unit 15

Question 1

How is health seen by natives?

Answer 1

see health as the product of natural or supernatural forces

Question 2

What type of symbols are used by natives to depict health?

Answer 2

They often use animal and plant symbols, such as the eagle, for courage and the sacred tree for life, cycles of time, the earth, and the universe

Question 3

What does the medicine wheel symbolize? What does the medicine wheel accomplish?

Answer 3

the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), the four directions (east, south, west, north), four aspects to human nature (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), the four kingdoms (mineral, plant, animal, human) and the four stages of life.

The medicine wheel is a symbolic tool that helps people realize that they are connected with the rest of creation and it can be used to help understand things that cannot be seen such as diseases or spiritual well-being

Question 4

What does medicine mean in aboriginal terms?

Answer 4

refer to a broader meaning than drugs or the practice of healing. Rather, it is a kind of power in a spiritual sense. A healthy person has a sense of purpose and follows the guidance of the Great Spirit or Creator. Thus, it is difficult to separate Aboriginal “medicine” from “religion,” since many healers are also spiritual leaders

Question 5

What does native healing mean?

Answer 5

Native healing is holistic in that health means restoring the body, mind, and spirit to balance and wholeness

Question 6

Describe the nocebo (power of negative expectation) effect in aboriginal healing

Answer 6

Many Aboriginal traditional healing beliefs recognize that the power to heal also involves the power to inflict harm, illness, and misfortune on a bad person.

Includes negative thoughts from others, which can cause disease

Question 7

How are illnesses treated in aboriginal medicine?

Answer 7

Minor illnesses, such as colds, headaches, and digestive disorders, are treated with herbal remedies, whereas serious illnesses are often viewed as a penalty for a transgression and require the assistance of a healer.

Question 8

How is native medicine practiced?

Answer 8

Historically, Native cultures have placed emphasis on traditional healers. These healers may be referred to as shamans, herbalists, or medicine people. They gain their knowledge to heal over time, since medical knowledge only exists within the oral or story tradition. Most healers are relatively old and the oldest (Elders) are the most revered. Native healers are often humble about their abilities; they do not practise traditional medicine for profit. Healers are either chosen by Elders, inherit the position, or may have a calling

Question 9

How do native healers approach healing?

Answer 9

Some Native healers believe they can best heal the conditions that they have experienced. In other words, healers must strive to heal themselves in order to heal their patients most effectively.

Question 10

What is the purpose of native healers?

How is this accomplished?

Answer 10

The purpose of these healers is to restore balance in self, community, and nature—the integrated system.

This is accomplished through the delivery of ceremonies, rituals, and herbal preparations.

Question 11

What are the ethics of healing in native medicine?

Answer 11

Native ethics throughout Canada can be generalized to include maintaining balance and harmony, inappropriateness of anger, and the “right time”. These ethics are the basis for cultural and individual behaviours.

Question 12

What are some common methods of treatment for native healing?

Answer 12

Common methods of treatment include prayer, chanting, music, smudging, herbalism, counselling, and ceremony.

Question 13

How does healing begin?

Answer 13

Healing always begins with prayer where the healer may pray with and for the patient. Some prayers are sung, accompanied by drumming, the rhythm “entrains the minds of both healer and patient and leads them to an expanded awareness of self and spirit”

Healing sessions also begin with smudging, using the smoke of sweetgrass to cleanse the place, the healer, patient, and ritual objects.

Question 14

What are chanting ceremonies?

Answer 14

Chanting ceremonies aid healing by expressing harmony, rebirth, vitality, and a will to live.

Question 15

How are herbs incorporated into native healing?

Answer 15

Herbs are another important part of Native healing. History includes accounts of diseases being treated with herbal remedies such as scurvy with pine needles [which are high in vitamin C], constipation with cascara sagrada

Question 16

What type of therapies do native healers use for relieving tensions, pain, and to remove spiritual intrusions and bring in healing powers

Answer 16

Native healers also use massage, healing touch, and non-contact healing (similar to therapeutic touch)

Question 17

How do patients see a native healer?

Answer 17

In order to obtain the services of a healer, the patient may have to travel to a Native community and obtain permission from the community. It should also be noted that a “non-Native cannot simply approach a healer and expect him or her to talk freely”

Question 18

What are some of the healing used in hospitals today for aboriginals?

