Read on Twitter
"What can healthcare providers do to make sure they are being sensitive to Native American spirituality and religious beliefs while also doing their jobs?"
I was asked this yesterday and alarm bells went off.
I was asked this yesterday and alarm bells went off.
First, I gave a presentation on culinary traditions and incorporating modern technology. Not healthcare. But...Native people are always expected to answer questions on all things Native, regardless of what we are actually talking about.
Second, anytime anyone uses "Native American" as a singular homogeneous group, I know they don't know what their talking about. Add spirituality and I assumes this is who she thinks of...
Given the fact that we are talking about healthcare providers and we are already out of my comfort zone, I should have probably said "Sorry, my that's not within my scope of work" and took the next question.
But I didn't because this woman needed an answer. So I gave her the answer she deserved.
Started off my clarifying that there are hundreds of Native nations and I only speak for myself. But acknowledging the diversity in Indian Country is central to understanding how to work in our communities.
Then I told her that our reluctance to engage with healthcare systems isn't about some stereotyped idea of spirituality, it's about the real harms that IHS has caused (I cited forced sterilization specifically)... https://www.ladyscience.com/features/forced-sterilization-native-american-women-face-rejection-retraumatization-in-healthcare
... And the fact that IHS is wildly underfunded. Per capita healthcare funding for IHS is about $3,000 vs $8,000 nationally (in 2014). Actual stats in the link. http://www.ncai.org/resources/ncai-publications/08_FY2017_health_care.pdf
Then I brought up the fact that medical textbooks are full of racist things about people of color. I cited the racist nursing textbook which claim Natives want our meds smudged by a "shaman" 
and that we're likely to pick a sacred number instead of properly indicate pain.
and that we're likely to pick a sacred number instead of properly indicate pain.
If you don't remember seeing that textbook, here's a link full of various racist gems. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41692593
After telling her why her question was absurd, I did actually give her some real advice:
Understand that Native people are not being intentionally negligent. We want to do what is in our and our family's best interest for health. We aren't trying to avoid treatment plans or be bad. If the plans aren't affordable and accessible, that's not a reflection on us.
Also! Recognize that every Native community has their own history, culture, language, and challenges. Do not treat us like a monolith. I mentioned healthcare providers that come to "high needs areas" in order to get loan forgiveness and then they bounce.
Too many come in with an end date and never become vested in our communities. Despite living there, they never try to learn or understand. It's damaging and causes additional challenges (especially when those folks are teachers with high turnover, leaving kids feeling abandoned.)
This has been an extended rant and if you haven't learned anything, I at least hope you consider this a warning to not ask me questions about things I'm not talking about. 
Oh boy there's a picture of me during this interaction... https://twitter.com/lukeauburn/status/1197578712293814277?s=20
