Jeannette Armstrong is from the Okanagan tribe in British Columbia. She is a well-known activist for indigenous sovereignty. In the article, she compares her traditions with those of the Western world. Her community believes strongly in protecting and caring for the land and language. One of her fears is that the changing times in the world will affect her traditional lifestyle. 

Armstrong, Jeannette. 119 "Sharing one Skin: The Okagan Community" Pp. 460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith(eds), The Case Against the Global Eceonomy. San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books

B. Toastie Oaster (They/Them) is from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. They are an award-winning journalist for High Country News. In the article, they talk about how western landscapes and their names have affected Native Americans. These sacred place names hold stories and meanings. These places can unite family and community. They worry about more places not being named properly due to land loss. This problem affects tribal members spiritually. 

Toastie B. May 2 , 2022. How places anme impact the way we see landscape. High Country News.

Joe Suina is from the Pueblo of Cochiti. He was a professor at the University of New Mexico and a former Governor of Cochiti Pueblo. In the story, he lives with his Grandma and has a strong, loving relationship with her. He had a simple Pueblo life growing up. But his life suddenly shifts when he attends boarding school. He feels out of place and out of touch with his culture. 

Suina, Joe. (1985). And Then I went to School: Memories of a Pueblo Childhood. New Mexico Journal of Reading, 5(2)

There are six key present-day factors we face: Inadequate funding, limited human resources, challenges associated with transitioning services from federal to tribal control through contracting and compacting, evolving federal and state programs, and promise and challenges of health technologies. The problems we face have deep historical roots. The problems consist of colonization, the US Department of War era, the Department of Interior era, and the present-day IHS.

IHS is tasked with raising the health of your physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. IHS has always had problems and always been in a state of crisis. American Indian and Alaskan Natives have a life expectancy of 5 years shorter than the general population. We see funding problems due to 60% of the IHS budget being contracted.

Indigenous peoples around the world endure persistent health inequalities. We face colonial legacies, systematic discrimination, and socio-economic marginalization. Cultural knowledge and community engagement can drive the impactful change we need. We see a lot of our problems in 4 areas: Mental health, maternal and child health disparities, systematic discrimination, and environmental health.

Native Americans face and suffer the most from Healthcare issues. We have the lowest life expectancy, which is bad. But young Native American students are fighting these issues to help our communities.

Native Americans face so many obstacles, and this is the reason our communities suffer. Our life expectancy is way below the national average. The data shows it all. 

Native Americans face so many obstacles, and this is the reason our communities suffer. Our life expectancy is way below the national average. The data shows it all.