1. Native American Medicine and Literature

2. Native American Tribes Cherokee- North and South Carolina Navajo- Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah Choctaw- Southern Mississippi Sioux- North and South Dakota Chippewa- Michigan Apache- New Mexico, Arizona, Western Texas Blackfeet- Northwestern Montana Iroquois- Northeastern United States Pueblo- Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah

3. Medical Beliefs Supporting a healthy lifestyle Understanding and respecting the repercussions of disease causing behavior The spiritual principles that restore balance These core beliefs are shared by all tribes but techniques vary from tribe to tribe Many beliefs are kept secret and only passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, therefore most literature on Native American medicine is from current accounts

4. Native American Medical Practices Native American healers have a number of herbal remedies involved in their practice In scientific terms healers are masters of phytotherapy and pharmacognosy A common herb that Native Americans used is ginseng which is popular today in our foods, used for everyday stress Analgesic herbs used to help relieve pain and aid in the function of the digestive tract(herbal teas)

5. Peyote Rituals Peyote is a vision producing(hallucinogen) extract from cacti in the Southwest that has effects lasting up to 40 hours It is said to promote self healing and self realizations that help people live a healthier life Ancient Native American Shamans used peyote and would fall into a trance for days at a time and have a healing vision which would mark the end of the ritual It is still used in rituals today by the organizations like Native American Churches of North America

7. Fools Crow A contemporary American fiction novel by James Welch Set in Montana centering around White Man’s Dog(later to be Fools Crow), a Blackfoot Native American This novel takes place just after the civil war White Man’s Dog and his tribe are struggle with whether they should fight the white man or give in to assimilation Historical references include the Trail of Tears, Marias Massacre of 1870, and smallpox

8. Fools Crow The book features a major healing ritual called the Sun Dance Ceremony held by the medicine man(or woman) of the tribe. This actually inducts White Man’s Dog as a Medicine Man himself, and receives the name Fools Crow One of the major themes of the book are the dreams that are told throughout. Dreams are believed to be part of the healing process in Native American Medicine The book also focuses on the decisions that are made by several characters and the understanding of the consequences of those decisions

10. Healing the spirit is necessary to heal the body

12. Narrative Medicine Native American healers expect miracles and prepare in all ways possible for them to occur. Believed in the power of the “story” and the effectiveness of telling stories and listening. Narrative medicine encourages empathy and promotes understanding between clinician and patient. Believed that the healers gained the most knowledge from talking to the patient and getting their stories.

13. Narrative Medicine Modern medicine and technology does not allow for this to happen; it is much more impersonal. Today, doctors rush to get a patient on a medication, whereas the Native Americans believed that the process of telling and listening uncovers disharmonies that perpetuate disease and reveals new modes for treatment and recovery.

14. Lewis MehlMadrona Author of the Coyote trilogy Comes from an indigenous background His work discusses healing practices from many different Native American traditions. Writes about the use of imagery and narrative in healing. His research collaborations aims to use psychology, nutrition, and healing circles to improve health conditions.

15. Lewis MehlMadrona Says that through the understanding of the power of story and healing, transformation is possible. One of the purposes of his works is to integrate aboriginal origins and culture to the medical practice. Writes about how narrative organizes experience and guides the healing process.

16. Relationship to Class Readings The Yellow Wallpaper the doctors only concerned about her physical appearance and didn’t see anything wrong Left her alone, even though she kept saying she was sick Hearing her side of the story could have helped her recover from her illness, by finding the right treatment

17. Relationship to Class Readings The Purloined Letter police took a scientific approach to looking for the letter Dupin thinks outside the box and finds the letter much like doctors follow standard procedures and sometimes misdiagnose, while Native Americans listen to the sick about how they are feeling and then treat, often helping them

18. Works Cited Mehl-Madrona, Lewis. Coyote Healing: Miracles in Native Medicine. Rochester, Vt.: Bear &, 2003. Print. Mehl-Madrona, Lewis. "Lewis Mehl-Madrona: Traditional Native American Medicine - Treatment of Chronic Illness." The Healing Center On-Line. Web. 02 Mar. 2010. <http://www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona/mmtraditionalpaper.htm#otherpages>. Mehl-Madrona, Lewis. Narrative Medicine: the Use of History and Story in the Healing Process. Rochester, Vt.: Bear &, 2007. Print.