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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.