I am the Health Promotion Specialist for the Blackfeet tribe. That just means that I am the community’s health educator.

The main health issue facing the rez is diabetes. People’s diets here are very bad. Then you have heart disease, a lot of STDs among the youth, and a lot of teen pregnancies.

Every day is different in this job. I also work for the state getting women here who are over 50 to come in for their pap smears and their mammograms. Then I am on the community-planning group for the state under HIV prevention and I supervise an AIDS-prevention outreach worker. I also teach nursing classes here. So everything that I do interlocks. But essentially I have five jobs. Oh yeah, I run a family-planning clinic here too.

I do a lot of presentations out in the community, at the schools and the alcohol treatment centers. I’m also working on getting into the jails to work on HIV and hep C prevention there. I try to reach people who are high risk, but basically everyone is high risk. Hep C is a problem here now because of IV drug use. Meth has gotten huge on the rez lately. Things are not good.

There’s a lot of alcoholism here. That is a very big social problem. And anytime you are using alcohol, you are more inclined to engage in risky behaviors in sex and drugs.
This is a community in crisis for certain. I think that the root cause of all the alcoholism here is the loss of our traditions. It used to be that when we raised our children, we passed on our morals and traditions as Blackfeet to them. When the Jesuits came in the late 1800s, they took that away from us. That’s when they set up the boarding schools, which were white-run educational facilities that Blackfeet children were forcibly sent to. That is when we really started to lose the thread of passing on the Blackfeet way from generation to generation. The kids in boarding schools were not parented and so, when they were old enough to have children, they didn’t know how to be parents to their children.

Then you have the fact that we were essentially under government rein. We were being given handouts, commodities, and welfare. A lot of people have internalized that mentality, even today, of expecting handouts. People here in Browning think that IHS [Indian Health Services] is free, but it’s not. The American government took our land, but they said that in exchange they were going to give us health care, education, and social services. People believe that the government owes it to us. I believe they owe it to us too, but I think they have done a great wrong in just having people line up for handouts. Handouts don’t do anyone any good. It’s created a welfare mentality in our people. The Blackfeet self-esteem and self-worth are in the pits, but their mentality doesn’t let them take any initiative.

I am frustrated with community members here too, though. I am not just frustrated with the government. I was not raised on welfare. My parents both worked as ranchers, and I was very blessed to be raised in a good way. Right now there are so many benefits out there to help people better their lives so they don’t have to live on welfare, but they don’t take advantage of any of them. I’ve even gotten some of my friends and family jobs, but they’ll work for a month or two and then just quit. That is very frustrating. We have 80 percent unemployment here, but there are enough jobs if you really want to work.

People here are just as lax about taking care of their health as they are about work. I make appointments with people for this clinic or with IHS, and I call them and remind them of their appointments, and they still don’t show up. They don’t take responsibility. They are not accountable.

What’s for lunch today—melted synthetic cheese or Skittles? Diabetes and heart disease ensue.

I think one of the main reasons that young girls get pregnant here is that they want somebody to love unconditionally. That’s a need that we all have as human beings—to love and be loved. This may be due to their upbringing and the fact that their parents were teen parents too. The most up-to-date teen pregnancy stats I have are from a couple years ago. Among 14 to 19 year olds, there were 45 pregnancies in 1999. In 2000, there were 61. In 2001, it jumped up to 80. There was even a 13-year-old that was pregnant. It’s hard to say if someone that young was molested or if it was consensual or if they planned it. A lot of girls are good about coming in here and getting their birth control. But just as many will come in once and never come again to pick up their pills. It’s like they just don’t care. Then they come back for a pregnancy test, and it’s positive, and they are all upset about it. So I talk to them about that and say, “This was a planned pregnancy, right? If not, why didn’t you come in and take your birth control pills?” But on the whole, the mentality about teen pregnancy here is that it is socially acceptable.

When I was in high school, in 1975, there were only one or two girls who got pregnant and it was pretty taboo. Now, it’s just acceptable. It’s like, no big deal. As a tribal people, we are generally against abortion. There is no clinic available here, but I have a listing of places they can look at. Personally, I am against abortion. But in my position, I cannot give them my opinion on it.

