Native Americans

1. Native Americans By Adrienne Bacon

2. Family ⁷ • Family goes beyond parents and siblings-they are very open and form extended family. • Many other households come together to form a small community within their tribe. • Some tribes had a second set of parents that were chosen for an infant at birth. • Each tribe was different but they all had chiefs, elders, hunters and healers.

3. Family ⁷ • Elders- wise spiritual leaders of the tribe. Passed down their wisdom to the next generation by word of mouth. Not much was written down. • Hunters and Warriors- protected and provided food for the tribe. • Healers- helped the injured and sick members of the tribe. • Chief- head leader of the tribe. The role was traded based on who was needed to lead at that time. All members of the tribe were treated equally, with no position higher than the other.

4. Religious Beliefs ¹² • Many tribes had their own beliefs and they were passed down verbally. • They are closely connected to nature: land, animals, and plants. • Ceremonies are held in honor of special events and taking hallucinogens was common. • Animal symbolism represented certain ideas, characters, and spirits. • They believe in the supernatural: for example the “three life crises” birth, puberty, and death.

5. Traditional Food Habits ³⁻⁴¯¹⁰ • Tribes have strong beliefs against wasting food. • In marriage ceremonies, the bride and groom exchange food instead of rings. • The groom would bring venison or any meat to indicate he can provide to the household. • The bride would bring corn or bread to symbolize her willingness to care for and provide nourishment for her household. • Most prefer to eat their food fresh without many spices. • American Natives were hunters, gatherers, and farmers. Their food habits were based on what was indigenous to the area.

6. Traditional Food Habits ³⁻⁴ • Some were more agricultural and stayed in one place, others were semi-nomadic and moved frequently as they hunted and gathered food. • The Three Sisters were common in all tribes. Corn, beans, and squash. • A common food that is associated with Native Americans is frybread. • Navajo frybread originated 144 years ago when the U.S. forced Indians living in AZ to relocate 300 miles to NM, and this land could not support their traditional staples of vegetables and beans. • To prevent them from starving the government gave them canned goods and white flour, sugar, and lard. • Frybread is easy to make, made with simple ingredients, and versatile and you can eat it with many different foods.

7. Health Disparities ¹⁰ • Their diet is poorer in quality than that of the general U.S. population. Only 10% have a healthful diet. • Heart disease is the leading cause of death. With 36% dying before the age of 65. • Risk factors for heart disease are hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. • 64% of men and 61% of women have one or more of these risk factors. • Type II Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems. • Obesity is associated with a high-fat diet and decreased levels of physical activity. • There is a high prevalence of suicide, substance abuse, SIDS, teenage pregnancy, liver disease, and hepatitis.

8. Health- Combating Disease ¹¹ • CDC started “Native Diabetes Wellness Program” (NDWP) in 2004. Promoting physical activity, healthy eating and education. • NDWP: works with tribes to establish food programs that support the “use of traditional foods and sustainable ecological approaches to prevent diabetes”. ¹¹ • Eagle book series: children’s books that use animals as characters to talk about healthy lifestyles in order to prevent diabetes, and embracing physical activity and healthy food. • Diabetes Talking Circles: addresses diabetes and shares healthy living messages and education in schools. • Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoeshone: created their own diabetes program. They have a Walking Club, 5 a Day Fruits and Vegetables, Nutrition teaching, exercise focusing, 28 days to Diabetes Control, and a Children’s Cookbook. Created a park with a playground to promote active living. • Meskwaki Tribe of the Mississippi: publish bi-weekly articles educating the population about diabetes prevention and happening in the program and additional educational material available about diabetes topics.

