1. EXAMPLE PRESENTATION: Treatment and Conditions of Native Americans By Mrs. Tasko

2. 5 Important Facts  According to PBS, “Native Americans live, on average, over five years less than other Americans” (“Today’s”).  PBS also reports that, “Native American young people are 2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than the population as a whole” (“Today’s”).  Sadly, PBS writes that, “Almost 20 percent of all Indian deaths are alcohol-related, compared with less than 5 percent for the general population” (“Today’s”)  According to the Native American Aid website, “The overall percentage of American Indians living below the federal poverty line is 28.2%” (“Native”).  The Native American Aid website also says that, “depending on the reservation, four to eight out of ten adults on reservations are unemployed” (“Native”).

3. Artifact #1: Photo from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota

4. Artifact #2: “Remove us Once Again” – Poem (by Deborah "Awiunegusdi" Shelar What has become of the word respect? Is there none left today? Is there nothing you would honor? If we were digging up your cemetery, What would you say? These bones of old may mean nothing to you. But herein resides our ancestors. Resting in these most sacred sites. We are here as their protectors. You say these roads and stores are progress. But it is not thru your cemetery you cross. Your people lie in complete rest. Ours is not your loss. You have driven us from our lands before. This we knew would be. Can we not finally be at peace? Is there nothing Holy you can see? Look into your hearts this day. And all the others to come. What will you see within? What are you to become? This greed of man is an evil thing. But seems to rule your heart. Its never too late to make a change. Now's the time to start. Stop the destruction of our people, our lands. Stop and close this door of sin. Let us all gather to pray. It is time for a new day to begin. Have you not seen within yourselves. The destruction you have wrought. Only in the name of progress. For roads to be made and gee gaws can be bought? Our people wish only to live in peace. And honor how we were taught. To show respect for all things. Its so little the things we've sought. There's been enough of hate and greed. New seeds must now be planted. But through these deeds like this you do. Taking this thing called progress for granted. We gave and gave and had more stolen. Just to please this greed. But now is the time to take a stand. And respect us in our need. These sites to us are still most Holy. And these bones that lie within. Show the respect you would like returned. Let the healing begin. The road we have traveled has often been hard. Your progress making it even more so. Remove us once again? We are saying, "NO!"

5. My Artifact (You could either include a picture of it or bring it to class & show us in person)  A dream catcher is a small hoop containing a horsehair mesh, or a similar construction of string or yarn, decorated with feathers and beads, believed to give its owner good dreams. Dream catchers were originally made by American Indians.  My artifact is a dream catcher made of barbed wire, pieces of glass bottles, and trash. This represents the idea that Native Americans are trying to achieve their dreams, but are stuck on reservations and not able to escape poverty, alcoholism, and other problems because today’s American culture wants to ignore them. The barbed wire represents being trapped in a “prison” of poverty and other problems on reservations, and the broken glass from bottles represents problems like alcoholism. The trash as the “feathers” represents the way they are treated as well, like garbage.

6. My opinion about whether art is an effective way to create awareness/ change about this topic… I believe that the art I found about Native American treatment could be an effective way to create awareness/change, but it isn’t widespread enough… First, …. For example, …. Also, …. Therefore, …. (A PARAGRAPH OF ABOUT 5 SENTENCES SHOULD BE FINE)