There was never an HIV-positive person diagnosed here until last year. It wasn’t contracted here, however. Indian people are very transient. We’re nomads. We travel. There are a lot of people coming and going from the rez, especially during the powwow season. That’s when we have our celebrations every year. The number one STD here is chlamydia; we have no syphilis and very little gonorrhea. So I focus on chlamydia. I ask the kids, “What are the biggest college towns and cities in the state?” Then I put down the numbers of how many chlamydia cases each place has reported. Billings, one of the biggest cities in the state, and Missoula are the two highest. But then number three on the chlamydia list is Glacier County—the reservation. We beat out all these bigger cities like Great Falls and Helena.

Does idleness here lead to more of a propensity to have casual sex? Yes. I don’t think it’s the biggest factor though. I really believe that the real cause of all of these health issues is that Blackfeet people are lacking self-esteem and self-worth. Without those things, you are not too likely to be a responsible person.

Even though things are bad now, I do feel some hope. I have always been an optimistic person. All of the drinking and drugging and unsafe sex comes back to how little these kids care about themselves. So that’s what I am focusing on in my presentations now. I feel like we can make a difference.

MARTHA HARRISON DAY RIDER

COMMENTS

Subject: Truth of the past Date: Sep 09 2007 10:55:10 PM Author: Truth Horses were never a part of becomming a man (until the white men brought them!!!) Why teach this to the young in your schools? Well done white government you have tought these once beautiful people to teach LIES to their young as YOU have!!! Blackfeet used to be truthful, what happened??? Subject: Hillbillies-Urban Naturalists Date: Jun 13 2007 11:18:52 PM Author: Human We are sick of human racism! We are living a way of life that most DO NOT want to fallow (organic by nature). Including native Indians. Why do you look as white as the government to us, is your collective stereotyping of people by sight. STOP HATRED! Be one with her, not your kin! As you so blatantly profess we do! Subject: Dear Dungy Dicky Date: Mar 07 2006 10:04:58 AM Author: Pikuniaki Yeah it would be funny and actually is funny in spite of the fact that your posts are so full of hatred and ignorence -- in one of your posts you say you are not white? Are you sure, have you looked in the mirror lately or viewed a recent photo of yourself or checked with your parents? Maybe these type of posts are a good example of the difference in world view referenced in another article on this site. Then again just a wild guess on my part -- I think if you check the date of your birth that may explain it all -- the passage of time maybe all the help you need and believe me you are not alone - if you look at the posts on this site, white and nonwhite we could all benefit with this type of help! Subject: help Date: Mar 05 2006 08:37:16 PM Author: weed dung dick I am sick and tired of my dumb azz comments and I am a redneck fag and can't control my hatred or fear..so I guess this is the only way that I can voice my super human weed dung dick skinny frame of a hopeless man ha, ha, hee,,hee.. Subject: continued.. Date: Feb 12 2006 04:15:30 AM Author: wildrice_woman your ways arent working for you psssst news flash if they were working for you then you wouldnt have things like "terrorist" networks targeting you.... btw terrorism is subjective you as a society have plenty to answer for and to on your own long list of terroristic acts... >>>oh yea Pikuniaki email me anytime u are ready okay.. Sorry about my last post I accidently inverted the subject and the name slot..<<< Subject: Custer died for your sins... Date: Feb 12 2006 04:11:13 AM Author: wildrice_woman What I find humourous is how they would try to imply we indians are being pathetic or lowly on this board by stating what our reality is. Whats pathetic is thier total lack of truth. The truth is they come from a group of people whose the descriptions were/are statements like "the poor huddled masses" huddle can imply cowering and/or low down.. "marked and scars by the pox (smallpox)deformed by diseases and smelling so foul often times not washing not even once in thier whole lives.. that is some descriptions of the the average immigrating europeon as well as the the Royal families.. FILTH on so many levels in thier own history they have no business commenting on us indians.You can see why the mainstream whites like to make jokes about hillbillies or try to forget hillbillies even exist. Hillbillies are thier reminder of what they really come from dirty and inbreeding.Whats sad is thier kings and