If you happen to establish as American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN), you might be greater than thrice as more likely to be killed whereas strolling, in contrast with the common American.
By Ian Thomas
This stunning and tragic statistic was the main target of America Walks’ July ninth webinar, throughout which tribal security, well being, planning, transportation, and neighborhood engagement specialists mentioned why pedestrian fatalities are so excessive in Indian Nation and what to do about it. This webinar launched a brand new mission funded by the Nationwide Security Council’s Street to Zero program, by which America Walks is partnering with the next tribal leaders and communities:
Sheri Bozic, Director of Planning, Growth, and Transportation, Pueblo of Jemez
Hillary Mead, Major Prevention Program Supervisor, Cherokee Nation Public Well being
HollyAnna CougarTracks DeCoteau Littlebull, Yakama tribal chief, public security andplanning skilled, artist, and activist
Maja Pederson, Assistant Professor, College of Public and Group Well being Sciences,College of Montana
The entire companions besides HollyAnna Littlebull (who was busy preventing wildfires and serving to residents evacuate from areas of Yakama Nation) participated within the webinar panel, and everybody agreed that the primary motive for the disaster of pedestrian fatalities in Indian Nation is the high-speed highways which lower via pueblos, reservations, and the city and suburban areas of cities the place many AI/AN individuals stay. When a automobile strikes a pedestrian, affect pace is a very powerful think about figuring out whether or not or not the collision might be deadly, and roadways in tribal communities are so typically designed for prime speeds.
Panelists spent the rest of the webinar discussing greatest practices for lowering automobile speeds, and describing particular actions they’re planning for the 12-month Street to Zero mission.
The biggest single occasion might be an in-person workshop and Fast-Construct mission, coordinated by Sheri Bozic and hosted within the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico this fall. Members from two earlier “Coverage Spherical Tables on Tribal Pedestrian Security” (a digital occasion in 2022 and an in- individual session on the 2023 Nationwide Transportation in Indian Nation Convention) might be invited to attend and the agenda will embrace formation of the Nationwide Coalition for Tribal Pedestrian Security.
Sheri is working with the New Mexico Division of Transportation to implement a Fast-Construct visitors calming mission on State Freeway 4, which bisects the village with a endless stream of high-speed visitors. This may symbolize the following step within the Pueblo of Jemez’ Secure Transportation Initiative, following the identification of issues in a 2007 Street Security Audit, development of a pedestrian path alongside Freeway 4 which is presently nearing completion, and a current Fast-Construct mission on one of many village roads.
A workgroup led by Hillary Mead (Cherokee Nation Public Well being) will develop schooling and coaching supplies targeted on tribal pedestrian security. Constructing on an present Secure Routes to College mission supported by Oklahoma State College’s Excessive Weight problems Program, tales might be gathered from tribal members (youngsters and adults) who stroll alongside high-speed roadways each day, as a primary step. Finally, a useful resource library of truth sheets, public consciousness campaigns, technical toolkits, pattern insurance policies, and coaching applications for communities and professionals might be developed.
Working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, Maja Pedersen will lead an indication mission to heart underrepresented voices in transportation planning, utilizing the Stanford Our Voice public engagement instrument. This community-based, participatory analysis course of will be certain that the lived expertise of these most impacted by unsafe roadways is the place to begin for efforts to establish social and constructed atmosphere elements regarding pedestrian security amongst AI/AN older adults, thereby resulting in efficient methods to mitigate the hurt.
Within the spring of 2025, tribal pedestrian security workshops and Fast-Construct visitors calming tasks might be carried out in partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and with Cherokee Nation. And, lastly, the Our Voice instrument might be used to judge the success of all the instructional and constructed atmosphere interventions in these tribal communities.
Take a look at the total recording of the webinar:
