Asian Media Access

Storytelling Engagement
Project Report
 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

This project is part of a $45 million State Innovation Model (SIM) cooperative agreement, awarded to
the Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services in 2013 by The Center for Medicare and
Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to help implement the Minnesota Accountable Health Model.
 Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Story Circles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Storybird. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Photo Booth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Video Interview Series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Monthly Newsletters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ALL content (Story Circles, Storybird Images & Wordcloud, Photo Booth Images, Infographic, &
Wordcloud, Video Interview Series, Monthly Newsletters) is outlined within this document. Links
are provided to full versions of the content within each section and in the index at the end of the
document.
 Introduction
Throughout 2016, as a contractor of the State Innovation
Model, Asian Media Access conducted community surveys
with four diverse community groups to gather their cultural
perspectives on the healthcare system in Minnesota. We
took a nontraditional approach to data collection by using
video and audio interviews, photo booth with whiteboard
statements, and a web-based postcard making platform to
create images relating to the questions.

We highlighted the results in our montlhy newsletter and

present them here for you.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the Storybird data collection
portion of this project.
 Story Circles
Our Story Circle Articles are composed of statements
captured during video and audio interviews with white paper
segments to support. We also created fact sheets which can
be used by the health care community to provide care which
is sensitive to the cultures they are serving. These Story
Circle Articles provide insight into the views and cultural
practices of Hmong, Hispanic, Somali, and Native American
communities in Minneapolis.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the Storybird data collection
portion of this project.
 The third in our series are the Hmong; Almost all participants reported that their The fourth article in our series looking Numbers alone indicate the necessity
South East Asians. Hmong people generally diets included both Hmong and American at the importance of culture when it comes for medical practitioners to acknowledge
come from the hills and mountainous areas foods, with greater proportions of Hmong to health care from the lens of the Somali, and educate themselves regarding the
just south of China. According to genetic foods. Rice remained a dietary staple in all Hmong, African-American, Hispanic, and beliefs and practices of this ever-growing
evidence, Hmong people lived in china home-cooked meals for Hmong Americans, Native cultures, focuses on the Hispanic population coming to them for care and
walking,
for 2000 years before climbingsouth
migrating trees, hunting, fishing, complementedBarriers by reportedly to Healthy
high intakes Living Cultural
culture, the largest Beliefs
and fastest and Practices guidance.
growing The Hispanic community is the
in the 1700s. They swimming,
moved to cooking,
escapeand the cleaning house. of various vegetables, chicken, fish, beef, community least likely to have health
Traditional games include minority population in the US, in our efforts
oppressive Qing Dynasty. Most Hmong in spinning and tops,pork. Regarding the traditional Hmong diet, Many Hispanics combine traditional insurance, says Dr. Jane Delgado, President
tag, jumping rope, kato (a very popular all five key informants reported changes
to further inform our current medical Diet and Exercise and CEO of the National Health Alliance for
the United States come from Laos, but there practice. In everyhealing
culture andthuswestern
far, it ismedicine but home
are many othersgame from in southeast
Thailand, Asia) and playing Frequently in
Vietnam, the traditional
mentioned snacks Hmong
were American diet as remedies
clear how important it is toand traditional healing is
understand Hispanics. In fact, the Census Bureau shows
house. Youths eachparticipated
year. Although in housework
all key this community has adaptedwhich to American El desayuno (breakfast) was a cup
and China. ice informants
cream, cookies, chips, a higher
candy, income,
soda, would allow us alwayspsychological,
first priority. Home and remedies that about 30 percent of Hispanics are
by mowingnoted the lawn
thatand it is cleaning.
easy to buy Youths differentlife
manynoodles, and adopted
to purchase somebetter unhealthyfoods. eating
Its hard to eat
how social, structural, ofusecoffee, and huevos rancheros (corn
instant and common fruits. many physical
different kinds of herbs and spices. uninsured, a number that has not drastically
Hmong people mostly haveenjoyed
kindsown
their sports as their form
of vegetables and fruits of at reported
Youths the Asian habits.
that theirAlthough
healthy
schools most
when
served Hmong
you dontAmericans
have a lot of money.
cultural factors affect
After many
of families.
home
health
treatments,
They
and
remedies
practice
an ashave
such using
a varietyfilled
tortillas
failed,
herbs
of with fried eggs and chili Traditional Mexican
increased or decreased in recent years.
exercise, including basketball, being sensitive to these factors makes sauce,and tomato & onion). Sometimes they
language in a couple grocery
different styles of somevolleyball,
stores, Hmong hot dogs,grew
pizza,Americans theirnachos,
burritos, own when
And vegetables
tacos,youorhave andfinancial
fruits in limitations, you theyllinreach
important difference out
spiritual
health tocleansings,
relatives, neighbors
outcomes. to heal both folk Medicinal Herbs
Dr. Delgado adds, for the past 25 years,
soccer, kato,
are baseball,
not eating running,
as many football,
vegetables and Laos, many cannot
tend to do
purchaseso in the
foods United
that are cheaper will have something sweet, such as sweet
Hispanics have been the least likely to have

HMONG
dialect. Most Hmong came over to the hamburgers for lunch, all of which they and andto community illnesses forandsuggestions. If the
spiritual ailments common
tropicalinfruit, toast, granola and