Answer 18

Healing methods that have seen a resurgence in practice are peace pipe and sweetgrass ceremonies. Many hospitals in Western Canada now have rooms or gathering places where Aboriginal patients, healers, and families can hold spiritual and healing ceremonies including burning sweetgrass. Healing circles are also becoming more common; the energy brought through the healing circle is the energy for all the people.

Question 19

How did the government use to suppress native healing practices?

Answer 19

These included suppression of the potlatch (a ceremony where goods were given away by the sponsor, part of the Aboriginal traditions on the Northwest coast) and suppressing Spirit Dancing and the Sun Dance of the Plains Indians. As a result of the repression, Aboriginal healing and other spiritual activities became more secretive.

Question 20

What are the most prevalent health problems to natives today?

Answer 20

cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and dental caries and their diet is too high in fat

Question 21

What vitamins are being consumed in low quantities by natives?

Answer 21

vitamins A, D, and folate, and calcium and zinc

Question 22

What needs to be done for eating for natives?

Answer 22

More work needs to be done on increasing awareness of healthy eating, and how healthy food choices can be made using both traditional and market foods

Question 23

What other psychological issues affect natives? How are these being dealt with?

Answer 23

Another issue affecting the health of Native peoples is addictive behaviour, most notably alcoholism, drugs, and gambling. Programs have been developed to promote abstinence through counselling, peer support, information and opportunities for spiritual growth based on Native culture.

Question 24

Due to the high frequency of many diseases and health issues

Answer 24

there is an urgent need to develop culturally appropriate community-based public health intervention programs.

Question 25

What are we doing to increase the health of natives?

Answer 25

Recently, organizations have been developed to incorporate Native and conventional medicine together to address key health issues in Native populations. For example, the Aboriginal Health Program encourages health-care providers to be aware and responsive to Aboriginal culture, health, and life-care needs. Its Aboriginal Diabetes Wellness Program uses the services of an Aboriginal Elder, dietitian, nurse, and physician on staff.

Question 26

Why is it difficult to evaluate outcomes of native healers?

Answer 26

Individualism and differences in the practice of traditional medicine make it difficult to evaluate outcomes. Users of traditional medicine are less concerned with questions of efficacy, because of their belief that traditional medicine works.

Question 27

How has healing been demonstrated with a native healer in the treatment of psoriasis?

Answer 27

A study by David Young and colleagues from the University of Alberta documented the activities of a Cree healer who treated non-Aboriginal patients suffering from psoriasis in a medical clinic using both spiritual and herbal means. The researchers compared this treatment with conventional methods of treatment. The healer’s treatment was partially successful; the suggestion was made that more emphasis be placed on evaluating the cultural component of the healing rather than just the clinical evidence

Question 28

Does native medicine detract from conventional medicine?

Answer 28

A study carried out in Saskatoon observed that use of Aboriginal medicine does not detract from the use of conventional medical services

Question 29

How is Native health promoted in Canada? What more could be done?

Answer 29

There are many ways that Native health is promoted, including
increased involvement by Natives themselves in providing health care

health programs that take into account aspects of Native culture and healing traditions

inclusion of cross–cultural health–care courses in medical schools

restoration of Native heritage through museums and return of artifacts to be under Native control

There are many opportunities for further promotion of Native healing in areas such as:

disease prevention (diabetes, cardiovascular disease)

addiction behaviour treatment

Question 30

Describe types of ceremonies used in traditional Native healing.

Answer 30

Healing ceremonies may include
prayers and chants
music using voice, drum, rattle
smudge using sage, sweetgrass
objects, inducing altered state of consciousness
herbs

Question 31

How does someone become a Native healer?

Answer 31

Someone becomes a Native healer by receiving a calling, or apprenticing with a healer. Specific techniques of healing—songs and rituals—are received directly from Elder healers.

Question 32

Discuss the traditional Native approach to health.

Answer 32

The Native approach to health is holistic. Everything is interrelated; health and disease have both physical and spiritual components.

Question 33

Discuss the benefits of Native healing for Native people.

Answer 33

Native healing offers Native patients cultural identity and incorporates a spiritual aspect, which may be helpful in promoting wellness.