Thornton 1 Lynda Thornton English 1102-049 4/2/13 Call For Action Through Education To Whom It May Concern, When

it comes to colonialism, most people are under the impression that a developed country can change an under developed one for the better. The savages obtain medicine, technology, religion, and a new better way of life. The issue this presents is that the dominating culture focuses on everything they gave to them instead of what all they took away. Colonization affected the native Americans in many ways such as diet, the amount exercise they take part in, sexually transmitted diseases, and drug addictions. Epilepsy and syphilis have been trademarks of their nationality, even though there are ways to treat syphilis and help with the symptoms of epilepsy. Traditional native healing practices have been skipped over in western medicine, and in many cases, traditional healing has been completely forgotten due to Americanization. Studies show that modern Native Americans also have much higher rates of illness than the average American The death rate among Native Americans for diabetes is three times higher than the general population, six times as high for alcohol abuse, and 60% higher for suicide (Horowitz 24). With this knowledge, it is apparent the Native Americans are not better off with the presence of European influence and should receive better education on healthcare in order to thrive. Pre-Columbian Native Americans generally had a very high consumption of seafood, white tailed deer, and maize. All of which were important staples of their diet (Larsen 53, 63). Although the rise in the popularity of maize was more than likely associated with a more spiritual approach seeing as how they had a corn goddess, it made a negative impact on their teeth and bone density due to the amount of starch (Larsen 182). Despite all of this, they had a relatively healthy diet compared to that of an average American, especially in the case of the

Thornton 2 commmon native. The forced diet change on the Native Americans after colonization was, however, predominantly unhealthy. Many "underdeveloped" countries have not been exposed to extremely sugary foods, the idea of exercise as an option, or highly developed drugs. The immersion of Native Americans in to the cultures who "created" this nation would have been shocking. Almost as shocking as jumping into a pool filled with ice cold water in hundred degree weather. Imagine living in a world where you have to physically work for everything you get and then to change to a world where constantly getting three meals a day and never having to worry about where your food comes from is all you know. Humans generally learn how to eat healthly from their parents, but thi is next to impossible for Native Americans to do seeing as how they have minimal knowledge of their native diet, and are not given the proper education th know how to eat healthy. The transition has not been easy and Natives currently have a large problem with diabetes from poor diet, minimal healthcare, and the lack of exercise now that they do not follow their food from feild to table. In addition, eighty percent of people with epilepsy are in developng countries. Epilepsy, one of the many diseases that has followed Native Americans throughout history is a very personal omatter to my own family being that my ancestors are Native Americans. My nephew is an epileptic and the disease has lingered while skipping generations. The type of seziures my nephew experiences are calle Grand Mal seziures, andup until a few years ago my family thought they were called Grand Maw seziures because of the lack of knowledge given to the Blackfoot side of my heritage. Native culture epileptics were originally looked down upon, and the disease was believed to be caused by evil spirits or due to excessive eating. In some cases saying the word epilepsy is frowned upon and even contact with bodily fluids is considered a way to transmit the disease. A study about epilepsy in native tribes states that "Epilepsy can not be disassociated from religious belief. Nahualism and the disruption of the accompanying animal

Thornton 3 spirit of the person, is an explanation for epilepsy and many Meso-American cultures (CarodArtal 892). Neither traditional healing methods or western medicine have a cure for epilepsy, but they have found many ways to try and subdue the symptoms such as medication, or the consumption of roots, and it is important that natives are knowledgeable about both. Another disease that Native Americans had before contact is syphilis; this can be demonstrated by legions found on remains (Young 26). While there is very little evidence to the sexual health of natives, there have been many studies on the sexual health of modern day Native Americans. A study done in 2007 shows that "Nearly one third of all (high school native american) students have had sex by thirteen years of age" (Ramisetty-Mickler 673). In the same study they found that 53% of the students did not use protection in their most previous sexual encounter. There also seems to be a strong significance between sexual promiscuity and drug use as shown by an article in the Journal of School Health "Episodic drinkers had a higher rate of of having had four or more sexual partners in their lifetime, and more than one sexual partner in the past three months" (Ramisetty-Mickler 673). More than 50% of Native American youths have used marijuana compared to 13% of non-Native Americans. This particular study only demonstrates students of Native descent, and was intended to highlight the differences beteween biracial Native Americans. The statistics can in part be contributed to the fact that most Native Americans do not have very high income and are not exposed to proper awareness for drug abuse and sexual health issues. With Native Americans being a very low minority, not many people focus on them and they have been left behind along with many others in pertainance to sexual education and drug awareness. On another tangent, there's always been a great difference between traditional healing practices and western medicine. This difference can make it very hard for a native to adjust, much less accept, the European worldview. Native Americans generally see the world from the

