Journal Article

GENERATION X IN INDIAN COUNTRY: A Native Americas Indian Youth Survey

Ewen, Alexander

1997

Overview

The Indian youth felt that their generation was becoming less interested in changing the world and more interested in their own lives, following the trend of non-Indian youth towards a growing \"Me Generation.\" Their feelings on how their peers view social responsibility differed markedly from older respondents. For the older set, fully one-third felt their generation \"would like to change things and make the world a better place\" whereas among those under 26, only a quarter thought their generation had the same aspiration. One-third of those over 25 thought their generation \"want to make a difference\" in their home community, whereas only a little more than one in five youth felt that their generation aspired to the same goals. The younger generation, on the other hand, was much more likely to say that their generation wanted to \"enjoy themselves while they can\" or that \"the most important thing is to get a good job.\" Almost one-third of the younger generation felt that their generation was \"confused\" and could not make their minds up as to what they want, where 14 percent of the older set believed that of their generation. The most frequent reason given for Indian youth dropping out was problems at home or parents that did not encourage students to excel. An 18-year-old woman from Hoopa Valley said: \"The most important factor I see behind what a child makes of his or her life starts in the home. If the child doesn't have someone there to support, guide, encourage, and instruct them, they are left to fight in this world all alone. That is often overwhelming and leads many to take the easy route (i.e. drugs, gangs, etc.).\" An 18-year-old Pima girl shared the same thoughts: \"I personally think so many Indian youth drop out because their parents don't give them the support they need in those critical young years.\" Indeed, there may be a relationship between home life and self-esteem. According to a 24-year-old Oglala woman from Pine Ridge: \"So many Indian youth drop out because most parents don't encourage their children to achieve. Many want their kids to stay at home and take care of the younger children. Many parents are too busy looking at the negative to acknowledge the positive in their children.\" A 19-year-old Navajo woman adds, \"So many Indian youth drop out because there is no confidence coming from their parents.\" Finally, a 23-year-old man from Leech Lake summed it up: \"Many Indian youths drop out because of their home life. The schools can't make them stay in classes. It's the parent's job to let their children know that education is crucial.\" More scholarships and funding were also seen as important in keeping kids enrolled, and many suggestions were geared to changes in the schools. A 16-year-old Navajo said, \"I think they drop out because they do not feel they can incorporate their Native American values into their school lives. By incorporating more traditional values and ideas into school life, more schools may keep more Native Americans from dropping out.\" A 22-year-old Mohawk woman added: \"We need culture in our schools, we need to get credit for thinking the way we do (and more financial aid to do it).\" A 19-year-old Laguna Pueblo woman noted that \"I think we need more structure and teachers that are not so lenient. If students had more discipline here I think there would be much more success in Indian education.\" A 22-year-old Chickasaw woman felt that \"Indian federal schools are very unorganized and don't have the means to offer their students really good services\" and that they \"treat you like you are looking for a handout.\"

• Publisher: Akwe:kon Press, American Indian Program, Cornell University
• Subject: Culture / Indigenous people / Life / Lifetime / Minority & ethnic groups / Native Americans / Social conditions & trends / Society / Teenagers / Young adults