Traditional Approaches to Child and Family Health

Fargo-MoorheadAmerican Indian Education Program
3rd Annual Wellness Conference
Fargo, ND (Fargo Dome)

The purpose of this conference is to promote wellness among AI students and families in F-M schools.  The presentation provided an overview of traditional Lakota approaches to child and family health.  Some of my favorite quotes: "A child is sacred.  And when a child comes into the home, the family must welcome it.  And if the child feels the want, he will come into this world very, very strong, and not to know this is to know nothing."  Blackfeet.

Unfortunately, the social circumstances many of our children face are very difficult.  With family and community support, we can encourage our youth to finish school and to be very, very strong.  Another quote: "You are only as happy as your saddest child."

Native Health Careers Conference

NativeAmerican Research Center for Health (NARCH) and United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, ND

The purpose of this conference was to raise awareness of health career opportunities for American Indians.  I provided a keynote presentation on AI Heatlh Careers, and I was able to moderate two panels:  Current AI health professions students (medicine, pharmacy, public health, epidemiology, occupational therapy) and a Current AI Health Professionals Panel (Medicine, Nursing, Research, Epidemiology).  Approximately 80 people attended the conference, and several students are now even more interested in pursuing health careers!

Public Health Unit development at the Ft. Berthold Reservation

Local public health agencies in the State of ND are divided into 28 separate Local Public Health Units (PHUs).  The boundaries of the Ft. Berthold Reservation, home of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, overlap with four separate PHUs!  The purpose of this meeting was to strategize regarding the proposed feasibility study of creating a separate PHU within the Ft. Berthold Reservation.  The advantages to doing this would be to clarify jurisdictional responsibilities for various public health functions (food sale licensure, food safety inspections, outreach for immunizations, etc).  The proposal has passed the legislative committee on health, and it is being forwarded to the ND legislature for final approval.

Presentation: Traditional Approaches to Reducing Modern Health Disparities

Presentation:  "Traditional Approaches to Reducing Modern Health Disparities"

Association of American Indian Physicians

Oklahoma City, OK

Unfortunately, American Indians suffer from among the worst health dispartiites in the nation.  For many tribes, traditional lifestyles and traditional approaches to health promotion could be used today to improve health status.  For example, working toward balance among spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional forces is the traditional Lakota approach to health.  Unfortunately, in modern times, much of healthcare is focused primarily on physical health and the role of a holistic approach is not used.  When we think about chronic health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, controlling stress and living in balance are great methods to assist in controlling blood pressure and blood sugar.  In addition, a holistic approach can help to prevent disease and to reduce behavioral health concerns like depression and anxiety.  Blending the best of modern science and the best of tradional, holistic approaches might be the right approach for many American Indians as well as other populations.  The purpose of this conference was to understand the best ways to blend traditional culture and modern medicine to improve health outcomes.