Committee Looks at Increase in Unemployment Across Reservations

Press Release

Committee Looks at Increase in Unemployment Across Reservations

At an Indian Affairs Committee hearing this afternoon, U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) took a hard look at the increase in unemployment across Indian Country. The witnesses discussed the current employment situation on reservations across the country, including ones in South Dakota that tops the nation in unemployment and is the lowest in per capita income.

"Many tribal communities in South Dakota are faced with unemployment rates that soared above 80 percent before this recession even began," Johnson said. "I hope this committee works quickly and effectively to empower Native American communities through workforce development and job creation."

Eight of the ten poorest counties in America include reservations. Five of those counties are in South Dakota, including the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, which has the lowest annual per capita income, at $5,213.

Wittnesses testifying today were Del Laverdure, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Indian Affairs; Jefferson Keel, President, National Congress of American Indians; Harvey Spoonhunter, Chairman, Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming; Gloria O'Neill, President and CEO, Cook Inlet Tribal Council; and Conrad Edwards, President and CEO, Council for Tribal Employment.

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