HISPANIC
tennis, We cannot afford let cultural barriers bread,
United States after the badminton,
fruits because
Vietnam War. and kickball.
of lack of Dancing
time
theirand parents money States because
perceived toand they live in small apartment
unhealthy.
be unhealthy. illness
limit our ability to meetincreases,
the needstheyll
Mexican of ourhave
culture. to call yogurt.
Curanderismo upon isLa still usedhealth insurance.
wasgenerally
also popular.
to peaceful
purchase the vegetables complexes andreported
no longer have their own comida (lunch) is normally the
Although they are Theand main fruits with
vegetables that they curanderos
patients, or reduce byor
their opportunity santeros.
many to When
people today someones
throughout Latinof the day and is expected
with farm biggest meal
people, the CIA recruited which the Hmongto prepareto traditional eatingmeals at school wereorsalads
large plotscarrots.
Barriers
and oftoland on which
Physical to plantand
Activity benefit from thelife is in jeopardy,
services America,
we the
even
can provide. matriarch of the
in the UnitedStates among The Hispanic
Herb: Ajohealing(garlic) folk system
to be a lot of food and a lot of eating. La
BICULTURAL HEALTHY LIVING
act as spies. ShortlyThe
of the war, a new youth
afteraverage
leader and
fresh
the response
USingredients.
pulled
adulttoparticipants
came power
outof the five
who answered
Commonly eaten
mango, pears, pineapple,
foods
fruitsand raise animals.
Exercise
included
do not eat watermelon,
guava, As a result, people
as many freshand foods, which BICULTURAL HEALTHY LIVING
family willMexican
western
The ethnic terms
determine
medicine,
Latinolocal
if its necessary
Americans.
but theinmale
or curandero
Hispanic
Readcomida
head
the United
soup
to seek
more about
ofStates
the
a is practiced by curanderos or santeros.
typically consists of an appetizer, a
here. Curanderos
or salad and the main
are natural healers who use
Traditional
course, Use: which Eaten to alleviate hyperten-
the question
in Laos. The Hmong were persecuted for about
Becausefrequency
many of
Hmong physical American Hmong
other melons. Home gardens contained Americans define as healthy foods, herbs and plants to heal illness while
All key informants cited lack of time refer to a diversefamily still hasoftoLatin
population give permission towould seek be seafood, meat sion and prevent
or poultry, rice arteriosclerosis; garlic
their anti-communistactivity among
involvement youths
households in the was
have
war3.2low times
incomes per andgrapes,
peaches, both asoranges,
noted above. andmoney One parent reported,
pears. Similar santeros use the power of the saints to heal,
week. and as the major barriers to physical American descent treatment.
that includes manyto the Somali from our previous
and/or beans and some juice is applied
hot tortillas. La to stings and spider bites
and many of them fledSixty percentare
parents
to Thailand of employed,
youths andtime
refugee 66% and money
Schools reportedly Back in the
serve homeland,
oranges,
activity apples,
and
there were no
exercise for the Hmong nationalities and races. Latino article, Hispanics
refers to a also believe that health aid, and counsel individuals. These two
of adults cena (dinner) is eaten in the evening, and
camps. In the late 1980s,thought
are two
many that
of the
Hmong young
greatestpeople andgetbananas.
barriers to eating fertilizers
Youths named used on our foods because we
bananas,
American community. One key informant person of Cuban, Mexican,Common can be caused
hierarchy
Puerto Rican,of byseeking
good deeds relief or bad healers are widely used for social, physical,
its a lighter meal of the day often consisting
people came toatthe least an healthy
United hour of foods.
States physical
after Although activity per vegetables and grew our
papayas, strawberries, and own kiwifoods
stated, asThe so they were healthy
favorites.
parent needs to supervise their from lay deeds;
healers:
South or Central American, or other otherwise it can be caused because and Comments:
psychological Anticoagulant
purposes. Neither effect
usesat high
day. of soup or tacos. An influence ofavoid
western
being sponsored bySixty percent
fruits areof
the Lutheran youthsand
readily
church. available,13% of
A many
handful Hmong for our body.
of individuals said In this
that theycountry, the foods grow
kids and sometimes they dont have the Spanish culture or origin, of imbalances
regardless of between hot and cold man-made doses;
medicine, high dosesnatural
preferring in patients taking
adults felt that children should get an hour culture upon their own includes Coumadin ranch and high doses can
American families increasinglymissed are becausefruits
their homeland of fertilizer
time.of .rattan, andred
. . Money
pesticide use and
is a problem if you have to race. (Juckett, G.) Here wesupernatural
Home willRemedies
use the term triggers and envy. With this healing and faith. It(warfarin);
is important for medical
of physical activitylargest
each day. Most adult that affects our fruit
being unhealthy. other fattening dressings, along
cause with
heartburn the and bad breath; reduces
Today, the US has theconsuming
fourth poorer-quality anddietsgray including
banana, and passion
pay to have leaves,
their children in a program.
belief treatment cant simply be a pill, it practitioners to acknowledge the hesitation
Hispanic, referring primarily to Mexican
respondents fastsaid theyfatty
foods, participated
meats, and in ready-made, must include a more increase
holistic approach. of sweet fruit drinks and soda.
effectiveness of saquinavir (invirase)
population of Hmong. There are an which are not available in Another the United key States.
informant similarly mentioned Americans. Relatives / Neighbors (especially of Hispanics to take man-made medicine,
estimated 6,000,000 physical activity
frozen,
in China, orandbrought
787,000 in their children
preserved foods because to Although some Hmong American and work to find a comfortable solution
time and money issues and added that females) Troubling
Vietnam, 315,000 parks for physical
in Laos, these
and betweenactivity.are readily available
options and families
The universal sentimentin Fresno
was, and In Sacramento maintain Imbalance between hot and cold are the even lower trends
that honors theAmica
beliefs(Amica
of the orculture and
parents areour sometimes not knowledgeable Hispanics comprised nearly 16 percent ofnotphysical Herb:
activity in Hispanic men and golden aster)
200,000 and 250,000 in the oftenUS.require less time tohomeland prepare and thelesssmallare
soils gardens
fertile, in
and their
we backyards,
dont the variety is considered
Yerbatero (Herbalist)an illness but directly treats them at the same time. Relationship,
Many money
parentsto expressed about what kinds of physical activity of the U.S. population in 2009, making women. At present, Hispanics are the
purchase.concern One use mother said,to
fertilizer Weof traditional
grow anything vegetables
. . . so,are and fruits they are
we available
eat referring to temperature but referring to information, respect and patience is key for
forcensus,
their children and themselves about programs for their children: them the largest minority group. By 2050, largest minority group inTraditional
the UnitedUse: Boiled flowers are used
As of the last eat outside
California, when I am tired theor do not
crops andfeelweablearetohealthier.
grow in the United
. . . In this States is less than Sobadorclassification
(massage of a particular substance or true integration.
becoming like obese it is projected that they will comprise up therapist)States representing approximately
externally on 15% bruises
