Of the 23 Native American tribes in Arizona, not all have their own correctional facility. Of those facilities that do, some are operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), an arm of the federal government. Outside of that group, the largest tribes currently operate their own correction programs, including White Mountain Apache, San Carlos, Gila River, Ak-chin, Salt River, Tohono O'odham, and Navajo (within Arizona). These independent tribes employ roughly over 250 detention officers and dispatchers.
It's too bad the BIA can't do more for Natives in protecting their health but that isn't the role of government to protect people from harmful activities or is it? Diabetes, obesity, suicide, gang violence, meth, violence against women, so many children being born out of wedlock are but a few of the toughter issues in Indian Country. Maybe tribal judges could dole out court-ordered physical education classes, health classes, sobriety classes, diabetes screening classes, etc. Billy Mills, one of the greatest warriors ever in Indian Country and still a hero of Dean Parisian said it best. "Your life is a gift from the Creator," says Billy Mills. "Your gift back to the Creator is what you do with your life."
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