Indianz.Com Listening Lounge, Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on Indian youth suicide, May 17, 2006. � Introduction - 10:11 - 2.3MB Panel 1 � Testimony - 20:59 - 4.8MB | Q&A - 23:34 - 5.4MB Panel 2 � Testimony - 26:26 - 6.0MB | Q&A - 10:54 - 2.5MB • Webcast | Written Testimony

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Wednesday on Indian youth suicide.

The committee heard from federal officials who said they were working together to address high rates of suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Native youth commit suicide or attempt suicide at two to three times the rate of non-Natives.

A panel of Native leaders said they need more resources to tackle the problem. But William Martin, the first vice president of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska, called on tribal leaders to abstain from alcohol, for parents to be more involved in their children's lives and for Native communities to return to traditional ways.

The hearing was the third the committee held on the subject.

Get the Story:
Native leader says culture aids suicides (The Anchorage Daily News 5/18)
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