Progress is being made in Alaska, but we can do more. We are seeing signs of improved living conditions among
Alaska Native people: infant mortality is down, total death rates are down and life expectancy is up, yet disparities
still exist. It is imperative that ongoing disparities be addressed and actions taken that eliminate them.
For example:
- Native income has increased every decade since 1960, even after being adjusted for inflation.
In 2000, real
per capita income was four times higher than in the 1960’s. Growth in the 1990’s was only about
7%.
- Native income remains far below the income of non-Natives. In 2000, Native per capita income was a little
less than one-half of non-Native income.
- Half of Native families have incomes below $30,000. Larger Native families, means that these lower incomes
are supporting more people.
- Income is especially low in remote areas: Natives make up 60% of the population in remote areas.
- Remote areas also have the highest cost of living.
- Alaska Natives’ poverty rate is 20% verses a 7% rate among non-Natives, so Alaska
Natives are three times more likely to live in poverty than non-Natives.
- Families headed by a woman are more likely to be poor.
- According to a report produced by First Alaskans Institute, 25% of all Native families in remote villages
live below the poverty level.
These statistics are just an example of the disparities we are aware of, which require the focused attention
and concentrated efforts of many individuals and institutions to rectify.
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