Health is a subject involving genetics, psycology, outer influences such as germs (wandering disease), prevention, curing, health care, and treatment. To the O'Odham, it involves layers of experience as well. In our project, I am going to focus on genetics, food, and nutrition specifically with Type II diabetes, because the interaction of these subjects provides an objective understanding of the disease and its prevalence among the Pima and Papago. One of the most interesting things that I found out is that there is a genetic basis for diabetes among Native Americans: insulin markers found on cells have proven that Native Americans have a higher suseptibility to the disease. This means that for years, the 'desert' diet of the OOdham conditioned their genetic make up to be different from ours. With this in mind, how on one hand can we force the Oodham to assimilate into Anglo culture while at the same time telling them that they are different genetically, and therefore must eat differently?
In Az, I would like to know more about how prevention of disease and treatment of disease works today: does a moral code or does Catholicism 'define' being a good relative? Also, do shamans or medicine men have any role in current institutional curing? Or, do hospitals have alternative and traditional medicine?
Posted by hannons at April 25, 2005 12:02 AMFor both Steph and Emily:
In respect of "forcing the O'odham to assimilate", I wonder to what degree they are willing participants, in choosing particular diets and behaviors? At some level, they must know that it's not "good for them" to eat popovers and drink Coke (and alcohol), but still they do it...
You have the advantage (and the challenge) of plentiful scientific literatures for both diabetes and alcohol, so it's pretty easy to build up an outside health care provider's perspective. The consequences of both "modern" diseases are pretty much in the realm of Anglo medicine, right? Are there any indications of shaman/curer involvement with either?
Outside of diabetes and alcohol, for what O'odham-specific maladies do people NOT seek "medical" help? I'd expect that many would have to do with psychic problems, not recognized by (or easily categorized in) Anglo medicine, though there may be some interesting crossovers. I have a psychiatrist friend who is currently handing out drugs on the Navajo Rez, dealing with Navajo problems as if they were Anglo ailments, so I assume that there are analogous things in O'odham land.
Posted by: Hugh at April 25, 2005 04:08 PMType II diabetes and alcoholism are Anglo diseases. This is magnified by the fact that they did not become health problems among the O'Odham people until after white contact. In AZ, I would like to find out if there was even a name for alcoholism and diabetes before contact. If not, it seems that there would be not ritual cures for such ailments. In such a case, are these illnesses seen as more hopeless or have the O'Odham integrated them into their understanding of the cosmos?
Posted by: Emily at April 25, 2005 04:31 PM