EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Indigenous Peoples' Day

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we’re exploring how Indigenous communities contribute to science, conservation, health research, and much more.

Official US records underestimate Native Americans deaths and life expectancy

Boston University School of Public Health
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new, nationally representative study published in JAMA found that death certificates for at least 41 percent of AI/AN decedents failed to identify them as AI/AN, in most cases misreporting their race as “White.” As a result of these death certificate errors, official vital statistics greatly underestimate AI/AN mortality, overestimate AI/AN life expectancy, and understate the mortality disparities between AI/AN and other Americans.

Journal: JAMA
Funder: Commonwealth Fund

16-Jun-2025

Life expectancy of American Indian and Alaska Native persons and underreporting of mortality in vital statistics

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: This longitudinal cohort study found that large life expectancy differences between American Indian and Alaska Native individuals and other U.S. residents have been underestimated due to racial misclassification on death certificates, resulting in the statistical erasure of Indigenous people in routine vital statistics.

Journal: JAMA

16-Jun-2025

Philippine studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints has just published its latest issue, Bulul and Healing

Ateneo de Manila University
Book Announcement

The June 2025 issue of Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints features a range of scholarly articles and book reviews exploring indigenous healing traditions, state welfare misdiagnoses, and the evolving landscape of Philippine Studies in China. Highlights include Armand Nicod-am Camhol’s study on the multifunctionality of the bulul, Marie Bembie A. Girado’s critical analysis of conditional cash transfers among the Palaw’an, and Ma Yuchen’s cross-border perspective on Philippine Studies. The volume also reviews recent publications on indigeneity, colonial religious devotion, conflict in the Bangsamoro, Filipino leadership, and the historical impact of typhoons.

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

Latest News Releases

Official US records underestimate Native Americans deaths and life expectancy

Life expectancy of American Indian and Alaska Native persons and underreporting of mortality in vital statistics

Philippine studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints has just published its latest issue, Bulul and Healing