The Indian Health Service and the Sterilization of Native American Women

Presentation Year

2019

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

In the 1960’s, the Indian Health Service (IHS) introduced and provided native american women different methods of birth control. The US government agency personnel, including the IHS, targeted native americans due to their high birth rate. As opposed to popular belief, native women were often subsidized and used as test subjects with the goal of population control under the American Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW.) This lead to an abundance of native women becoming sterilized by their physician without their consent.

Permission to Publish Work

No