Taking Care of a Traditional Navajo Patient

Taking Care of a Traditional Navajo Patient By Bernice Benally

Goals and Objectives • To teach and educate the healthcare providers regarding Navajos • Awareness of their culture, their language, their beliefs, and the Navajo patients’ attitude towards Western Medicine • Health care providers can help the patient better understand a diagnosis, treatment plan, or prognosis.

Health care today • As a health care provider, you will encounter a wide range of patients with various ethnicities, culture, language, and beliefs. Although you may not plan to work in the Indian Hospital, this will be a part of your professional skill. Hopefully this will provide some insight into the Navajo way of life and healing.

Navajo or Dine’ • The Navajo tribe is the largest American Indian tribe in the United States. The majority live on the reservation which is located in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Because of economic demands and educational needs, more Navajos are relocating to the metropolitan areas

Language • The Navajo language is part of the Athapaskan language. Athapaskan language is spoken in Alaska, Canada, Pacific Norwest, and in the Southwest by Navajos and Apaches. The dialect is a little different among all these tribes. The Navajo language is complicated and not easy to learn by non-Navajo speakers. The language was not written. Navajo knowledge and tradition has been passed through generations orally and using direct demonstrations.

History • At one time the U.S. government decided to eradicate Native American languages and cultures in the early 1930 to 1960’s. Navajo children were picked up and sent to boarding schools off the reservation. Use of the Navajo language was forbidden and corporal punishment was used to enforce this rule at these schools.

History continued • Under the leadership of President Roosevelt; he developed the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They decided to preserve the languages and cultures of the Native tribes. With the enlistment of several people they developed a standard Navajo alphabet and began publishing Navajo language materials.

History of Health Care • In the early 20th century, the federal government was more concerned about the assimilation of the Native American into white culture which dominated over health care. Hospitals were poorly equipped to combat the serious cases of TB, smallpox and other contagious and infectious diseases. Patients who went to the hospital for an illness usually died.

continued • Native American traditions and healings were disregarded in favor of Western ways. Health care was considered more beneficial if the patient was taken off the reservation, away from their families and communities. This led to a mistrust of the health care system. In 1955, the Dept. of Human Health Services took over from the BIA. Under this administration, changes have been made to take better care of the Navajo patients.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major break though for minorities in the United States. Hospitals were required to comply with this law, which is equal treatment of everyone regardless of race, religion, color, sex, creed, ethnicity, etc. People were free to practice their religion and speak their language.

Navajo Beliefs toward Health • For Navajo people, health is being in harmony with nature and the universe. Illness and disease are often viewed as being in discord with the laws of nature. All living plants, animals, the universe are all interrelated. Religion and traditional medicine still influences the well being of Navajos today. Medicine men and women used prayers, herbs, chanting, and traditional teaching to restore harmony and overall well-being of the patient.

Nutrition • Navajos are farmers and ranchers on the reservation. Corn, squash, melons, apples, peaches, and beans are major fruits and vegetables. Lamb, beef, and elk are the choice of meats. Horsemeat is sacred and served during ceremonies. Anything from the sea is not eaten. Wild berries are picked and dried for certain dishes. Blue corn pudding is usually served to an ill person with a depressed appetite. Wild tea and coffee are favorite drinks. Fowl is not eaten during an illness.

continued • Unfamiliar food items are not popular. Sometimes it is considered taboo to eat these dishes. Eating unfamiliar animals, or plants could bring on an illness, now or in the future.

Western medicine meets Traditional methods of healing • Health care providers have taken up interest in the herbal remedies, holistic medicine, and accepted cultural needs of patients to aid in the healing process. Medicine men/women are accepted at the hospitals to perform ceremonies and offer traditional support to the patients and family members.

Native American Veterans • The Veteran Administration has incorporated Navajo medicine into their western medical treatment of aid with post-traumatic distress syndrome. There are more than 180,000 American Indian veterans in the US according to the VA.

The Navajo Code Talkers • Unknown to the rest of the world, the Navajo language was used to transmit troop movement and special orders in World War II. Transmitting in Navajo confused the enemy and could not break the code. Transmitting in Navajo was quicker than Morse code, which took several hours. Young Navajo boys were inducted and trained in the U.S. Marine Corps to become the communication specialist. The operation was declassified in 1968. The few survivors were honored by President Bill Clinton.

The Encounter You might meet a Navajo patient, when a patient is flown out from the reservation to an urban hospital due to a critical situation. Elderly folks who are under the care of their children who may work and live in the city will present to the emergency room. Some patients reside in a nursing home in nearby border towns. These folks are in a different environment than what they are used to, so they might be unpleasant. They could have compliance issues, may be depressed, or lonely. Navajo people in general are humble, reserved, and very appreciative of your assistance in their health care.

Health care locally • Health care facilities on the reservations have certified Navajo interpreters on site full-time. • Banner Health System use the Ceracom telephone system and employees. • St. Joseph’s Hospital also uses the Ceracom system.

Acknowledgements • St. Joseph’s Hospital Medical staff • Banner Good Samaritan’s Medical staff • New England Journal of Medicine • Public Health Service • Gallup Indian Medical Center • Roy Smith, Interpreter

Thank you • B

Taking Care of a Traditional Navajo Patient