Post by Okwes on Jul 10, 2006 16:35:42 GMT -5
Tribe gets $30,000 grant to study homicide among Indians
Updated: 7/6/2006 3:38 PM
By: Associated Press
rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=87067&SecID=2
<http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=87067&SecID=2>
[http://images.news14.com/media/2006/7/6/images/01_lumbee2.jpg]
PEMBROKE -- The Lumbee Indian tribe will use a state grant to study what
its leaders call a crisis-level homicide rate in Robeson County, one
that's nearly five times higher than the national average.
The $30,000 grant will also pay for a study of motor vehicle deaths
among tribal members.
"This is a large problem within the tribe," Tribal Administrator Leon
Jacobs said. "We are seeing the same things happening here that are
happening in inner-city areas, and that is unfortunate. We need to zero
in and address the problem."
The homicide rate for American Indians in Robeson County is 27.1 cases
per 100,000 people, compared to the national rate for all races of 5.5
cases, according to the tribe. Law enforcement officials say drug abuse,
poverty and domestic violence help fuel the problem.
"Robeson County jumped out when compared with other counties in the
state," said Jan Lowery, a consultant with the state Office of Minority
Health, which issued the grant.
Tribal leaders, law enforcement and state officials will work with the
University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the School of Health at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to develop a strategy to
address the problems, Lowery said.
The tribe also plans to enlist churches and other community groups to
educate residents and may use billboards to address motor vehicle
deaths. The death rate among tribal members in the county in motor
vehicle accidents was 52.5 per 100,000 people from 1999-2004, compared
to 18.1 statewide among white residents, according to the tribe.
Health-related issues such as diabetes also will be studied.
"It won't make a dent into the problem unless the entire tribe buys into
the situation of respecting each other and unity," Jacobs said. "It's a
terrible situation. Some people don't have the level of respect for life
or their own life. That needs to be reversed."
In 2005, at least six of the county's 21 murders involved Lumbees
accused of killing fellow tribe members, according to the Robeson County
Sheriff's Office. Many cases were drug-related, Lumberton Police Chief
Robert Grice said.
"In order to have an impact on the homicide rate, we will have to do
something about drugs and have more resources to deal with the aftermath
of drug use," Grice said.
Jacobs said the problem shouldn't be the responsibility of police and
hopes tribal members will work together.
"This is not just a law enforcement problem. It is a family and tribal
situation," Jacobs said.
Updated: 7/6/2006 3:38 PM
By: Associated Press
rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=87067&SecID=2
<http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=87067&SecID=2>
[http://images.news14.com/media/2006/7/6/images/01_lumbee2.jpg]
PEMBROKE -- The Lumbee Indian tribe will use a state grant to study what
its leaders call a crisis-level homicide rate in Robeson County, one
that's nearly five times higher than the national average.
The $30,000 grant will also pay for a study of motor vehicle deaths
among tribal members.
"This is a large problem within the tribe," Tribal Administrator Leon
Jacobs said. "We are seeing the same things happening here that are
happening in inner-city areas, and that is unfortunate. We need to zero
in and address the problem."
The homicide rate for American Indians in Robeson County is 27.1 cases
per 100,000 people, compared to the national rate for all races of 5.5
cases, according to the tribe. Law enforcement officials say drug abuse,
poverty and domestic violence help fuel the problem.
"Robeson County jumped out when compared with other counties in the
state," said Jan Lowery, a consultant with the state Office of Minority
Health, which issued the grant.
Tribal leaders, law enforcement and state officials will work with the
University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the School of Health at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to develop a strategy to
address the problems, Lowery said.
The tribe also plans to enlist churches and other community groups to
educate residents and may use billboards to address motor vehicle
deaths. The death rate among tribal members in the county in motor
vehicle accidents was 52.5 per 100,000 people from 1999-2004, compared
to 18.1 statewide among white residents, according to the tribe.
Health-related issues such as diabetes also will be studied.
"It won't make a dent into the problem unless the entire tribe buys into
the situation of respecting each other and unity," Jacobs said. "It's a
terrible situation. Some people don't have the level of respect for life
or their own life. That needs to be reversed."
In 2005, at least six of the county's 21 murders involved Lumbees
accused of killing fellow tribe members, according to the Robeson County
Sheriff's Office. Many cases were drug-related, Lumberton Police Chief
Robert Grice said.
"In order to have an impact on the homicide rate, we will have to do
something about drugs and have more resources to deal with the aftermath
of drug use," Grice said.
Jacobs said the problem shouldn't be the responsibility of police and
hopes tribal members will work together.
"This is not just a law enforcement problem. It is a family and tribal
situation," Jacobs said.