Researching Native American.......

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Would appreciate any input. Seeking info for cultural differences that may arise when caring for a Native American. Would love any first hand experience with such patients in the field!

Thanks!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
Would appreciate any input. Seeking info for cultural differences that may arise when caring for a Native American. Would love any first hand experience with such patients in the field!

Thanks!

These web resources may be of some help :)

http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmtraditionalpaper.htm

http://archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/7/2/182

http://www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/cardiology/card/index.cfm

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Differences are also going to occur with which tribe that the patient belongs to. There are different customs among some of the tribes.

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Would appreciate any input. Seeking info for cultural differences that may arise when caring for a Native American. Would love any first hand experience with such patients in the field!

Thanks!

I am married to a man who is 100 percent Native, what is it that you need to know? They are just like anyone else. I also have a daughter who is half Native. I don't understand your question. What are specifically asking about?

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Differences are also going to occur with which tribe that the patient belongs to. There are different customs among some of the tribes.

I know many American Indians, their tribe affiliation or the nation they belong to doesn't really have anything to do with their medical care. They do not still live in tee pee's. There is a common problem with tendencies to develop diabetes. There is also tendencies for alcoholism. Other than that I do not know why anything else would affect their medical care.

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I read the links you provided. Let me tell you that we are in modern days, and most indians do not seek out shaman or medicine men to treat an illness. They go to the doc, just like everyone else. I had to laugh reading that first link. These practices may occur with some people, but they also go to the doctor. They are not still living in the dark ages.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

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Would appreciate any input. Seeking info for cultural differences that may arise when caring for a Native American. Would love any first hand experience with such patients in the field!

Thanks!

Hello, Christina,:balloons:

What is it you would like to know?

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I used to live on the Navajo Reservation. There are different customs with the Medicine Men in that tribe that differ from the others. The poster made a very general comment, I was trying to point out that there are differences between some of the tribes in what they practice, etc. You cannot just say that all tribes follow the same beleifs, they do not.

There are differences between the Hopi and Navajo, just for a simple example, and they live in the same area and on some of the same reservations.

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In Navajo country, the medicine men are alive and well, and still practising. Again, not all tribes are the same.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
I read the links you provided. Let me tell you that we are in modern days, and most indians do not seek out shaman or medicine men to treat an illness. They go to the doc, just like everyone else. I had to laugh reading that first link. These practices may occur with some people, but they also go to the doctor. They are not still living in the dark ages.

This is true for many, but, ......

I have many family members still on the reservations and the use of the tribal elder/shaman are utilized.:)

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In Navajo country, the medicine men are alive and well, and still practising. Again, not all tribes are the same.

No where in my posts did I say all tribes were alike, and no where did I say that medicine men did not exist. I also have family that live on and by an indian rez, they all go to the doctor. No one goes to medicine men for an illness. I also know many people from different rez areas in Canada and elsehwhere. I just asked the poster what it was she was interested in knowing about caring for an American Indian, that would be different to another patient.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
No where in my posts did I say all tribes were alike, and no where did I say that medicine men did not exist. I also have family that live on and by an indian rez, they all go to the doctor. No one goes to medicine men for an illness. I also know many people from different rez areas in Canada and elsehwhere. I just asked the poster what it was she was interested in knowing about caring for an American Indian, that would be different to another patient.

I realize that you are just making your situation known. :)

Many, many tribal differences. I do not know from what tribe you originate, but, in my tribal community, some of the members are encouraged to seek help within the tribal community by way of the chief elder/shaman. Then, seek out Western medicine.

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