queens were some of the most inbred ones in the history of Mankind. No wonder they as a people are all ate up. Maybe the ones who think they are so high and mighty trying to shit talk us indians need to get a life and try to outrun thier dirty and inbred history.Perhaps they need to learn what REAL civilization is. What the Europeons brought to my lands wasnt civilized in any respect.Time for you white americans/canadians to assimilate to my ways so you can learn how to behave in a civilized manner .. your ways arent working for you psssst news flash if they were wor Subject: re: Date: Feb 12 2006 03:38:42 AM Author: Pikuniaki Thanks for your concern Im not worried about it You just write me okay. I like what you had to say on the subject and I will like to continue talking about "our" community issues sans the racists/morons... Wildrice_woman..yahoo Subject: Weed Dick Date: Feb 07 2006 08:17:58 AM Author: Pikuniaki Thank you for letting us know that we have it pretty good -- gosh I would have never known this without you using your "superior" intelligence to point this out to us! That you don't even get the racism inherent in such an action by you would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic -while you imply that we are the only ones acting pathetic --- hmmmmm????? Subject: Weedy and dicky Date: Feb 06 2006 11:03:24 PM Author: Weed Dick Dear Running Mouth (all of you), You can all eat my green dog biscuit turds. This is Vice so I'll be as anonymous and politically incorrect as I want. Blacks should not get reparations for slavery. Yes, you are right. African warlords had an equal hand in slavery. Now go tell that to the lobbyists. The Chinese should not be awarded anything for a headtax. Visit Vancouver and you'll see why. As for Indians...I agree you guys got the worst end of the pool cue. We appropriate all your symbols as if you were dead and use them as decorations in our airports. We use your tribal names for our sports teams and make funny caricatures of your faces. But the fact remains that you were conquered by a greater people. A people who built the modern world and progressed mankind farther than any civilization ever could. This land is theirs/ours and no amount of bitching and whining is going to get it back. So...what now? Are you going to do something about this mess you're in or are you going to sit there and reinforce a stereotype. You want to see real racism? Go visit Japan or Israel. You guys have it pretty good over here. Subject: Greetings Minemane Date: Feb 06 2006 08:55:52 PM Author: Pikuniaki Hello my dear, posting your email address on a site like this is risky and may set you up for tons of junk emails and attack emails from "crazy" people. So I hope that doesn't happen with you. :) Pikuniaki Subject: P.O Date: Feb 06 2006 04:03:01 PM Author: none ya! WEED DICK YOUR PICK ASS HOLE!!!!!! Subject: the "white supremacy" comments Date: Feb 05 2006 01:57:13 PM Author: felix White people who espouse the white supremacy rhetoric do so out of frustration and bitterness. They are almost always uneducated and working in a dead end job and blame people of color for their own failures. Reading their comments, you will see that they think of themselves as victims when in fact they are benefitting from the crimes of their ancestors. That's why most of them wish people of color, and Indigenous Peoples especially, would just go away or become more like them. They want people to believe they have honestly created their own position in life when it was the result of centuries of theft, murder and lies As for the survival of the fittest notion, white people rely on the notion of law because they are afraid of people of color. How many times have people seen white guys start trouble, get beat up and then run to the cops? It happens all the time. During Hurricane Katrina, all the racists were crying around about the criminals coming to get them. Here, without the security of law enforcement, white people understood who the stronger people were. So keep that in mind when you read these comments from the white supremacists. They are motivated by fear, guilt, resentment and bitterness. That's all. Subject: yupper Date: Feb 04 2006 06:54:30 AM Author: "Minemane" Hey I fully agree with you Pikuniaki..You can contact me at wildrice_woman-at-yahoo-dot-com Subject: East Coast ones.. Date: Feb 04 2006 06:51:22 AM Author: "Minemane" As for this Shinnecocke's input I have no clue why a Shinnecock would have anything to say. They like the Peqout are really only paperwork nations anyways. Perhaps thats why the only thing they have to comment on is benies they think you can get if you enroll with an indian nation.I can honestly say I have been to the east coast and with the exception of a few Indian nations