Minnesota and Wisconsin had theafter
cooking.
In
largestmoving
Sometimes
a series
to the I dont have
of
country, articles, getthose
you time we
sick agrown
are in Laos.
lot because In addition, concern
fertilizer illness.
Hmong populations. UnitedColorado
States. The
to cook.wascause
sixth wasparent
Another perceived stated,
was used We to eat
growabout thevegetables
all the
Parents
presence ofand
are not informed about
chemicals in produce
to 30 percent of the U.S. population. The
Partera (midwife
Inwhoa series ofof
may also treat
thearticles,
population. we are tofrom
According
Treatment
a 2008
both healers can
on the list with an to estimated
be increasedmostly
3,859 Hmong exploring
availability
Hmong. and .intake
food. . . But the
if we
fruits.
importance
. . .dont
I do not was of anymore
eatexpressed
organized
muchparticipate
youth
by many participants.
activities programs. To three largest subgroups include
children) Cold Mexican
exploring
conditions: report
cancer, the of the National Health
importance
colic, include of Interview
massages,
Comments: herbs,
For counseling
topical and homeopath-
in sport activity one will need Americans (about 65 percent), mostly Survey, all Hispanic subgroups had lower
Carteret, M. 2012. of food, increased
have time culture
consumption
then we willof when
eat fatty
andAmericanit comes
I am very foods.
afraid tonow.health In addition, empacho (indigestion),
culture headache, when it leisure-time
comes tophysical
based health
onictheir spiritual
use only; avoidcapacities
internal anduse (except
American foods money, and many Hmong people dont settled in the Southwest, Puerto Ricans levelsupper of activity
. . . Thesuch as
children fastlikefoods
care fromtemperature
to eatand the lens of
fast food, offood
like thewas
One Somali,
parent cited shifts in dietary menstrual cramps, pneumonia,
fatty meats,frozen and decreased
food that isphysical activity practices
important
have much
involving
tomoney.
eating
the They also have lots of Curandero
(9.1 percent) in the urban Northeast,
respiratory
Total care
infections. from
(lay healer that
Hot than thenon-Hispanic
conditions: lensbills ofoften
the cleaning
Somali,
whites.
is performed
for homeopathic
Data from the
as bathing which are
preparations,
Diet and Exercise ready to serve ofafter you andmore they meat: with many mixed plants.
considered safe);Santeros
increased may gastroenteritis
coming Hmong, African-American,
health women, because cold water intervenes in multiple
inHmong, dimensions
levels. Before microwave to the United
because they foods States,have
dont cause theyouWe to were
not have
children.
ablechildren
In addition,
to eat healthy foods in our
do not have time and Cuban Americans (3.5
physical
percent)
(anger), diabetes
/ spiritual) are
mellitus, African-American,
2005
diaper Behavioral
rash, Risk Factor Surveillance
also prescribe herbs, ointments,
and dyspnea and the
risk with ingestion
toHispanic, and Native cultures:
Harrison, G., Kim, L., Kagawa-Singer, M. 2015 after school to attend to all the childrens Florida. However, these demographics System (BRFSS) reported that more
Hmong used to work
patience on farms
wait for Hmongfrom foods.
because homeland,
of abnormal but weYouths
period[s].
sport
didnt have as much
activities.
gastroesophageal
rapidly shifting as Latino populations
Hispanic,
are pregnancy,
and Native
reflux, hypertension, malcultures:
lighting of candles for saints, and incense.
morning to afternoon.bi-cultural They exercised perspectives
all no similar foods to
available. We can eat more foods de ojo (evil eye), Hispanics
sore throat thanorwhites do not meet national
Meat was named as the single most voiced cultural concerns.
increasingly integrated into Doctor Naturalista
suburban and
infection.
bi-cultural
prescribe perspectives
natural Truly
recommendations for physical to
a culture shock
Herb: Borraja
when
activity.(borage)
you step into
day long. In America, things are usedifferent. in thispractice
country because theyre plentiful. .
commonly consumed unhealthy Many
food. inform
families current
food stamps, medical
which
Other parents agreed when one remedies without
rural communities throughout America. spiritual component.
inform current
Both Hispanic medical western medicine practice that often relies
men and practice
women reported
We are more aresedentary
often and do not exercise . . physical
For example, theres more meat such as
Many adults expressed concern thatsaved to buy meat. One Adults parent
listed activities
mentioned that language barriers hinder About 23 percent of Latinos inMal the United
de ojo is a supernatural lower prevalence
illness
on procedure and clinical diagnosis and
of regular physicalUse: activity
as much.One gentleman citedbigan apt food pork Taihere
Chi,and people tend to eat more of Traditional
Hmong Americans eat toorevealed much meat that with families,
including the walking, stretching,
parents from knowing about physical States live in poverty.Hispanics are the least likely racial or
that comes from outside the (41.9%,
treatments.
body40.5%) than theirbronchitis non-Hispanic
Flower tea used for
understanding of the phenomenon: For to it. Other parents agreed that they also eat and fever
after moving to the Unitedstamps States,sometimes
and they are not enoughhouse,
cleaning and gardening.
activities Traditional
programs for their ethnic group andto seekby medical care, says a
example, like a pig. Ifthe
purchase weneeded
caged this pig
groceries:
Hmong The
physical bigger
more portions
activities of food
are farming, here than theychildren:
did It is
new report
cause
bythe Census
excessive
Bureau.
admiration.
White counterparts (52.3%, 49.6%). (J Phys
Curanderismo is the practice of
eat fatty varieties, most significantly
then he willchildrenbe fatter pork.
than thethe onetighter
that you hard
in their homelands. One in this country.
parentManynoted, people
We do not Excessive admiration is anWhile
individual
Act Health) who
you have, your money all Americans are visiting the doctor traditional or folk medicine in Latinrisk from
let it run around. speak English so its hard for them to join compliments a baby of theirless beauty and Comments: Hepatotoxicity
is whenNow we are
it comes tolike
buying this pig
groceries. . . .have changed a lot. In this country, some frequentlypurposely
than a decade ago, the numbers Americanpyrolizidine
culture. The traditional
alkaloids healers,
(in leaves) with high
that [is] in the programs. Another parent
a pigexpanded on puts the babys life at risk and
Youcage.
also worry about food when you have families, every month they will Ikill and are especially called curanderos, believe thatI their ability
eat for the this whole issue: month. In our homeland, may low evenfor Hispanics.
cause death. Forty-two
Most Parents will or prolonged doses
guests come over. There are times you have percent ofhave Hispanics never visitaaspecial
doctorcharm or to heal others is a spiritual calling and is
their baby wear made
to use cash to help pay for groceries along we only get to eat meat once or twice medical provider usually passed down through generations
The difficult thing is the age of of onyx. during the year.
with food stamps.One parent summed up
parents and the language barrier. You
the financial hardships:
II dont know the directions to take your Envidia is a cause of illness and bad
II
kids to recreational places. Its difficult to luck, so whoever envies to another person
The things that can change the way then that person will become sick and a
communicate with people you meet there.
we eat would be employment and earning misfortunate victim.
Also, your children may want to travel out

