Katherine Goodlow from Lower Brule Sioux Tribe highlighted the impact of early deaths in Native American communities, with a significant number facing loss at a young age.
Native Americans have a median age at death 14 years younger than white Americans, with even wider disparities in states like South Dakota where Indigenous South Dakotans die at a median age of 58, 22 years younger than white South Dakotans.
Donald Warne emphasized that the key factors contributing to the lower life expectancy among Native Americans are social and economic forces, underscoring the need for systemic improvements beyond medical care.
Issues such as housing shortages, overcrowding, and poor living conditions on Native American reservations contribute to mental and physical health problems, exacerbating the existing disparities in life expectancy.
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