Any Native Americans out there?

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

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.

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.

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

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.

Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.

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.

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.

I'm Mohawk on my Mom's side and Italian on my Dad's. :)

I'm half Ojibway. I'm also adopted so I don't have any knowledge of my ancestral roots as of yet.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

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".

Specializes in ICU.

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.

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".

:) Pleasure to meet you.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Gwenith, I would be interested in your links. I'm sure they share similar plights.

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.

+ Add a Comment