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It has been nearly a year since tragedy descended upon the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, when
teenager Jeff Weise shot nine members of his tribe before turning the gun on himself. Red Lake High School, situated on the
Red Lake Indian Reservation, is home to that tribe of Chippewa Indians. A member of this Red Lake tribe, Jeff's actions
stunned his tribe, causing ripples of media reaction that brought national attention to the community.
The youth suicide rates in Indian Country are quite alarming as Indian people between the ages of 14 - 25
have suicide rates that are three times higher than the national average. Since the Columbine High School shooting tragedy in
1999, there has been an increased focus on teen mental health. Those directly touched affected by the incidents have expressed
surprise that teenagers could carry out such a brutal, pre-meditated plan of attack. Questions of gun control, violent video
game usage, and pharmaceutical prescriptions for teens began to widely circulate in discussions of educational policy and
psychological development.
Since the Red Lake massacre, Red Lake High School has hired security guard and installed metal detectors.
Additionally, this incident initiated a pilot program in 2005 to address the concerns of poor mental health that were raised
by the Red Lake shootings. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Indian Health Services allocated
resources to "re-direct services to the extremely high levels of depression, anger, and chronic disease that were the
underlying factors in the event that involved the deaths of 10 individuals."
Depression and anger, both potential signs of mental illness, are not unusual symptoms amongst Native
American and Alaskan Indian youth. Indeed, suicide statistics amongst Native American youth testify to the widespread
statistic of poor mental health, largely because suicidal tendencies have been linked with mental illness.
At a 2004 US Senate Committee hearing on Suicide Prevention and Youth, Dr. Cheryl A. King, Psychology PhD,
testified that the rates of suicide double for American Indian or Alaskan Native teens, particularly male adolescents.
"Suicide rates also differ by racial and ethnic group... American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents are more than twice as likely
to commit suicide as any other racial/ethnic group. With 52.9 deaths per 100,000, adolescent American Indian/Alaska Native
males are at four times the risk for suicide than are males of any other racial/ethnic group." At the hearing, Dr. King
advocated the increase of accessible prevention strategies. Her call to arms has been partially answered, with increased
funding to address mental health concerns amongst Native American and Alaskan Youth.
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