III III

Hmong Story Circle Article Hispanic Story Circle Article

Native American Somali Bicultural Healthy Living

Bicultural Healthy Living Tales from the Garden, #15
Tales from the Garden, #16 by Maya Park
by Maya Park When attempting to discover how to improve healthcare for those of another culture, yet part of If we are truly to serve our community, we need to learn, understand, and fulfill the needs of the
the larger society, it is imperative that medical practitioners acknowledge the damage that has been done individuals in a way that honors each of their beliefs and practices. This can only happen through real
I to the Native American people who have are struggling to maintain the culture that has been stripped
n the year of 2000
away, and the there was an
mistrust estimated
that has beenofleft 4.1behind.
million Native Americans living in the US, In a series
communication, seeing patients as individuals, and learning about the different cultures we are serving.
of articles, we are exploring the importance of culture when it comes to health care
which represents less than 1.5 percent of US population and about 500 federal tribes overall. The number from the lens of the Somali, Hmong, African-American,
Religious Influence Hispanic, and Native cultures: bi-cultural
of Native Americans living in reservations
My doctors has decreased
Cultural
should payHealth over the
attention to past
Beliefs
mental fewhealthdecades.
and Now
Practices
and how it there's only 1 to
contributes in my physical perspectives to inform current medical practice. Cultural We Health
begin with Beliefs the Somaliand culture, whose government
Practices
5 Native Americans living in those
health. Vivian areas. In 1924
Almeda, congress
Ojibwa and granted
Lakota Tribes. U.S. citizenship to American Indians, was officially recognized Mybynamethe US in 2013, and
is Mohamed Abdi whose
Achmed, people andfirstI ambegan fromimmigrating
Somalia. I grew to the upTwinhere Cities
so I dont know much
but over the following 20 years, FederalDiet services were withdrawn and federal trust protection was
and Exercise in the 1980s. Many arrived aboutin the USback
Somalia during
Diethome. theExercise
and early
What1990s,
I think after aboutthe mystart
healthof their civilpretty
is, I am war. healthy.
Somalia is I think I am
removed from tribal land. One policyBeliefs
Cultural made it mandatory
Regarding to sendHealthcare
their children to boarding school to learn a long, narrow country on the easttocoast
fortunate of Africa.
be where Im atMost rightofnow Somalia
as farisashot and arid,
health. I tryand experiences
to minimize stress and anxiety. I
about the Americans lifestyle, to be disconnected from their culture. Another policy was determined to drought when rainfall isbelieveless than normal. About 60 percent of Somalias people orwere nomadic I tryorto involve the
wipe out Native American spiritual practicesany M
forbidding
A person or people could suffer a spiritThey
the practice
Native American or teaching
patients
woundkicked
will deny
or trauma,
of it.their pain due to religion and tradition, some may not
me offwith the idea thatback
my healthcare a traumatic
in January experience
because I did not fill this little paper
semi-nomadic herders. The community.
in God,
rest wereI farmers T
so whenever
stay with orthem
he Somali
I feel down
livedand in cities.
diet tends
talk
I usually pray
to to
them.be low If Iinneed
fresh
meditate.
fruit and
advice, vegetables,
I usually go to the though the southern part has locally
elders.
could displace partwant of to talk spirit
ones aboutwithout
their pain the because
personrealize its too hard for
immediately them to that know or accept that theirthebody is failing on Overall, grown
those are vegetables.
some of the Staples
aspects tendoftomy beculture
rice, bananas,
that and the meat
contributes to myofhealth.
sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.
When speaking of culturethem. and the importance ofout.
it when I didnt it in
comes had todying,
to Ihealthcare, fill itit and
out,
is especially
without
William treatment,
Tanner, Ojibwa Tribe Journalist Mila Koumpilova, from God,reported
spirit possession, and or a communicable a major disease can cause illness. Evil eye is a concept
Most
person will suffer and ultimately patients dont
perish. believe medication due to belief that the creator will heal them. Some Coffee andthe teasStarareTribune,
the preferred drinks.in November
All meat must 2014, be After
ritually slaughtered according to Islamic law,
concerning when discussing the patients
Native American dip in 2008, the yearly numbers and of new Somali believed in
refugees byMinnesota
the Somalihave and itrebounded
is a misfortune steadily. or illness cause by one upon another. During the pregnancy
are afraid they might be addicted or be sensitive School
Culture. The Federal Indian Boarding to medicines prescribed by doctors. In other many purchase Halal or specially prepared meat. It is customary for Somali men and women to eat
Movement began in earnest in 1875. cases,
The
By 1899, there
patients dont
indigenous peoples
and
wereThe26healing
make of their
standardized Mexico own
elder is the
off-reservation
and decision
practice, South
cultures
schools
because they
America
the responsibility
primary
scattered
sharebelieve
access
across 15 to healing power. In a system without technology
that everyone
thistreatment
for ancient concept
failure falls
in
of their
soulfamilyonhas
a squarely the
the practitioner. There
B
Including the number of resettlers,
elievers in reporting
Islam Food
separately. must
of anumber
the take
mother,ofher
is eaten carewiththeir
behavior
Somalis spiritual,
the right
or the will
resettling
hand.emotional had of morethe god will
andthan physicaltripled affect
in the
health.
health of the baby. There are a few types of
Our bodies,
states. The emphasis within the Indian
right toeducational
make a decision system with laterthem,
shifted forto reservation
choices arehave schools
rarely made andalone.
public Putsch, Robert, four years. Trend thetracking Minnesota Compasshealers. reflects One ofnumbers
giventhese
them is areporting Spiritualthe healer
foreign theyborn use religious rituals to heal but other general practitioners
trauma or spirit wound, called susto in Spanish. And many rituals and ceremonies
too manyto call and Marlie Joyce. most complex of machines, are toinus by God likeas a trust. They should not beherbalabused or neglected
schools, but boarding schools continued to haveisasimply
major impactno one else the
into to blame.
