Tribes Encouraged to Tackle Suicide, Gangs

Gang activity and teen suicide on American Indian reservations need to be addressed together, according to a national gang expert who says there's a strong connection between the two problems.

Christopher Cuestas with the National Violence Prevention Resource Center spoke Thursday to a gathering of tribal members and legal and law enforcement officers during a "tribal listening conference" hosted by U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson. Cuestas said that once a gang emerges in a community, the group establishes itself by recruiting and indoctrinating members. A gang during this stage will dovetail the community's risk factors, which for Indian reservations include drugs, alcohol, poverty and unemployment — the same ones linked to teen suicide.
Communities need to be proactive to prevent gangs from progressing, he said.

To read the full article, please visit http://www.reznetnews.org/article/tribes-encouraged-tackle-suicide-gangs....