Conference Information
17th Annual Association of American Indian Physicians Cross Cultural
Medicine Workshop
The 16th Annual Association of American Indian Physicians Cross Cultural Medicine Workshop was held at the Hotel Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico April 23-26, 2009. The purpose of this annual workshop was to provide physicians, medical students, faculty, and other health professionals with a greater understanding of western and traditional medicine and to support continued respectful collaboration between western-trained physicians and native traditional healers regarding healing practices.
This year’s workshop attracted AAIP Board Members and member physicians, medical students, traditional practitioners, and other tribal health professionals.
Objectives of the Cross cultural Workshop
• Identify strategies to improve communication between American Indian and Alaska Native patients and health professionals.
• Describe current health issues affecting Indian communities in both reservation and urban settings.
• Compare and contrast Western and Traditional Medicine views of health, and
• Improve understanding of the role of Traditional Healers.
Workshop Opening
Thursday started with the Mayo Clinic Spirit of EAGLES and was followed by a welcome reception for workshop participants to reunite with old friends and meet new ones.
The formal program began on Friday morning with opening remarks by Melvina McCabe, MD (Navajo) Executive Board President-Elect, and an opening prayer by Tom Daily (Laguna Pueblo).
Three Friday morning sessions
Thomas Larson Medicinehorse, Sr. (Crow), a Sundance Priest and elder of the Big Lodge Clan of the Apsaalooke Nation, gave an insightful presentation on “Understanding Traditional Healing.” Workshop participant comments were positive and included:
• “I enjoyed listening to his enthusiasm about the involvement of Crow members in his community.
• Personal stories really helped.
• Wonderful.
T.J. Anderson (Navajo) presented on “Traditional Medicine.”
Examples of how positively his presentation was received are reflected in the following comments:
• The visualization of the circle definitely helped to understand the topic well.
• Very excellent! So nice to have some of the details of the ceremonies shared with us and the “no secrets” mentality, especially being AI, but not Dine.
Thomas Hitathli (Navajo) works as a mental health specialist with the Indian Health Services in Tuba City, Arizona. He has worked as a therapist and counselor for the past 23 years. Mr. Hitathli spoke on “Working Between Worlds: Indigenous and Orthodox Medicine.” His message elicited strong positive comments from participants:
• Very excellent. Very impressed with this speaker. I have come away very blessed to know and to learn from this good man. Impressed by his choices to share details of ceremonies to help us understand.
• Very humorous, easy to follow. This will help when a patient asks for a medicine man. I will fully understand the entire belief and make myself a part of it.
A workshop Luncheon presentation on “The National Diabetes education Program: Achievements, Progress, and New Psychosocial Projects” was given my Charlene Avery (Navajo). Tom Daily, former Governor of Laguna Pueblo, gave the luncheon Prayer.
Three Friday afternoon sessions
Ella-Faye Horse (Kiowa), an Elder-advisor and healer who has practiced traditional medicine for over 60 years, presented on “Kiowa Traditional Medicine: “Ah thom” Participant comments included:
• She is the best. Now I want to go to Oklahoma to find her. Thank you so much for including her. What a blessing to learn about the Ah thom way.
• Great to see mother and daughter and how traditional medicine can only continue of the knowledge is passed to the next generation
Dave Courchene (Anishinabe Nation, Eagle Clan), has been an invited speaker on issues related to indigenous communities, health and indigenous medicine, peace, spirituality and governance. He has served as Indigenous and Spiritual Advisor in television and film documentaries. He presented on “A Traditional Perspective on Living in Balance.” The value of his presentation is reflected in the following comments:
• Empowering and puts spirituality in a whole new perspective.
• Great orator. Had a strong message about living in balance.
Mosses Starr, Jr. (Cheyenne), who has extensive knowledge of traditional Cheyenne hymns and serves on the Cheyenne & Arapaho Health Board, spoke on “Educating Healthcare Professionals in Indian Healing.” His presentation was well received as reflected by the following comments:
• Great way to make the connection of traditional herbal medicines and Mother earth. The stories were very helpful and good examples.
• The relation of Western/traditional medicine was clear, interesting and informative.
Friday Evening event: Gathering of Nations Pow Wow
After a full day of workshop presentations, conference participants were taken to the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque. More than 15,000 people attended on Friday and more than 500 tribes came together to celebrate their culture at North America’s largest Powwow. The festivities included Indian dancing and singing and an Indian Traders Market.
