Essay Instructions: REQUIRED READINGS
(Readings on the Penobscot Indians imbedded in lecture notes)
Native American/Alaskan Native history
https://www.ovcttac.gov/VATOnline_Course/settings/reservation/history.cfm
Fast Facts on Native American and Alaskan Native Health
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/indfacts.htm
American Indian Health
http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/
SUGGESTED READINGS
Native Health Database
http://hsc.unm.edu/library/nhd/
Broken Promises:
http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/nahealth/nabroken.pdf
Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/
NYS Office of Children & Youth – Native American Services
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/nas/
Native American Women – Health at Risk
http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/public_affairs/inside_fordham/march_30_2007/news/native_american_wome_25536.asp
Native American Child Health
http://www.aap.org/NACH/
Alaskan Native American Health Consortium
http://www.anthc.org/
Alaskan Native Health Board
http://www.anhb.org/
Native Americans
It is believed that Native Americans are from Mongolian descent, having traveled across the Bering Strait to North America.
Native Americans have a unique culture based mostly on religion and a strong sense of community.
They believe that they are equal to, not better or worse, than anyone or anything else.
Native American health practices are holistic in nature.
http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-medicine.html
“Native American medicine is very similar to medicinal approaches used by the Chinese. Both value the treatment of the mind, body, and spirit, and uses the natural elements to cure illnesses.”
Specially trained medicine men and women evaluate ill tribal members and determine the appropriate herbal and spiritual remedies.
This is my very own medicine bag made by my Aunt Ruth
Each tribe’s traditions and culture are unique, and are based on their religious beliefs, and their own experiences throughout time.
The Penobscot Indians
http://www.penobscotnation.org/
The Penobscot Indians are one of 4 Federally recognized tribes in Maine.
History of the Penobscot Tribe
http://www.mpbn.net/homestom/timelines/natamtimeline.html
A series of wars fought with and against the White Man, along with politicians signing treaties that were never ratified with the Penobscot Indians for their land continues to influence the Indian’s opinion of the White Man’s government today.
The Native American’s health was also affected by the White Man bringing diseases to America that the Native Americans had no immunity to. Smallpox was used as biological warfare against Native Americans and killed thousands.
Societal Pressures affecting
Native Americans
Native Americans view the world from a different perspective than the general population of the US
More deeply religious
Mystical approach to understanding nature
More cooperative than competitive
Most reservations for tribes are in rural areas, which as has been discussed before can lead to fewer choices for jobs, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer health.
There is a constant struggle to maintain their traditions and culture while integrating into mainstream society.
Health
Check out this web site for a great overview of Native American Health:
http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=52
Top 10 causes of Native American Mortality are:
1. Cardiovascular disease – CAD, HTN, and rheumatic heart disease
2. Cancer
3. Unintentional Injuries
4. Diabetes
5. Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis
6. Cerebrovascular Disease
7. Pneumonia/Influenza
8. Suicide
9. COPD
10. Homicide
3 Reasons why Native American’s health is lower than the general population:
1. Genetic Predispositions – diabetes, kidney disease
2. Individual Risk Behaviors – smoking, diet and nutrition, alcohol and drug abuse, safety knowledge and practices, sexual behavior, and physical activity
3. Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors – lower levels of income, education, housing, and employment
Specific Risk Factors for Disease and Ill Health in the Native American Population:
1. Habitual or recreational use of tobacco
2. Obesity
3. Less-active lifestyle
4. Alcohol Abuse
Do people really have time to do things like this and post them on the web?
Rhoades, E. R., & Cravatt, K. (2004). Critical issues in rural health (1st ed.). Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing. From page 134.
Indian Health Services
Because of their status as a Federally recognized tribe, the Penobscot Indians receive their health care through a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services named the Indian Health Services.
http://www.ihs.gov/PublicInfo/PublicAffairs/Welcome_Info/ThisFacts.asp
“The mission of the IHS, in partnership with American Indian/Alaskan Native people, is to raise their physical, mental, social, and spiritual health to the highest level. The IHS goal is to ensure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to all AI/AN people. The IHS mission and goal are based on its foundation to uphold the Federal Government's obligation to promote healthy AI/AN people, communities, and cultures, and to honor and protect the inherent sovereign rights of Tribes.”
The Native American’s Lobby group for issues related to their health
http://www.nihb.org/staticpages/index.php?page=200403301344377815
Their legislative agenda for the second session of the 107th Congress (for all of us that had to attend Lobby Day)
http://www.nihb.org/staticpages/index.php?page=200403301344377818
Cultural Sensitivity
A brief overview of definitions
http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=11
The Department of Health and Human Services
The Office of Minority Health
http://www.thinkculturalhealth.org/
A free online course for nurses on cultural competence
A great web site from a conference held in 2006 where six programs showed how they taught their health care workers about their culture.
http://www.creatingspaceforculture.org./index.html
After reading the above lecture notes answer these 2 questions:
Questions
1. You are a health care provider through the Indian Health Services for the Penobscot tribe. Choose one of the four risk factors for disease and ill health and describe what preventative services you would provide to help lessen the impact of this risk factor on the health of the Penobscot people.
2. Review six model programs on the “Creating Space for Culture” web site. Using these six programs as a guide, develop a program that you could institute at the Penobscot Indian Health Service Clinic that would make the care there more culturally sensitive.
