WASHINGTON D.C. — A new comprehensive national study has revealed that U.S. Indigenous peoples experience higher rates of fatal police violence in and around reservations, a finding that experts are calling “stunningly unsurprising” to anyone who has been paying attention for the last several centuries.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, meticulously documented 203 instances of American Indian/Alaska Native individuals being killed by police between 2013 and 2024. “We spent years collecting and analyzing this data, only to confirm what communities have been screaming into the void for generations,” stated Dr. Evelyn Stone, lead researcher from Drexel University. “It turns out that historical oppression and systemic bias don’t just magically disappear.”
Law enforcement officials, speaking anonymously, expressed a mixture of confusion and mild inconvenience. “We’re always looking for ways to improve,” one police chief reportedly mumbled, adjusting his tactical sunglasses. “But sometimes, these communities just… exist in places where we also exist. It’s a real conundrum.” Another official suggested more training might be needed, possibly involving a PowerPoint presentation on “How Not To Shoot People.”
The study authors hope their work will spark meaningful dialogue, though they admit they’re not holding their breath for any actual change. They anticipate the next study, due in 2035, will likely report similar findings, albeit with updated numbers.
