Indigenous Healing: Does it Work?
Today, many Native people seek care from traditional healers and use traditional healing practices in their daily lives. Many also use Western medicine in conjunction with indigenous healing. As a result, these two approaches can work together, rather than against each other.
The effectiveness of Western medicine for many health conditions is widely recognized. But what about indigenous healing: does it work?
Today, many Native people seek care from traditional healers and use traditional healing practices in their daily lives. Many also use Western medicine in conjunction with indigenous healing. As a result, these two approaches can work together, rather than against each other.
The effectiveness of Western medicine for many health conditions is widely recognized. But what about indigenous healing: does it work?
Indigenous Foods, Healthy Lives
Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are among the worst health disparities suffered by American Indians and Alaska Natives. These conditions stem from the kinds of food many Native people eat. Too often, that means fast food, canned food, and other processed foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat. The result is poor health.
To fight disparities in food and health, more and more community leaders are approaching the problem at the most basic level. As they recognize, the same foods that Native people ate before European colonization are the foods they should be eating right now: indigenous foods, rooted in the lands where Native people traditionally lived. The more Native people can take control of their food supply and eat foods that are indigenous and culturally congruent, the healthier Native communities will be.
Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are among the worst health disparities suffered by American Indians and Alaska Natives. These conditions stem from the kinds of food many Native people eat. Too often, that means fast food, canned food, and other processed foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat. The result is poor health.
To fight disparities in food and health, more and more community leaders are approaching the problem at the most basic level. As they recognize, the same foods that Native people ate before European colonization are the foods they should be eating right now: indigenous foods, rooted in the lands where Native people traditionally lived. The more Native people can take control of their food supply and eat foods that are indigenous and culturally congruent, the healthier Native communities will be.
Healthy Eating vs. Food Insecurity
American Indians have higher rates of obesity than the general U.S. population. Indian children in particular are twice as likely to be obese as children in the majority culture. Obesity, in turn, is directly linked to diabetes, which is three times as common in American Indians as in the general population.
The epidemic of obesity and diabetes in Native people is a very recent development. Before European colonization, depending on geography and culture, Native tribes ate traditional diets based on wild game, fish, roots, nuts, berries, greens, and organically grown corn. Even after tribal people were driven off their traditional lands, they still lived active lives, and obesity remained almost unknown. In the last few generations, however, sedentary lifestyles and processed foods have tipped the scales. Almost half of all American Indian children are now overweight, and one in four is obese.
American Indians have higher rates of obesity than the general U.S. population. Indian children in particular are twice as likely to be obese as children in the majority culture. Obesity, in turn, is directly linked to diabetes, which is three times as common in American Indians as in the general population.
The epidemic of obesity and diabetes in Native people is a very recent development. Before European colonization, depending on geography and culture, Native tribes ate traditional diets based on wild game, fish, roots, nuts, berries, greens, and organically grown corn. Even after tribal people were driven off their traditional lands, they still lived active lives, and obesity remained almost unknown. In the last few generations, however, sedentary lifestyles and processed foods have tipped the scales. Almost half of all American Indian children are now overweight, and one in four is obese.
Restoring Strength by Facing History
Wicasa was’aka is a Lakota term that means “strong men.” It describes the traditional role of Lakota men in tribal society. Wicasa was’aka serve and protect their fellow tribal members with courage, wisdom, respect, compassion, self-sacrifice, and skill.
Many other American Indian tribes have similar ideas of male gender roles. However, modern realities can make it hard for Native boys to grow into strong men.
American Indians and Alaska Natives face many health disparities related to personal behavior. If the behavior changes, then the health disparity can be reduced or eliminated.
One of the biggest and saddest Native health disparities involves car crashes. Native children are almost twice as likely as children of other races to die in a motor vehicle crash. This is because Native children are less likely than other children to wear seatbelts or to sit in car safety seats when they ride in cars.