In a recent government meeting, significant disparities faced by the American Indian community in Ramsey County were highlighted, revealing alarming statistics regarding poverty, education, and employment. Approximately 3,200 of the 11,000 American Indians in the county live in poverty, translating to nearly 30% of the population.

The meeting underscored the educational challenges, with American Indian children less likely to participate in early learning opportunities compared to their peers from other racial and ethnic groups. In Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools, only about 25% of American Indian children are prepared for kindergarten, a stark contrast to over 75% of white kindergarteners. This trend continues through K-12 education, where American Indian students show significant disparities in test scores and graduation rates.

Employment statistics further illustrate the community's struggles, with American Indians participating less in the labor force and facing higher unemployment rates than most other racial groups, except for Black and African American individuals. The median household income for American Indian families stands at approximately $54,000, one of the lowest among all racial and ethnic groups in the area.

The meeting also addressed the challenges in obtaining accurate data for the American Indian community due to their small population size, which often results in high margins of error in surveys. This lack of data visibility complicates efforts to address the disparities effectively.

Efforts are underway to improve data collection and disaggregation for the American Indian community, with county officials acknowledging the need for better representation in community indicators. The meeting concluded with a call to action for the county to enhance its focus on these disparities and work towards improving the quality of life for American Indians in Ramsey County.