The provisions afforded to Indian elders under this Act are of special significance. Throughout Indian Country, elders are highly respected as spiritual leaders, as teachers of Indian cultures and languages, and as guardians of our highest collective values. Unfortunately, they also comprise the most poverty stricken and least healthy cohort of the Indian population. As an epidemic of type 2 diabetes continues to ravage Indian Country, more than one out of every five elders has contracted the disease. In many Indian communities, more than half of the residents over age 50 have diabetes.
Elders also suffer from greater rates and severity of diabetes-related complications.
Clearly, programs available to Indian elders through the OAA must play an increasing role in public health education and disease management. Unlike political entities, special interest groups, or even other minorities, Indians enjoy a special political status with the United States government. Based on some 800 treaties, on federal statutes, and on numerous examples of case law, Indians are beneficiaries of the Federal Trust Responsibility, which entitles them to health and human services. Indians have given up 500 million acres of land. Today s elders are descendents of previous generations who shed their blood and gave up their freedom in exchange for the commitment of the federal government to provide services to them in perpetuity.