Saturday morning sessions
Saturday began with opening remarks by Gerald Hill, MD, Executive Board President, and an opening prayer by Tom Dailey (Laguna Pueblo).
Eric Lewis Willie (Din’e), an experienced counselor, administrator, and health professional, presented on “Gallup Indian Medical Center/Office of Native Medicine Delivery of Traditional Medicine Services.” Examples of how positively his presentation was received are reflected in the following comments:
• Great presentation. Lots of content. Exciting to hear about a potential model tribal and western medicine come together.
• Excellent information from a perspective that allowed for reflection on improvement and suggestions for how to create a Native healing/medicine practice within a medical center.
• It is very helpful to see from a foundational perspective, ways to integrate Traditional Medicine into our home clinics.
Don Shoulderblade (Northern Cheyenne) has served as the Sacred Covenant Caretaker of the Northern Cheyenne people and has worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Northern Cheyenne Tribe. He presented on the “Power of Prayer.” Comments from attendees included:
• Don Shoulderblade was very good. He had a huge impact on how I relate to traditional healers. Very inspirational and I love to listen to him.
• He is a great man: strong and honest. I am honored to have heard him.
Richard Laughter, MD (Dine), one of only a handful of Native American Psychiatrists in the United States, is employed by the Gallup Indian Medical Center and is active in Native American ceremonies. He presented on “American Indian Thinking & the Powerful Science of Traditional Medicine.” The value of her presentation is reflected in the following comments:
• This personal story gives me a lot of hope and a belief that dreams and aspirations are achievable, with having faith in your cultural beliefs.
• Dr. Laughter’s presentation was wonderful. More people need to know how difficult medical school is for Native Americans.
• I really enjoyed Richard Laughter’s presentation. He never gave up on his dreams despite obstacles he had to overcome. He finally completed medical school courses to become a doctor. I liked the moral of his story: Never give up your dreams. Know and believe in your self and know you can accomplish anything in life.
Saturday afternoon sessions.
Ben Muneta (Navajo) presented on the “Medicine Wheel.” ).” Examples of how positively his presentation was received are reflected in the following comments:
• The man had so much to say. Very smart and very enjoyable.
• Very, very informative presentation on native past. A lot of stats. Very well presented. Well prepared.
• Terrific PowerPoint with history shown, not just in words but also in pictures, with charts as needed.
Albert Laughter (Dine), who is employed with Prescott Veteran Health Care System as a Native American Counselor and Dine Traditional Practitioner, spoke on “Din’e Medicine and Ceremony, Herbs.” Workshop participant comments included:
• The song he sang was greatly appreciated. The DVD was quite informative.
• Very, very excellent! What an honor to share time with him.
Walter Hollow, MD (Assiniboine/Sioux) is Medical Director at Nimiipuu Medical Health and has helped Indian patients, for 32 years, who use Traditional Indian Medicine and Western medicine. Dr. Hollow presented on “The Re-emergence of Traditional Medicine: What are its Clinical Implications? His message elicited very positive comments from participants:
• I loved this slide presentation. Most impressive by far and extremely informative historically. Wonderful job. I could watch it again and again.
• Dr. Hollow needs to be on PBS: lots of amazing historical and scientific information.
• I enjoyed the slides and explanations related to historical pictures. I also liked seeing clinically significant actions dome by Indians historically.
Evaluations
Speaker and workshop evaluations from participants indicated that the vast majority agreed or strongly agreed that they had:
• learned strategies to improve communication between American Indian and Alaska Native patients and health professionals;
• learned more about the similarities and differences between Western and Traditional Medicine approaches to health and healing; and
• are now more knowledgeable about the role of Traditional Healers.
Furthermore, the vast majority agreed or strongly agreed that presenters were well-prepared and knowledgeable about their topics and that the presentation topic was appropriate and will be helpful in their day to day practice. Finally, the vast majority of participants rated sessions as very good to excellent.
Summary and conclusion
The AAIP supports the continued respectful collaboration between western trained physicians and native traditional healers. The AAIP conducts an annual workshop on Cross Cultural Medicine to provide physicians, medical/health students, and other health professions with a greater understanding of western and traditional medicine. Program evaluations indicate that all workshop objectives were accomplished and that the vast majority of workshop participants were extremely pleased with the quality of the speakers and workshop.
General, overall comments from participants were, once again this year, positive with most respondents expressing that they were very pleased with the speakers and workshop.
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