The Impact of Whiteclay Nebraska on the Pine Ridge Reservation: A Mixed Methods Study
Advisor Information
Jieru Bai
Location
UNO Criss Library, Room 249
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
4-3-2016 11:15 AM
End Date
4-3-2016 11:30 AM
Abstract
The lawlessness happening in Whiteclay, Nebraska, a town of 14 residents and four off sale liquor store’s, is devastatingly impacting the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who reside on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The laws being broken in Whiteclay include, public intoxication, selling to intoxicated persons and minors, and trading sex for alcohol, this results in the Oglala Sioux suffering from high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome, early death, suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. This research was part of an advocacy project for laws being enforced in Whiteclay, and resources to address substance abuse and other consequences from liquor sales in Whiteclay. A mixed method was used. Three qualitative interviews were conducted with experts regarding these issues. All experts believed that Nebraska is allowing these liquor stores to behave in a predatory way, by laws being unenforced. This results in severe social problems in Whiteclay. They also believed that most Nebraskan’s were unaware of the issues in Whiteclay. After a free screening of the documentary Sober Indian | Dangerous Indian was shown, a quantitative study was conducted with the audience. A total of 71 surveys were completed. A paired sample t-test showed that the documentary significantly increased audiences’ knowledge on the social justice issues in Whiteclay and Pine Ridge. There was also a significant positive correlation between knowledge gained and people’s perception on Nebraska’s responsibility. However, even with Nebraskan’s gained knowledge there was still no momentum for personal action.
The Impact of Whiteclay Nebraska on the Pine Ridge Reservation: A Mixed Methods Study
UNO Criss Library, Room 249
The lawlessness happening in Whiteclay, Nebraska, a town of 14 residents and four off sale liquor store’s, is devastatingly impacting the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who reside on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The laws being broken in Whiteclay include, public intoxication, selling to intoxicated persons and minors, and trading sex for alcohol, this results in the Oglala Sioux suffering from high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome, early death, suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. This research was part of an advocacy project for laws being enforced in Whiteclay, and resources to address substance abuse and other consequences from liquor sales in Whiteclay. A mixed method was used. Three qualitative interviews were conducted with experts regarding these issues. All experts believed that Nebraska is allowing these liquor stores to behave in a predatory way, by laws being unenforced. This results in severe social problems in Whiteclay. They also believed that most Nebraskan’s were unaware of the issues in Whiteclay. After a free screening of the documentary Sober Indian | Dangerous Indian was shown, a quantitative study was conducted with the audience. A total of 71 surveys were completed. A paired sample t-test showed that the documentary significantly increased audiences’ knowledge on the social justice issues in Whiteclay and Pine Ridge. There was also a significant positive correlation between knowledge gained and people’s perception on Nebraska’s responsibility. However, even with Nebraskan’s gained knowledge there was still no momentum for personal action.
