NATIVE AMERICANSA Nurses Guide to the Native American Culture

HISTORY Presented by Trung Tu

History

Ancestors, background Hunter and gathers Migration Settlement Farmers European encounters Diseases Decreases Population and land Present Location , Occupation (casino and gaming) Benefits from the US Government

POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Presented by Christina Porter

Politics

The Indian reservations are sovereign nations within the US. They govern themselves maintain their own police force own system of justice.

National Congress of American Indians National Lobbying Organization each tribe gets one vote,

regardless of size of population or land.

Preserves cultural and political autonomy

Indian Gaming Enterprise

•Promote self-sufficiency for the tribes. •Ensure that Indians were primary benefactors of the gambling. •Establish fair and honest gaming. •Prevent organized crime and other corruption by providing a statutory basis for its regulation. •Establish standards for the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Economics

2.1 million Native Americans 561 Federally recognized tribes most impoverished of all ethnic groups

Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development

Systematic, comparative study of social and economic development on American Indian reservations.

Reservations lack Effective planning Natural resources or control over them Proximity to markets and low-cost transportation Capital

Politician Corruption

Lack of “Human Capital”

highest teen suicide rate of all minorities at 18.5%

highest rate of teen pregnancy highest high school drop out rate at 54% lowest per capita income Unemployment rate between 50-90%

Successful business owned by %1 40% of tribes have success with gaming

CUSTOMS

Presented by: Kathlyn Millare

Appropriate ways to showing respect to older American Indians

Listening is valued over talking by most older AI

Calmness and humility are valued over speed and self-assertion or directiveness.

Pacing

Native Americans usually have long pauses in their language.

They often complain of English speakers “talking too fast”

 Silence is valued, and long periods of silence between speakers are common.

Interruption of the person who is speaking is considered extremely rude, especially if that person is an elder.

Culturally Appropriate Communication 

Physical distance: several feet is usual comfort zone.

Eye Contact: not direct or only briefly direct, gaze may be directed over the shoulder avoiding eye contact shows a sign of respect

Touch: not usually acceptable except a handshake. some women only touch the fingertips

personal information is not forthcoming requests given through indirect suggestions ideas and feelings are expressed in behavior

rather than by talking

Clinical setting

Don’t say “problem” in physical examination,

privacy and modesty is valued explanation and requests

should be said in a calm manner

permission should be obtain before examining each area keep body covered if possible

RITUALS

Presented by Whitney Slater

Birth

Women were viewed as the “life-giving force to future generations.”

Herbal medicines, myths, and superstitions guided them

Midwifery from the women of the tribe

Some tribes mothers left camp to deliver her baby alone

Breast feed babies Relied on Mother Earth to care for

their babies needs Rituals were performed to welcome

the newborn into the community

Death

Many tribes believe in 2 souls Some tribes call on their ancestors to help

aid the deceased with the transition Most Native Americans are not worried

with preserving the body Believe that the spirit of the person never dies Important that the burial of the deceased takes place in their native homeland

HUMANITIES

Presented by: Linda Akioyame

Dance

The tribes had dances that are symbolic in that they ritually impersonated various ancestral spirits.

Art

Navajo- sand painting depicted specific

spirits and had to be erased immediately after the ceremony

Totem Poles Used for story telling Clan lineage Special events Legends

Clothing

“Wampum” These belts told stories and carried

legends the privileged, who were treated as

somewhat of royalty could wear these belts

Head dress important ceremonial regalia worn

only by chiefs and warriors Only men

Feathers turkey, hawk, egret, and crane

feathers Eagle feathers preserved for war

Music

Vocalization and percussion Ceremonial music

Believed to come from spirits conflation of music and power ex: Pima Tribe

Their songs were though to originally be sung by the Creator.

thought musically talented people had more power

Story telling

Food

Typical Native American food consisted of: oysters nuts corn other vegetables.

Today most eat: less expensive often high-fat foods few fruits and vegetables

GENDER ROLES

Presented by Daryl

Gender Roles

There are a lot of similarities between tribes

However these roles will differ slightly We will look at 3 tribesApacheCherokeeCheyenne

Apache

Male

Hunters Warriors Leaders Storytellers Learned basic

survival skills

Female

In charge at home (cooking, taking care of kids,

Storyteller Learned basic

survival skills

http://www.old-picture.com/indians/Apache-Warrior.htm

http://www.bigorrin.org/apache_kids.htm

Cheyennehttp://www.bigorrin.org/cheyenne_kids.htm

Male

Hunter Warrior Chiefs Responsible for

providing food

Female

In charge at home (cook, clean)

Women built the homes

Moved heavy post when tribe relocated

http://www.omahapubliclibrary.org/transmiss/clean/tmi00450c.jpg

Cherokeehttp://www.bigorrin.org/cherokee_kids.htm

Male

Hunting War leaders

Female

Farm Managed property Family

http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/cherokee2.jpg

HEALTH CARE

Presented by Laura Dunwell

Responsibility for Healthcare Role of the Federal

government Indian Health Service is the

principle healthcare provider and health advocate for Indian people

Main goal is to raise health status to the highest possible level

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

Indian Healthcare Improvement Act

Shift in Healthcare Focus

Transition from acute care to programs directed at health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic health conditions

Conflict among values

Generational Gaps

Health-Seeking Beliefs and Behaviors

Traditional American Indians beliefs influence health-care decisions

Ex: Germ Theory Diagnosis conflicts Perceptions of the

“sick role”

Indian Theories of Medicine

Native Healing of: Externally Caused Injuries Minor Internal Illnesses Supernatural Causes of Diseases

Common Methods of Traditional Treatment

Prayer Chanting Music Herbalism Counseling Ceremony

DISEASE PREVALENCE

Presented by Crystal Johnson

Heart Disease

13% higher then the national average

#1 killer among Native Americans

Tuberculosis

533% higher then the national average

Alcoholism

627% higher then the national average

Pneumonia & Influenza

71% higher then the national average

QUESTIONS?

Citations

Medscape, (2009). Retrieved August 26, 2009, from INFLUENZA RESOURCE CENTER Web site: http://www.medscape.com/resource/influenza 

Baldwin, LM (April 2009). Trends in perinatal and infant health disparities between rural American Indians and Alaska natives and rural Whites.. Retrieved August 26, 2009, Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18703453?ordinalpos=8&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Lamarine, (April 2005). Alcohol abuse among Native Americans.Department of Health & Community Services, California State University, Chico, 95929-0505 Chico, CA, Retrieved Aug 25, 2009, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/k36036222n1v1653/

(10/03/2008). Alcohol-Attributable Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost Among American Indians and Alaska Natives -- United States, 2001-2005. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, Retrieved Aug 25, 2009, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/580638

Rauscher, Megan (2008). Stroke More Common and More Deadly Among American Indians. Reuters Health Information, Retrieved Aug 25, 2009, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/581525

Khuller , (11/17/2008). Vaccination a Feasible Solution for Tuberculosis?. Expert Review of Vaccines, Retrieved Aug 25, 2009, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/583217

"Native Americans of North America," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2009http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.