Thornton 4 point of view that everything is sacred. One part of traditional Native American healing is a return to traditional diet and to play native games such as lacrosse. Being healthy is also generally thought of as being balanced, in the sense of the mind, body, habitat and soul. Native Americans see being ill as "a result of things being out of balance, or losing one's way on the path of beauty" (Horowitz 25). Traditional healing practices are being sought out for the many people such as cancer patients, and in other doctors who wish to obtain the knowledge held by traditional healers. Lori Alvord, M.D., a Navajo surgeon, seeks to blend modern medicine with that of her culture's way of healing. She has had a medicine man sing to an elderly person in order to stabilize his vital signs. She is a very big advocate for mind-body practices which can play a very large part in healing. It is important to know that collaborative healthcare seems to have a better outcome than just modern medicine or traditional medicine alone. The point behind clapboard healthcare is to bridge cultures and is "intended to facilitate the interaction of nonnatives with traditional native healers and (to introduce) an integrated program to heal chronic illness" (Horowitz 28). A recent study called "Blending Two Worlds Study" is working to provide the native community who experience stress, anxiety and depression with traditional healing and show them how and where to get treatment. There are also many many tribes helping American Indian youth now that the access to culture and community are seen as factors that contribute to better health, now that practicing one's culture is no longer restricted or frowned upon in their case. There are many things that contribute to health, but in a minority setting it is very hard to find them. Now that you know about the general health history of Native Americans, where it is going, and how bleak the future looks, you can now understand the need for a call to action. Native Americans are still plagued with epilepsy, a very high STD and drug abuse risk, and in

Thornton 5 many cases these two problems could have just been addressed by education. The benefits of native healing are just as important, if not more so than modern medicine, due to the religious point of view of modern Native Americans. Many current studies support this fact and advocate a mash-up of the two. The only way to move forward is a tolerancy and open-mindedness towards other people's cultures. This fact is doubly important for the Native Americans because in many cases they have been stripped of their culture and religion and have a very minimal knowledge of traditional healing practices by which to fall back on. Seeing as how the known healing practices are very beneficial, they should be seen as something very beautiful instead of as savage or useless traditions. With education on both modern health practices and native culture, American Indians will have the ability to thrive and move on towards the future with less disadvantages. Respectfully Yours, Lynda Thornton

Bibliography Carod-Artal, F. J.; Vasquez-Cabrera, C.B. An Anthropological Study about Epilepsy in Native Tribes from Central and South America. Eliepsia 48.5 (2007): 886-893. Print. Horowitz, Sala, PhD. American Indian Health. Alternative and Complementary Practices 18.1 (2012): 24-30. Print Larsen, Clark Spencer; et al. Food and Stable Isotopes in La Florida. Bioarchaeology of Spanish Florida. Ed. Clark Spencer Larson. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2001. 53-81. Print. Ortiz, Alfonso. Farmers and Raiders of The Southwest The National Geographic Society: The World of the American Indian. (1993): 157-202. Print. Ramisetty- Mikler, Suhasasini, PhD, MPH; Malembe S. Ebama, MPH. Alcohol/Drug Exposure, HIV Related Sexual Risk Among Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: Evidence From a National Survey. Journal of School Health 81.11 (2011): 671- 679. Print.

Thornton 6 Young, T. Kue. The Health of Native Americans. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., (1994). Print.