out that way the rest of the socalled "indians" on the East coast may as well call themselves whites or blacks because they have very little going for them including ancestry. As for them having culture thats a freakin joke too..Shinnecock poster? Do people often identify you as the black man on a indian college scholarship? Subject: Our Reality vs' your BS opinion Date: Feb 04 2006 06:43:44 AM Author: "Minemane" How many uneducated morons can post about Indian people on one site.Hell lets count em! First things We indians CAN blame whites for the things that are going on now. Whites made the institutionalized racism that we indians have to deal with now.That institutionalized racism was used to build/maintain this socalled modern age society & has/does effect every aspect of our lives in some way! Just because you fools like weeddick are posting YOUR opinions about what you think is us indians' lives doesnt negate the FACT and TRUTH of our lives.The truth is that everyone who is living on this land who is NOT indian is benefitting from the genocidal tactics & institutionalized racism implemented on indians by the gov for this you have just as much weight of guilt as the Gov.Afterall society is built by a majority and you the majority is holding STOLEN land/property and sitting on the bones of the MURDERED people that your society deemed okay to kill to get that land/property Subject: weed dick and righteous stupidity Date: Feb 03 2006 09:15:18 PM Author: trey The indian people of Canada and black people, let alone chinese people, are incomparable in every respect, excepting your balance of 'fair' and 'unfair'. People don't just fall into slave ships, they are pushed. In Africa, those were tribal hands pushing. Go and check your facts, weed-dick. Also, the indian people may have fought amongst each other, but they also had self-government, a way of life, and an interesting notion of what amounted to 'victory' in war. Here in Canada, we still have politicians and half-assed intellectuals, like yourself, pointing to 'issues' and occasionally daring to not be polite, like we all agreed to be. Sometimes what pushes us to the truth is no more than a belch and a beer, but at least we know our opinions aren't the only ones that fucking matter. Subject: What? Date: Feb 02 2006 10:23:23 PM Author: Pikuniaki Conquered? what a myth,if this were so there would have been no need for treaties. It is not all about lost lands or ignored treaty rights but about goverment policies that were specifically set in place to break down the culture, language and identity of a specific people in order to assimilate them and make them into white people, eliminating a major "obstruction" to nonindigenous occupation of all the land. The Individual and Societal beliefs and actions that led to such goverment policies told us that we are and will never be good enough! This is called racism and it does exist and is not debateable! Also the biggest factor not considered by the goverment policies was the spiritual strength and tenacity of the "Indian" people. We will continue to get it together regardless of any of the feelings of hopeless and frustration expressed in these posts! We have survived 500+ years of this oppression and we will continue to survive! If leaving the reservation was so easy -- then learn how to become more welcoming for those of us who do leave. For myself I have learned that by my birthright -- I have the right to occupy any space I find myself in, but I know how a lot of my brothers struggle with this issue. Welfare? - hell the whole capitalist society is about welfare, look at corporate welfare (biggest tax loops), do your research! Pikuniaki Subject: Smart asses got it figured out Date: Jan 30 2006 09:07:09 PM Author: Robert Rutherford Schtup you phucking ingnorant slug. I've wiped snots from my nose with more intellegence than you. I'm from that place. "REZ" was never our word to begin with, it's ones of yours, dumbass. It's the Blackfeet land we speak Blackfeet, that's an english word. That's your slang. Hey shinnecock, I've got proof that I'm native and I'll be checking back here for you to tell me how to get my "free ticket." I can tell you that there is no such thing. Before you get all smarmy with an answer, remember, you don't know what I do. Subject: The truth really sux man Date: Jan 23 2006 06:11:01 PM Author: Reality Sorry Vanessa. I think you are a beautiful human being and I would love to agree with you, but weed dick, although horridly vulgar, is right. Natives need to get with the fucking program. Ever met a bum you tried to help who keeps taking and taking all your goodwill and still prefers to wake up homeless in the gutter? I have, and unfortunately many of the natives you profess to want to help