9. Frybread-made with lard ⁸ • 4 cups all-purpose flour • ½ tsp salt • 1 tbsp baking powder • 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F) • 4 cups lard for frying • Combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir in 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water. Knead until soft but not sticky. Shape dough into balls about 3 inches in diameter. Flatten into patties 1/2 inch thick, and make a small hole in the center of each patty. • Fry one at a time in 1 inch of hot shortening, turning to brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Nutrition Facts (per serving) Calories 1,154 Total Fat 103.1 g Sodium 152 mg Carbs 48.7 g Dietary Fiber 1.7 g Protein 6.5 g

10. Frybread- Healthy version ²¯⁸ • 1 cup self-rising flour • 1 cup whole wheat flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tbsp sugar substitute • 1 tbsp milled flax seed • ¾ cup non-fat milk • Canola oil • Mix flours, baking powder, sugar and milk in a large bowl • Place the dough on waxed paper sprinkled with self-rising flour. Knead the dough, adding more self-rising flour as needed to reach the correct consistency. Allow the dough to sit at least an hour. • Pour about 1 inch of canola oil into a pan and heat it to fry the finished dough. Test the temperature by sprinkling in a pinch of flour; the oil is ready if it sizzles. • Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Shape into circles about the size of a dessert plate. Fry in the oil until golden brown, then remove immediately from the oil and place on paper towels to drain.

11. Counseling Tips ⁹ • Clients should be welcomed warmly and offered refreshments such as water, coffee, or tea. • Paperwork should be minimal. Verbally describe the problem from their point of view. • Providers should build relationships with local Native communities. Meet the tribal elders, find a Native mentor, attend tribal social and cultural events, spend time in the community, attend training workshops, and socialize with Native Americans. • Make the counseling center more welcoming by having native art on the walls and providing refreshments. • Consider incorporating attention to spirituality into counseling, ALTHOUGH using their health practices should be avoided or used cautiously.

12. Counseling Tips-What NOT to do • “Losing It With Jillian” visited the Yavapai Apache Nation reservation in Arizona¹. • She came into the community without knowing anything about their culture and food traditions. • Jillian says “frybreadis 100% not of your tradition”. She was very insulting. • The tribe was very friendly to her and she even said she had never felt so welcomed before. • At a community picnic dinner Jillian did something impulsive and rude. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEgY9xHFZ4 What does not work • Ordering, threatening, persuading, lecturing, moralizing, criticizing, shaming, sympathizing, and praising

13. Native American Animal Zodiac ⁶ Wolf Feb 19 – Mar 20 Beaver Apr 20 – May 20 Falcon Mar 21 – Apr 19 Otter Jan 20-Feb 18 Deer May 21 – Jun 20 Salmon Jul 22 – Aug 21 Woodpecker Jun 21 – Jul 21 Bear Aug 22 – Sep 21 Raven Sep 22 – Oct 22 Snake Oct 23 – Nov 22 Goose Dec 22 – Jan 19 Owl Nov 23 – Dec 21

14. References 1) Sklar, Bev. Losing It With Jillian: Toss The Indian Fry Bread. That’s fit. http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/07/07/losing-it-with-jillian-toss-the-indian-fry-bread. Updated July 7, 2010. Accessed February 6, 2013. 2) How to Make Healthy Native American Fry Bread. eHow. http://www.ehow.com/how_5570525_make-native-american-fry-bread.html. Accessed February 6, 2013. 3) Featured Native American Cultures. Native Languages. http://www.native-languages.org/home.htm. Accessed February 7, 2013. 4) Miller, Jen. Frybread. Smithsonian magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/frybread.html. Updated July, 2008. Accessed February 7, 2013. 5) The Doorway to Signs and Symbolic Meanings. Whats-Your-Sign. http://www.whats-your-sign.com/thunderbird-native-american-symbol.html. Accessed February 7, 2013. 6) Native American Animal Symbols. Whats-Your-Sign. http://www.whats-your-sign.com/native-american-animal-symbols.html. Accessed February 7, 2013.

15. References 7) Roles of Native American Families. Family Structure. https://sites.google.com/site/rolesofnativeamericanfamilies/community-structure/family-structure. Accessed February 9, 2013. 8) Calorie Count. Nutritional Analysis. http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php. Accessed February 15, 2013. 9) Thomason, Timothy. Best practices in Counseling Native Americans. Journal of Indigenous Research. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=kicjir. 2011;1(1) Article 3. Updated July 26, 2011. Accessed February 15, 2013. 10) Diet of Native Americans. Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z. http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Met-Obe/Native-Americans-Diet-of.html. Accessed February 20, 2013. 11) Native American disease and epidemics. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_disease_and_epidemics. Accessed February 20, 2013. 12) Native American Religion. Indians.org. http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-religion.html. Accessed February 20 2013.