next century A practitioner
because who they haswere failures loses the reputation as a population frombut Somalia as 22.697 fromBecause
2010-2014 are skilled
third only things
to India cauterization,
As(26,552)
people, and
bone
Mexico setting,
(69,430). medications, and minor surgery. Traditional
back the 2016.
spirit from the place powerful where the trauma happened that disturbed the persons life force, maintained in good order, a majority
Saheeh of Somalias
Al-Bukhari. previously about 60 percent,
discussed, diet wereandand nomadicplay
nutrition or semi-nomadic
healersaare bigboth wise men and woman.
perceived as "civilizing" influences on American Indians.healer. DuringThus the 1930sthe medicine
and 1940s, person nearlyis careful
half oftoallevaluate each situation carefully, only accepting Koumpilova, Star partTribune, also reported
in maintaining herders,
the bestthepossible
with
healers
Somali
the reststudent
learn
being farmers
health,
their
enrollment
so
healing
does aand in from older
the Minneapolis
some
lifestyle
family
city dwellers,Public
members
the Schools
change
the
of environment and lifestyle has a
Gonzales says. Traditional those indigenous
cases he medicine
feels confident can he help can ushelp.understand
He makes thissubtle
trauma across
assessments of the patient, knowing that Applying certain
placetrees that haveincorporating
been heated exercise.
up Islam
to theatskin is lays
a healing technique to help stimulate the
Indian people who received formal education
generations and across attended
In
timeNative such
that we
schools.
Societies
often such intelligence
carry is determined by their ability to listen, hear and up 70 percent since 2011. on
emphasis Censushugenumbers,
a simple impact onshe
diet combined theirreports,
foodphysical
with source the
and Minnesota
their daily activity
exercise. Somali community
and exercise. No longer is physical movement
subjective factors asasreadiness
a people. toWhen
heal,we valueheal in traditional
placed on treatment, and strength of will are powerful more than 33,000, a count Somali immune system, itswhich byitroutine.
helpsofwith hepatitis, diarrhea, and tuberculosis. The belief of the Somali is that
medicine, we undo the impact understand of time. rather thanwhatstheir ability to ask smart question. Dont interrupt and listen so andleaders
exercise saya underestimates
natural part of their sizedaily tens thousands.
This can have a huge impact on health, and new ways to
determiners ofThats
outcome. important about revitalizing and preserving
Startribune.com. N.p., n.d. everyone has a spirit that resides in them. If one's spirit becomes angry, it can cause him/her to become ill
American Indians experienced both setbacks
indigenous traditional medicine.
and progress
your question We have
during
will healing
be the 20th
answered. ways that Whencentury.
can a story In June
help us
1924,with you that means its for you
is shared
understand and undo the TheWeb. 14 exercise
get
Prophet Aug. 2016.
Muhammad mustand be found
his or created,were
companions that naturally
are inclusive and comfortable.
physically fit. Life
with fevers, headaches, dizziness and weakness. To cure this, it involves a healing ceremony, eating was For instance,
tougher, longmany Somali
Congress granted American Indians U.S. citizenship. and you The only.Indian Citizenship Act later was amended to distances were covered women on do foot,
not enjoymen huntedexerciseand at the
farmed gym,their becausefood they are so visible
to survive, and incense.andwere
there mustnobeuseless
covered. BALL
very serious issues we have in theEven indigenous
the selection Americas.
processofKoepke, Kelly. 2012.
is individualized, as theN.p. client assesses his situation, makes an offer to special food, reading from the Koran,
include Alaska Natives Deloria, 1985; Thornton, Some1987. The subsequent
Native American will passage carry orthe haveIndianitems on them that they consider sacred. It may Winstonrecreations
Churchill said, Healthy
(Bi-Cultural
to produce citizens
laziness Active
and areLiving
the greatest
Lifestyle)asset ofany
encouragescitizen canand have.
mainstream
burning
society to
Mental illness is believed to be caused by
acknowledge the need to provide
Reorganization Act (1934) placed great emphasis the medicine practitioner, and waits and to see if itthem is accepted. Negotiations are never carried out face to face. spiritwaste many
possession hours
oforlifepunishment
is
otherwise
intrinsically fromconstructive
god.toMental
tied the
time.
illness
health
The
of
21st century
requires spiritual healing. Fozia Abrar M.D.
Healing is considered sacred be on civilizing
stones,
workfeathers,
and inleave
Native
antlers,
many
people
Native fur, traditions
claws teaching
or pouches of effective
cloth or leather. Dont touch sacred More than 50 years later, Minnesota Compass
culturally reports
appropriate quality
forms of exercise for
contains many distractions and forms of entertainment that encourage laziness and induce ill health. the diverse populations of their community.
Christianity. To this end, many more Native American The client might an offering outsidecannot be
the healers door. Ifwithoutit is still there in the morning, the healer its inhabitants.Stacey,
considering the spiritual aspect items. of the In case of were
children emergenciessent to learn
keep "American
sacred itemsways"with at
patients if possible. Stratis Aisha.
Health,"Health
an independent
in Islam."nonprofitThe Religion organization
of Islam. that
N.p.,provides
10 Nov. direct
2013.technical
Web. 15 Aug. 2016. decisions and the father is the family
government-or church-run boarding schools that haswerenotindividual.
accepted
often thousands
Many
the case.of
contemporary
The patient
miles from
Indians
can
the
use
go elsewhere
"detrimental
white ormans
make another offering. Once the healer and assistance to health care providers, reports that culture The
matters whole tofamily
quality is health
usually involved
care, stating in making
the healthcare
medicine to treat white mans Before
diseases. an amputation
And of any medicine
useagreement,
Indian body part ask tomay if their
treat any traditional
Indian requirement after the Medical Practices
patient come to an treatment start with problems.
a behavioralNative prescription to strengthen the clients evidence shows that racial andQuran ethnicisminorities spokesman.
tend to body The father
receive a lower rules the right
quality to give
of health consent
than for procedures or surgery but if the father is absent