would turn you into a very hopeless feeling person once you realize they're wasted cases. You cannot help a race that cannot help themselves, and 80% unemployment in an area full of summer jobs and stuff speaks for itself. Subject: I just don't get it. Date: Jan 19 2006 02:48:06 PM Author: Shinnecock Monig If I lived on this cursed reservation SHITHOLE. I would leave as soon as humanly possible. I just know I would. No fucking excuses. And just GIVING UP is not a satisfactory excuse. I may be ill-informed but if you can prove any native lineage you can get a pretty substantial meal ticket to countless universities across this country as long as you possess a half a brain. Subject: Vanessy Date: Jan 17 2006 11:35:30 PM Author: Weed Dick When I mean "people" I mean all minority groups. I'm against any sort of reparations for any minority group who claims to have been fucked over by White settlers (I'm not white). Should American Blacks be compensated for slavery? Should Chinese Canadians be compensated for a century old headtax? How do you say 'fuck no' in Navajo? Speaking strictly as a Canadian, we get robbed with our tax money enough as it is without having to pay for the housing, education, and healthcare of a people who refuse to sober up, lose weight, and wear condoms. There was a thing done by the CBC not too long ago showing how the hundreds of thousands of dollars being poured into reservations wasn't even lifting them a centimetre above third world conditions. The goverment also thought that if we funded some aboriginal networks and television shows then perhaps it would encourage natives to wake up and take some responsibility. Did it? They can cry about their stolen land all they want. They're not getting it back. So now what? Personally, I think Natives need to get with the program and realize that we live in the modern world. Maybe its not in their culture; maybe its not even in their blood (for all you racial realists out there). But until they at least try to assimilate, they will be stuck in this decaying shithole for a very long time. Subject: Peace.Love.And.Understanding Date: Jan 17 2006 08:51:16 PM Author: Vanessa My God... most of these comments I read sicken me, especially the comment made by "Weed Dick". (Nice name, i think it's quite suiting for your benighted mind.) I'm beginning to lose faith in humanity... It's sad to know that people (and i quote) "are sick of helping other people." It's time we all avoid being so narrowminded and stereotypical. Life on the reservation is hard... I respect the people who endure it. For Schtup!: Another word for "rez" among the Navajo is Dinétah. Maybe it wouldn't hurt for you to become a polyglot to understand. Subject: Injuns Date: Jan 17 2006 12:13:14 AM Author: Weed Dick The only hope for these people is to just carve out a piece of land and let them live in solitude...oh wait, that's what we're doing now. My cousin worked on a reservation in British Columbia. It's the same mess anywhere you go. I don't see any hope for these people. Take away the alcohol and they'll just start huffing gasoline. Seriously, what can be done? More tax breaks? More land? More hunting rights? Why don't we give them (back) all our best land...like the land with water fronts and fertile soil? Ha ha! Fuck that! That land belongs to capitalism. If you can't deal with that, then live on this dried up dirty welcome mat called a reservation and shut the fuck up. It's too bad the white man came and conquered you. That is the fate of all inferior peoples. Its been that way everywhere at everytime. I wish they could prove me wrong, but if they can't even overcome Kraft Dinner and Slim Jims then I don't know what to think. We're sick of helping other people. Subject: oh. Date: Jan 16 2006 07:59:26 PM Author: Schtup! Who wants to try it? Nobody wants to 'try out' a job of eating nothing but nachos and ho-hos... get a grip. I like it when poor people blame 'the whites', instead of 'the rich', as if they were hopping off the Mayflower and stealing your corn. Now I'm officially sick of the word 'rez'... 100 years, and that's the only new word they have? Man, even their slang is impoverished. Subject: you try it Date: Jan 16 2006 02:53:09 PM Author: Quiet, Carla! Carla, you really have zero concept of what the reservation is really like. I don't know where you come from but it's probably pretty White and Privliged. Why don't you actually go there before you begin to judge this situation. Or do you just like being judgemental? Subject: Health Date: Jan 15 2006 11:48:27 AM Author: Carla If your body has trouble breaking down sugar then stop eating fry bread and candy and processed food all the time. Subject: I wanna be her Date: Jan 15 2006 04:21:28 AM Author: Kid I wish she were my mom.