What am I excited to experience? I am looking
forward to observing at the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) and
gaining new knowledge of the Native American culture. Touring the Village, visiting
the local rehab center and seeing some beautiful views, like Soco Falls, are
other opportunities I am eager to experience. Some of the fears I face, entering an unfamiliar community, are communication
barriers and assumption on my part. I am entering this amazing opportunity with
open mindedness and eagerness to learn. Nonetheless, I worry most about not
understanding the wants, needs, and outcomes of patients due to such barriers. Considering
the social and cultural environment influences, children are at an increased
risk of having an addiction and/or developing diabetes due to certain conditions.
It is more prevalent for a child to grow up having a drug or alcohol issue if
the parent also has an addiction. Diabetes rate is high in the Natives and many
have not even been diagnosed.
Having
not met any Native Americans, I imagine them to be very welcoming, truthful
and proud of who they are and where they have come from. I think the Native
culture is so interesting, due to the fact that they want to maintain tradition
and keep the fire alive. Many of our ancestors have forgotten the importance of
tradition and how it shapes us today and always. Although this is an accusation,
I do feel I still stereotype. I stereotype Native Americans on how they “should”
look, for example, long hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. Following these
stereotypes, I realize they are not always true, yet catch myself labeling others.
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