influences" of their home reservations. When discussing
Americans consider healing a sacred procedure the
calling.
commitment,
impact
is done.
If
suchoneSome
of culture,
mayinto
asisperforming
called
one
request has
ahealing
to ask
selflessministry,
the
the body part one to be blessed
act, making must amends usewith and gift
that cremated
an estranged family member, or a healing then forthe the mother and
has the
the soul.
right Whenever
but if both lifecare
are becomes
not there too thendifficult
a maternal or we uncle can give the consent. Home
question: what happens when your culturehas been Whenstrippedatribes
family away?
is performing a ceremony leave them in privacy non-minorities. "Somalis are in Minnesota."
by injury,N.p., n.d.orWeb. 14 Aug. 2016.
theunless they ask or want
to help others. Most Native American
force of earth and prayer. During
climbing
you
the
to stay
illness
situation.many
have
a sacred
otherNative
Native
traditions about
mountain.
than that then youwill
Americans
healers choose
health and
The hierarchy
may
the callleave
ofillness, such
interventions
upontheainterventions
simplest
family
holy
aschosen
in private.
person
natural
depends on the healer, the family, and
also known
judged effective for a specific situation.
beset
a source of solace and Sillness
omali remedies
ease.
gets
unhappiness
traditional are
In thesevere
more
always
medicine
world
Quran
today
then
first will light
priority
is practiced
manycall
theyll people
our way
because
upon have
a
its
by "traditional
and
traditional
lighten
easier
untolddoctors."
and
wealth
our
healer. and
burdens.
there's
who
Most
always
luxury
Itresources
are usually
is
but people
Somali
available
older men of but if the pain
dont mind seeking
One's inability to transcend our own worldview is obviously a huge barrier to achieving I am from Somali,
little theand
contentment. my name
community Those is
whoFahtawa.
of have
us inmedicine
the IWest
havetheir
learned hypertension;
have skills
access from
to the physician
older
doctors family that we get
members.
andinmedicine, toThere are several types of
traditional
as a medicine man, woman or shaman Techniques due to the beliefrecommended
commonly that they do allinclude of theirself-inquiry
healing with to the creators
identify what needs to be changed, lifestyle western because they used it before their country so its nothing new to them. Many times
understanding According to research by Charleen Avery,and Native American medicine is a complete system that is not helping. The doctor
healing, gives us
traditional
medical medication,
healers
breakthroughs in Somaliand
and then afterSpiritual
culture.
alternative three
cures months
healers
but changed
many uselives it,
religious
are and
full the
rituals
of for healing.
emotional pain General
help and guidance. Many healing practices are to restore balance wholeness to an individuals
modification, herbs (echinacea, goldenseal, burdock root, sage, among others), prayer, various types of they have tomy travel long doesdistance, wait tothe bemedication.
seen by a doctor, and are sent home with instruction that the
addresses both healing and cure. Health requires balance in every sphere of ones life, from the most new medication and is helping me now.
practitioners
listlessness. What I are
was told,
skilled
isillness
missing that medical
iniscauterization,
belief, faith inminor
God. notsurgery,
cover
Saheeh blood
Al-Bukhari letting, bone setting, and the use of herbal
practices and spiritual health. massage, and ceremonies suchthat as sweat lodge and vision quest.
In an interview publishedpersonal
in The Permanente
inner world Journal,to lifestyle Jane andDoe socialstates connections;she shows a trulygreatholistic approach. Native medicine places The doctor said I must use this, but I do
medications. The usewill
nottraditional resolve
it becausehealers
itself.
my aremedical
wise men cardordoes women not work. Our
in the community who learned their skills
concern that her people no longer thefeel
rootsresponsible
of any for theirinown
imbalance thehealth.
world of spirit.religious Spiritual interventions are thus plans do not cover An the medication.
Morals, ethics, values, beliefs, culture,
One ofcustoms, the things we use and is Sage sacredtea traditions
and Swamp areseen as critical to the
passed
tea. My grandkids were really sick and
from olderoffamily
understanding the role members.
religion
Somalis plays
believewithin a persons
spirits cultureeach
reside within can help practitioners
individual. When the spirits become angry, illnesses
onsuccess
through ofan anyoral
treatment
tradition plan. There
that and Swamp
are many
ceremonies. ways toidentity
Cultural restoreisbalance,
to understandand it isand understood that each
bond,Goodkill, navigate conversations and guide treatment in an inclusive way that honors the beliefs of theThe patient, even
While Ms. Doe admits that
willwestern
healertakes have her diseases,
own perspective a lacktea of really
innate
drawn
helped
fromimmunity, themmistrust,
herover unique
clear up theirthe
of and
set centuries.
chest. Diana
skills and life experience. Someone in
Lakota Tribe. Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle Herbs
if they differ from ones own. Only (BALL) and
suchraises
as fever,
prayer
then can the
also
headache, of
awareness
are
we hope used for
dizziness
the and weakness
cultural
healing. influence
Modalities used
can result.
upon include,
cure involves
planburning,
fire
a healing ceremony
herbal remedies,
which
Indian Health Service structure are
place
all
through
contributing
rituals developed
causes, the larger
by tribes
responsibility
many
rests with the living a healthy serves
lifestyle in an ever-increasing including
diverse reading
population from to
where the begin
Koran,
health
to create
care eating aspecial
providers,
truly holistic
foods, and
according
careburning thatincense.
need an
When of healing
individual looks for a practitioner
is called to Walk inwho has been
the sacred way successful
or to walkininsimilar beauty situations.
it meansSimilarly
to in western patients casting, and prayer.
best. Fire burning is a procedure where a stick from a special tree is heated till it glows and
Blackfeet people themselves. She
medicine, believes
patients that Their
there
seek doctors is anOpinions
inseparable synergy between a person's to Stratis Health, are serving a patient population that many not speak English, be familiar with Western
live in balance and harmony withwho have and
the earth a good the reputation.
