Based on the premise that ethnic identity provides a fruitful approach to exploring issues related to ethnicity, an empirically based strategy was used to develop a measure of ethnic identity among American Indian adolescents. Because American Indians live in two worlds, a bicultural approach was drawn on to measure the degree that respondents identified with Indian culture and with the mainstream or White culture. An exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the structure of ethnic identity among Indian adolescents and the resulting models were tested with confirmatory factor analysis. A scale for measuring bicultural ethnic identity was developed and the reliability and validity of the scale was assessed.

Important concepts for providing health promotion services to this population are: cultural relevance must be carefully planned and monitored; individuals in the local community must be involved; the drunken Indian stereotype must be addressed; and community empowerment should be an important goal.

In comparing alcohol use among American Indian and nonIndian youth, the age at first involvement with alcohol is younger for Indians, the frequency and amount of drinking are greater, and the negative consequences are more common. This article presents the results of an innovative alcohol prevention program for urban Indian youth, blending mainstream prevention approaches with culturally appropriate intervention. A quasi-experimental treatment/non-equivalent control group research design was used to evaluate the Seventh Generation Program, comparing scores over time on measures assessing alcohol beliefs as well as decision-making, social support, locus of control, self-concept, depression, and ethnic identity. Results of repeated measures analysis revealed significant effects for treatment in the areas of alcohol beliefs, social support, locus of control and depression.

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