NATIVE AMERICANS

INTRODUCTION

• There's a lot of tribes in the USA (558 recognized tribes).
• The elders and modern Native Americans view health care differently.
• Their belief/religion also plays a part in healthcare.
• Sickness may be viewed as a result of disharmony between the sources of life.
• They believe that death is natural and is necessary for the circle of life.

INFORMING INDIVIDUALS

• Some Native Americans don't want to be inform of an illness directly.
• Therefor you'll have to tell one of the individual's family member or tell them indirectly.
• While others might want to know what's wrong with them.

TREATING ILLNESS

• When they are ill, Native Americans will go to the medicine man.
• "White man's medicine" to treat "white man's disease".
• Ex. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease
• Use Indian medicine to treat Indian problems.
• Ex. Pain, sickness of the spirit, mental illness, alcoholism

VIEW OF THE HOSPITAL

• Native Americans believe that a hospital is a place for dying.
• Navajo belief is that when people die at home, their spirits remain in the house.
• Therefor many people choose to die in a hospital.
• Diné women who view the hospital as a place to die may choose not to give birth there.

SPECIAL CUSTOMS

• The Native Americans do death rituals.
• Which focuses on helping the decreased to be comfortable in the after life.
• This includes: placing food, weapons, jewelry, tools, or pots.

AFTER DEATH

• They burned the decrease's house and all their position.
• They don't bury the dead.
• Elevating the body in a tree or a platform.
• Leaving an opening in the burial place or coffin.
• Native Americans mostly burned the dead.

SPECIAL SERVICE FOR THE DEATH

• The death are bathed then dressed in new clothes.
• The death's hair is brushed and their faced will be painted.
• (Shawnee Indians)

GRIEF PERIOD

• California tribes wailed.
• They staged long funerals
• Held an anniversary mourning ritual after 1 or 2 years.

ADDITIONAL

• The Nez Perce tribe of the Northeast would sacrifice wives, slaves, and favorite animals of the dead warrior.
• Some Native Americans would gash their arms and legs to express their grief.
• When you greet a Native American you still shake their hands, but don't make eye contact; especially with elders.
• Ask permission when your going to touch them or their belongings.
• Ex. Feather, claw, fur, etc.

EUTHANASIA

• Native Americans don't support euthanasia.
• This is because they don't trust the "system" run by Euro-Americans.
• They cherish life.

REFERENCES

• Dying.lovetoknow.com
• Deathreference.com
• Bomiebutterflied.com
• Dimensionofculture.com
• Stanford.edu

REFERENCES CONT.

• Info.kyha.com
• Minoritynurse.com