, Changing Needs: American Indian Demography and Public Health., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1996, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233091/.
Voices of
New Mexico
The Native American Children and Families in New Mexico: Strengths and Challenges states the good and bad of these topics of families. It is beneficial for these kids to be part of the culture, demonstrating important skills like problem-solving. But it shows that many kids lack needs that can be met in the city. To have a higher education means to live off the reservation because there are limited resources. This relates to my topic because it is focused on the areas that I will be working with. This also shows that these communities need to have more support for families who are in poverty. If we want our future generations to have many opportunities, we need to support them.
Hollis, Christine, “Native American Children and Families in New Mexico Voices for Children, 14 Feb, 2023 https://www.nmvoices.org/archives/5834
Figure 28 - How Place Names Impact the Way We See Landscape.” High Country News, 24 Jan. 2024,
Global Connections
Global Connections
Figure 30 - Story telling in Cape Town Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
In South Africa
This article is based on a study conducted in South Africa from 2017 to 2020. 150 single mothers and fathers answered surveys and questions about why they are single parents. Being a single parent is tied to marriage. Not many people want to get married. Leaving the window open for out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Marriage is not an option due to educational, social, and cultural factors. With that, fewer marriages mean more single parents. This article relates to my topic due to the similar problems facing native communities. Many out-of-wedlock pregnancies lead to single parenthood. And single parenthood has a negative toll on both the parent and the child. Parents face the hardship of responsibilities, trying to provide and care for their kids. Because many of these families tend to be in poverty. They don’t get educational resources at school or at home.
Ayodele Ajani, Oluwatoyin, and Philip Ahiaku . “(PDF) Single Parenting in South African Context: Causes and Effects on Child Welfare and Development.” Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Jan. 2022, www.researchgate.net/publication/361553776_SINGLE_PARENTING_IN_SOUTH_AFRICAN_CONTEXT_CAUSES_AND_EFFECTS_ON_CHILD_WELFARE_AND_DEVELOPMENT.
In the Philippines
This article is based on the Philippines from 2017 to 2020, hosted by the National Institute of Health and the University of the Philippines. A survey was conducted on the struggles of single parents and their struggles. In so, they spoke about how being a single parent causes strain on their mental health. All this responsibility and no support. These families do what they can. They are strong, despite their hardship and peers' opinions. They need more resources to support their mental health. This article is related to my topic because I am focusing on what type of support can be offered to single parents. Social support is the most important. Having family and friends cheer you on keeps you going. This article also gives me another example of how unaware parents are of the resources provided to them. There needs to be more resources put out for everyone.
Bugayon, M., et al. “Navigating Parenthood Alone: The Lived Experiences of Filipino Single Mothers in Child-Rearing”. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 1, vol. 26, no. 10, Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, Oct. 2024, pp. 1204–12, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13983292.
Figure 32 - Filipino Family . Accessed 25 Feb. 2026
Figure 34 - Swedish Family. Accessed 25 feb 2026.
In Sweden
This article focuses on the psychological distress among single fathers and mothers compared to partnered parents. There are so many responsibilities that these single parents hold. They want relief, which is why they are more likely to have mental health issues, anxiety, and substance abuse. And this is not acknowledged. This is one of the first times people have started looking into their mental health. This article relates to my topic because I want others to be aware of the struggles that single parents go through. This article stated that no one looks into the mental health of single parents. Which is sad because they need that support. There needs to be more studies on parents’ mental health in general.
Hallerbäck, Maria Unenge et al. “Psychological distress in single fathers and mothers - a Swedish population-based study.” Scandinavian journal of public health, 14034948251332507. 10 Apr. 2025, doi:10.1177/14034948251332507
ACTION PLANS
ACTION PLANS
Garcia, Andreeya. "Action Plan 1" Screenshot. May 9, 2026.
Action Plan 1, Filling in the Gap, took place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. It was located within pod C at the Santa Fe Indian School. For this action plan, I had a group of dorm staff and students come together for a therapeutic exercise. I wanted to focus on the mental health of single parents and their children. With the influence of Mr Bill Coriz, I had the participants engage in an activity called the “Four List”, along with a group discussion. The four-list activity was to list four friends, four hobbies, four things that they learned from their family, and four goals. After all of these questions were answered, it was time to fill in the gap. The participants grabbed a paper of their choosing and made a collage out of their answers. After they were finished, if they were comfortable, they would share their collage. I asked each of the participants the same question: What was it like to be a single parent/child of a single parent? To which each participant responded in broad terms of having a hard life. Many experienced poverty, which made them who they are today. “To be hardworking” (J. Perez 2025}. And that within life, “If you have it, share it” (C.Alonzo 2025). The agenda of this action plan was to have a mental health day and reflect. We succeeded.
Garcia, Andreeya. "Action Plan 2" Screenshot. May 9, 2026.
Action plan 2, Focus and Film, took place on February 23, 2026, at the SFIS Rotunda. I had a Community Health Representative program director from Santo Domingo Pueblo come and educate students on the resources available. The CHR program specializes in helping transport community members to appointments, work with elder assistance, COVID testing, rabies shots, and funeral transport. The reason I chose this program was because of their sub-group, CIRT - community intervention response team, they focus on helping with mental health, behavioral health, and prevention programs. The director, Estefanita Calabaza, works hands-on with community members and SFIS in order to change a negative action into more positive actions. Working with grants, she is able to support families and students. After her version of a TED talk, we had a movie where we watched Lilo and Stitch. Two sisters, Nani and Lilo, are living alone, facing financial struggles and possible separation. This is another family structure that is a single-parent family, but people never focus on that. But “There is always light and happiness in a single-parent household” (Anonymous 2026). The overall objective of this action plan was to highlight resources within our own communities. “What are communities doing currently to actively engage to maintain relationships with or to harness the skills of those who are [temporarily] away?” (Chosa 2017). Despite research and calling different programs within my community, there is no dedicated program that supports single-parent families, which explains why so many families tend to struggle. But with the help of the CHR program, students were “Learning about the Kewa programs and what services they offer to single parents and their children” (Anonymous 2026). We succeeded.
Garcia, Andreeya. "Action Plan 2" Screenshot. May 9, 2026.
Action plan 3, Happy Single Parents’ Day, took place on March 21, 2026, at the Santo Domingo Pueblo Community Center. I noticed that we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Which is beautiful, because it honors everyone. So I wanted to do something similar. By celebrating Single Parents’ Day. Turns out, it is a real event. On March 21, 1984, President Ronald Reagan founded Single Parents Day in order to honor the dedication of raising children by yourself. “Single parents to serve a lot of praise”(Anonymous 2026). We celebrated with a Fun day at my local community center. Members watched movies, played games, and ate delicious food. In order to financially support this day, alongside the Fun Day, we had a resource fair. Local programs gave support and informed locals of what their programs do and how they can utilize those resources. “I am happy to see our community members partnering together as we help our people” (Anonymous 2026). This resource fair allowed us to receive a grant, which bought all the food and decorations. We succeeded.
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