Forced Sterilization of Native American Women

 

Genocide: is an act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, of a national, ethical, racial, or religious group.

Acts of Genocide:

1)      Killing members of that group

2)      Causing serious bodily or mental harm to the group

3)      Deliberately inflicting condition of life meant to bring about the destruction of the group in whole or in part

4)      Imposing measures intended to prevent birth in the group

5)      Transferring Children of the group to another group

Prior to WWII the United States actively practiced force sterilization on anyone considered unfit for reproduction. This generally included people who were mentally retarded, mentally ill, deaf, blind, people with epilepsy, and physically deformed. The idea of forced sterilization was purposed by Eugenics. Eugenics is the bio-social movement which supporters the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population.  Eugenic policies have been divided into two categories. Positive Eugenics: encourages reproduction among the genetically advantaged. Possible approaches include financial and political stimuli, in vitro fertilization, egg transplants, and cloning. Negative Eugenics: aimed at lowering fertility among the genetically disadvantaged. This includes abortions, and sterilization. After learning that many of the Nazi practices sprung from American Eugenics, the US abandoned its practice of forced sterilization on the feebleminded.

The last evidence of legally sanctioned eugenics started in 1970 when concern about overpopulation in the United States became official Federal policy under the Nixon administration. On March 16^th 1970 President Nixon signed the Family Planning Act into law. The purpose of this law was to make family planning information and services available on a voluntary basis to those who may not be able to afford them. What it really did was create a financial incentive to sterilize deceptively. The Family Planning Act quickly became a means of population control which targeted poor minorities. With a large majority of Native Americans living below the poverty line this act would affect them the most.

The Indian Health Services or IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives. In 1970 the IHS initiated its sterilization campaign, paid 100% by federal funds.  Between 1970 and 1998 40% of Native American women were sterilized at these health services. Most of these women were sterilized without their knowledge. They would come into the IHS for other medical reasons such as having their tonsils removed only to have their ovaries removed. In an attempt to get consent for sterilization some Native Women faced threats that they would die or lose their welfare benefits if they had more children.

Below are some stories of Native women who suffered from forced Sterilization:

In 1970 welfare case workers removed Norma Jean Serena's daughter and 2 sons from her home claiming she was an unfit mother and must consent to a tubal ligation. Three years later Serena sued for the return of her children from foster care. During trial, attorneys for Serena questioned the "evidence" on which welfare case workers had decided to take her children and recommend her sterilization. The main "problem" seemed to have been the fact that black friends of Serena visited her home, as reported by anonymous tipsters in the neighborhood who emphasized fear for their own children. While one caseworker described Serena's apartment as "dirty and unkempt," and her children as "undernourished and dazed," unable to walk, speak, or hold eating utensils, a doctor who examined the children shortly afterwards found them "alert and in good health."

In 1970 a Native American woman entered the office of a Los Angeles physician seeking a "womb transplant" because she had been having trouble getting pregnant. The doctor told the woman that her ovaries had been removed and it cannot be reversed. The operation had been performed under false pretenses.

This is only a few of many stories of Native women who had been forced into sterilization. The General Accounting office whose study only covered 4 of the 12 IHS regions states that between 1973 – 1976 3,406 Native Women were sterilized under the Family Planning Act. This is undoubtedly a crime against Humanity and a form of Genocide. 40% of the Native population is unable to have children. Considering how few Native Americans were left after European/American colonization it is unconceivable that this was done to them in the 20^th century.

Lauren Percy

Sorces:

www.ehow.com

www.paratical.org

Movie: The Canary Effect