spirit world. Each individual will seek then applied to the skin in order to cure the illness. It is commonly used for hepatitis (identified as when
Health prevention, in health
the traditional Somali worldview, is primarily through the use of prayer and
integrity/morality and their health or wellness. Ms. Doe describes her people as suffering from a medical practices, and may be distrustful of the American way of delivering care. This
the eyes, skin, and nails turn yellow and the urine turns dark), where the heated stick is applied once to series of
their sacred path through traditional teaching, prayer, vision quests and dreams. living a life accordinghealth to Islam. U.S. Somalis likely do not practice preventative health. Health care, both
sort of post-traumatic and intergenerational
MedicineUnlike
there is no distinguishingsophisticated.
between medicine
by the Great Spirit
western
men, women,
stress.
It demandsand daily
is to helpthat
A
Until they
medicine,
singers,
ll Native
living,
Native
shamans,
a unique
mediate
take American
American
they
responsibility
and healers
cannot
treatment
between
healers
be
plan
who
truly
theofspiritual
and recognize
understandinghave
havehealthy. been
different
be designed Brown
world andtothe
that
of given
harmonious
point ofa view
match
earththe
special balance
gift the
about
uniqueness
world for in of
is highly
traditional healing, western
each case.
articles and interviews are a snapshot of theand
each wrist
including their views on Westernsometimes-percutaneous
people
medicine, to start
4 times and
traditional
their
to the cultural
abdomen. Pneumonia
and western, is
the conversation
removal of on fluid how
practices
forto
is and
acute illness.
from ensure
the chest.
treatedbeliefs,
with fire burning, herbs, and
A common
the Seizures
beliefs ofare
eachview among Somalis is that an individual cannot
treated with herbs and readings
medication and theapplies
combination their prevent future illness, as the ultimate as decision on thissois in Gods hands. Taking medications, such as
J. 2007. 6264. There is no clinical
healing diagnosis that to every case. methods.
From the Some Nativedont American see a point
perspective,science based medication and is honored, and those within the from medical the practice have the
Koran. Stomachaches cultural andcompetence
backaches are to, treated
Stratis withHealth
the herb habakhedi, while rashes and sore
treatment. Others believe that the traditional way is their first priority andneeds if nothing anti-tubercular agents, when one feels and needsisofalso not within the traditional Somali worldview.
healthy
standardized
Great practices,
Spirit informs all including
life, traditions, evenand standardized
rituals are fees,
meant doto not address
connect the individuals
humans and power. and works then theyll aptly put it, function effectively throats
within theare context
treated with of thea cultural
tea madebeliefs from the behaviors,
herb dinse.
therefore turn to the
compromise the western
integrityor medication
and power method.
of the There's little
treatment. Althoughchance itafor the Native that
iscontinuous
understood American to just agree on
the healing consumers and their communities.
The Great Spirit cannot
taking the be touched seen, but its only there when theres
western medication method because they are afraid of being addicted to medicine. One Somali man, unnamed, stated, Going to a health care facility is for sick people, when I am
processinisseason,
change an exchange
month,and etc.involves a fee, native healers are proscribed from ever setting prices for their Traditional doctors are also responsible for helping to cure illnesses caused by spirits. Somalis
not sick, I am not going to be disobedient to God. God gave me healing so why should I go to places that
work. Native healers are aware that treatments are most effective when the patient is a deeply engaged have a concept of spirits residing within each individual. When the spirits become angry, illnesses such as
Many believe
negotiating that the traditional healing way helpsprocess.
mankindAvery,better than taking western you go when you are sick.
participant. The process of
If, within the Native American culture,medication. a fee is often the beginning
healing is considered sacred work, and in many Native of the healing fever, headache, dizziness, and weakness can result. The illness is cured by a healing ceremony designed
-16- -15-These ceremonies involve reading the Koran, eating special foods, and burning
traditions cannotCharleen.
be effective 1991without considering Some thebelieve
spiritual thataspect of the individual,
traditional-healing takes onelonger
must but its more effective because you to appease the spirits.
If a practitioner understands a group of people within a certain culture may feel getting sick has a
understand the clinical approach of western medicine will not behealth
comfortable, acceptable, or possibly incense. The illness is usually cured within 1 or 2 days of the ceremony. Lewis, Toby, MD. 2016.
slowly gain your andand strength back instead of rush it back with western medication. spiritual influence, they can relate better to their patients, and work to seek common ground with
even effective without the This personal relationship
acknowledgement thebetween
ofHealer spiritual practitioner patient, from selection, diagnosis, treatment,
and even payment differs widely from4 western
talkedaspect.
about the relationship
medicines clinical, oftenof spiritual
sterile,trauma to physical trauma
often impersonal
treatment that helps alleviate any concerns their patient has.
treatment that comes down to the proper paperwork and insurance in order to receive treatment. Often
Native Americans fail to fill out their Even the doctors and the nurses and the people
paperwork (a white mans tradition) properly, if at all, leaving them at a hospital can see the physical
without access to treatment. impactthe-16- force of the physical impactlet's say if a person got hit real hard by a fist or a pipe -15-
or a car or anything else like that. It leaves a physical markie, the bruise, the blood clot, the
discoloration, and everything like that. But they don't see the spiritual side, the psychological or
the energy impact. They can see the [physical] impact. There's energy behind every trauma.
There's energy that's involved in it. So that energy can be seen physically, but it's very difficult to
see it spiritually. We use the-16- term spiritually, or even psychologically, on a person's mind and -15-
brain, which in turn affects their personality. Bassett, D. PhD, Tsosie, U. 2012.

