It was hypothesized that US Indian Health Service areas with relatively high rates of poverty should have relatively high homicide rates & low suicide rates. It was found that poverty was related to both the homicide & suicide rates in 11 of 12 Indian Health Service areas during 1979-1981. This finding may lend support to Kunitz et al’s suggestion that suicide & homicide rates partly reflect traditional social organization & cultural values rather than cultural disintegration. (4 refs.)