There are nearly 3 million American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) living in the United States. However, too often the needs of tribal communities are an afterthought to Congress and policymakers. Policies that affect AI/AN children and families need to be designed with them at the center. Due to a systematic lack of funding, frequently AI/AN people cannot even benefit from the existing programs intended to serve them.
On February 14, join BPC, Senator Byron Dorgan, author of The Girl in the Photograph, and Professor Anton Treuer, author of Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask, for a discussion of challenges facing tribal communities in the United States. This event will kick off BPC’s 3-part event series focusing on services for AI/AN children.
During part one of this series, panelists will consider the needs of AI/AN children, the implications of tribal sovereignty, and what this means for administering programs that serve children. Because most AI/AN families do not live on tribal lands, how services reach them requires cooperation and consultation between states and tribal governments.