American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are more than three times as likely to be killed while walking, compared with Americans of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The disproportionate impact of pedestrian fatalities among this population is largely the result of unsafe road design. A common feature of pueblos, reservations, and the urban and suburban areas of cities to which many AI/AN people were forcibly relocated in the 1950s is the presence of high-speed highways close to homes, schools, businesses, and other destinations. When a pedestrian is struck by a car at 30 mph, the probability that the collision will be fatal is just 10% – however the pedestrian fatality risk rises to 50% at 40 mph, and to a shocking 90% at 50 mph. Unfortunately, most roads in the neighborhoods where AI/AN people live, work, and play have been designed for 50 mph or faster.
To address this crisis, America Walks is partnering with Pueblo of Jemez, Cherokee Nation, and the University of Montana on a project which will focus on education, movement building, and redesigning highways. We are grateful to the National Safety Council for funding the work with a Road to Zero grant.
In this webinar, members of the project team will describe the crisis of pedestrian fatalities in Indian Country and provide an overview of the 12-month project, which will include workshops and Quick-Build projects in tribal communities.
Panel
- Ian Thomas, State and Local Program Director, America Walks (moderator)
- HollyAnna DeCoteau Littlebull, (Yakama, Nez Perce, Cayuse, Cree), artist, planner, Yakama tribal leader, and activist (panelist)
- Sheri Bozic, Director, Planning, Development, and Transportation Department Pueblo of Jemez (panelist)
- Maja Pederson, Assistant Professor, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana (panelist)
- Hillary Mead, Primary Prevention Program Supervisor, Cherokee Nation Public Health (panelist)
Watch Our Previous Webinar:
Like all of our webinars, this will be recorded and available after the fact. But you’ll want to join us in real-time if you can for the opportunity to ask questions of our guests and live-tweet along with us. You’ll also receive ample resources and additional materials if you RSVP.
Join us: Tuesday, July 9th
2:00pm – 3:00pm, Eastern
The project described was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number OT18-1802 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supporting Active People, Healthy NationSM Initiative, a national initiative led by the CDC to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/activepeoplehealthynation/index.html. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.