-16- -15-

Native Amer. Story Circle Article Somali Story Circle Article

 Storybird
Storybird is a web-based platform for creating stories and
postcards. They have an image library that can be searched
by sentiment. We asked participants the following question,
what do you think of the healthcare system in Minnesota?,
then asked them for their most basic emotional response
to this question which was the term we then used for the
image search. Once they found the most appropriate image
for their response, they select it and are presented with a
random selection of words to choose from. They were then
prompted to choose the words that best fit their response
and we saved the images to share in our newsletters and
other outreach activities.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the Storybird data collection
portion of this project.
 Click here to view all images full size

https://www.flickr.com/gp/amamedia/8Y09b4
This is the wordcloud created from the Storybird word list.
Click the image for the full version.
 Photo Booth
The photo booth portion of our project involved Asian Media
Access youth attending a large number of events within the
Twin Cities to ask event attendees what is their view of the
healthcare in Minnesota. Participants wrote their response
on a whiteboard. We took the statements and performed a
sentiment analysis with which we made an infographic. The
background image on this page is a wordcloud made from
their responses.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the photo booth data
collection portion of this project.
 Click here to view all images full size

https://www.flickr.com/gp/amamedia/KGz0uc
This is the wordcloud created from the Photo Booth word
list. Click the image for the full version.
 This infographic was created from the keywords seen in the
wordcloud on the previous page. Click the image to see it in
its entirety online.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF

THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
IN MINNESOTA?
? ?

We attended 14 events to ask the community to

provide their views on the healthcare system in MN.
These are their responses.

178 people surveyed via photobooth

All responses
 Videos
Asian Media Access organized no less than 5 sessions
where we were able to capture the statements of the diverse
communities of the Twin Cities. The statements were
structured to create the videos on the following page. The
intent is that you can gain some further insight into these
communities and their views of the healthcare system in
Minnesota.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the photo booth data
collection portion of this project.
Hmong Story Video

Hispanic Story Video

Somali Story Video

Native American Video

 Monthly
Newsletters
Through our monthly newsletter for our Bicultural Active
Living Lifestyle campaign, weve continuously promoted our
involvement in the State Innovation Model program. On the
following pages you can find the newsletters from May 2016
to March 2017. Click on the image to view the newsletter in
its entirety.

*background word cloud image composed of statements received from the photo booth data
collection portion of this project.
 May 2016 June 2016

July 2016 August 2016

September 2016 Oct/Nov 2016

December 2016 January 2017

February 2017 March 2017

 T HA NK YOU!

This project is part of a $45 million State Innovation Model (SIM) cooperative agreement, awarded to
the Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services in 2013 by The Center for Medicare and
Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to help implement the Minnesota Accountable Health Model.