#NativeAware

Native Americans experience more significant disparities and barriers to social equity than any other ethnic group in the U.S. Because of this, tribal citizens living in remote reservation communities were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, few people are aware of the realities on the reservations and less than one percent of all charitable giving in the U.S. supports Native causes.

PWNA is committed to helping Native Americans address these persistent challenges that span every aspect of life:

• 23% of Native families experience low food security, meaning not enough food for a healthy life.
• Poverty and lack of access to food and healthcare fuel high rates of diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis and infant mortality.
• Up to 61% of Native children live in poverty or low-income households, and 29% of employed Native Americans live below poverty level.
• Suicide rates for Native Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 are 3 times the national average —and the second leading cause of death for their age group.
• Only 13% of Native students hold a college degree, about half the rate of Caucasian Americans.
• About 90,000 Native Americans are homeless and 40% live in unsafe or substandard housing.
• Securing disaster aid for the reservations is tougher than it is for communities like yours off the reservation.
• Contrary to popular belief, only 15% of tribes in the U.S. prosper from Indian gaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChfWncAnMpE&t=173s

Reservations face many challenges today from health to housing, but we can all do our part to help. Share, tag and donate to be #NativeAware and become a part of the solution.