Suicide is so repulsive and even pales compared to an auto accident scene. These suicides don't happen by accident. Their roots go back 500 years when Native Americans were uprooted from their social system and displaced. The Lakota were displaced from their original homelands further east from their present location. Ironicall y, up on the stone cliffs near Lakota lands are 4 faces of well-known U.S. Presidents who were oblivious to the matters concerning history as it was unfolding. Not much has changed to this day because these Native Americans are not part of the mainstream America's economy. They are far from it. How to solve this suicide problem: Continue with the on-going programs in these communities, involve elders, raise the standard of living by establishing enterprise zones to attract foreign companies to come to Indian lands to establish manufacturing plants which in turn, will create and foster a higher standard of living, focus on educational strategies that will enhance the self-esteem of Native American youths and provide training to Native American leaders in their respective communities so that they have a better comprehension of how to address social issues that contribute to the demise of their own people.

The pain of losing someone to suicide is SO unbearable no one should have to deal with it. In 2002, my 14 year old cousin killed himself on the reservation. In 2009 I lost my uncle and a friend in a months timing to suicide. He shot himself and she hung herself. I was devistated cause it seemed like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. And where I live, we have kids dying and the age gets younger and younger.....These teachers and principals and whatever say they care about these kids and the thing with the school system is "no child left behind". If that is, they should be doing something to help these kids.....They should be worried...We have kids getting bullied, beat up, pressured, and all that other stuff and it's like the people to are responsible for it just get a slap on the hand. Our schools need to do something to help those who have lost people to suicide so it doesn't continue. They need to have suicide prevention stuff or something because it's getting sad knowing that somone is gonna die. Someone has to speak up and ask for help for these kids....I don't like seeing so many people, kids especially, hurting and I can say it like I said, from experience. Drunk or not drunk, you are fully aware of what is going on around you. You can't just use the excuse, "oh I was drunk" cause it doesn't work. It's time to step up and help our kids instead of just coming to school and doing your job and leaving. Kids attempting suicide is a cry for help! Will you make a difference is someones life before they end it??

Colonization through the process of dehumanization! First, it was genocide through war and overt measures of death through starvation and disease or giving blankets with small pox. Second, removal from land and removal of children for assimilation. Thirdly, parents ceasing to be parents, heartbreak lead to alcoholism and abuse. Today, we wonder why our indigenous people continue to suffer epidemic proportions, it is and always will link to the process of dehumanization by the systems of our government. We are survivors, not victims! In beauty it shall be restored! Help us through advocacy not your pity!!