Published Nov 7, 2004
Thunderwolf, MSN, RN
3 Articles; 6,621 Posts
Are you a Native American or mix blood? Do you hold on to any Native American beliefs? How does this impact you as a nurse? I am part Blackfoot/Cherokee. I try to see others as "relatives" (brothers and sisters) to myself. Implimenting this belief sounds easy, but often is a great challenge with disrespectful, demanding patients. However, I try.
URO-RN
451 Posts
I am Puerto Rican and I am proud of my Taino roots.
I took care of a South Dakota Indian Chief at the Vets hospital.
I learned so much from him. Things that I have never read in school hx books.
zenman
1 Article; 2,806 Posts
I'm part Cherokee which is probably why I'm drawn to shamanism. I've studied native american and Hawaiian shamanism and it does change the way you look at life. My great grandmother was on the reservation in Oklahoma. Incidently, another family relative, who was a member of Pretty Boy Floyd's gang, used to hide out in the caves there. :chuckle
hypnotic_nurse
627 Posts
Cherokee tribal member here -- but you'd never guess it to look at me. :) Dad likes to say his family was "Heinz 57"...which I guess is his generation's way of saying very, very mixed. Mom's family, though, is 100% German ancestry as far back as 1657.
Euskadi1946
401 Posts
Pueblo on my mother's side of the family. The Native American concept of death helped me get through my mother's death. The Circle of Life. I was an agency nurse at USPHS Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico for 13 weeks and I loved it. What really impressed me is that shamans and medicine men are also allowed to practice and see patients at this hospital. They also have a Navajo liaison who does an inservice on the Navajo culture to all new employees.
TMPaul
195 Posts
I'm Mohawk on my Mom's side and Italian on my Dad's. :)
z's playa
2,056 Posts
I'm half Ojibway. I'm also adopted so I don't have any knowledge of my ancestral roots as of yet.
TMPaul, my German ancestors fought and lived among your Mohawk ancestors in New York during the Revolutionary War under Joseph Brant. A few of my German relatives were referred to as "the blue eyed Indians".
gwenith, BSN, RN
3,755 Posts
Thunderwolf - I have been meaning to ask you - would you be interested in links to Australian Aboriginal health issues and beliefs??? From what I gather the issues facing our aboriginal population mirrors many of the problems faced by other native and indigenous people.
:) Pleasure to meet you.
Gwenith, I would be interested in your links. I'm sure they share similar plights.
fascinoma
55 Posts
Salish here! I am one sixteenth Jamestown s'Klallam which is a Salish tribe residing in the area of Sequim, Washington.
I know next to nothing about my Indian roots or the spiritual traditions of my ancestors, unfortunately.
I want to move to Oregon or Washington to be closer to the tribe, so that when I eventually have children they can participate.