Much Remains to be Done

Abstract

The persistence of the traditional medical systems l among Canadian Native peoples has been fairly well documented, and some commentators have suggested that a resurgence in these systems is currently underway (Gregory, 1988). Although there have been very few studies of the utilization of these medical systems by contemporary Native peoples, there has been some suggestion that dual utilization is indeed practiced. Virtually nothing is known about the specific patterns of utilization, and the relationship, if any, between the utilization of traditional and western medical services. Similarly, few aspects of health care utilization by Native peoples in urban areas have been researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore this relationship through the examination of data obtained in a recent study of Native and non-Native medical service utilization patterns in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Trauma, substance use, and HIV risk among urban American Indian women.

“…Second, low levels of contraceptive use combined with high levels of STDs (CDC, 1998) place AI female youths at high risk for exposure to HIV infection (Blum, Harmon, Harris, Bergeisen, & Resnick, 1992). Third, AIs have escalating rates of injection drug (ID) use (Conway et al, 1992; Gregory, 1992; Metler, Conway, & Stehr-Green, 1991) and are two to three times more likely than the general U.S. population to engage in excessive drinking (May, 1994; May & Moran, 1995), which often co-occurs with sexually risky behaviors (Brassard, Smeja, & Valverde, 1996; Walker et al, 1996). Urban AI samples have even higher rates of drinking than reservation-based samples (May, 1996).…”

“Native Americans, Neurofeedback, and Substance Abuse Theory”. Three Year Outcome of Alpha/theta Neurofeedback Training in the Treatment of Problem Drinking among Dine' (Navajo) People

“…Milam & Ketcham (1983), for example, stated that a significant percentage of Native Americans lack the metabolic, hormonal, and neurological factors which permits the smooth metabolization of alcohol. In strong objection, however, May (1992) and others (Beauvais, 1992;Dorpat, 1992;Fleming, 1992;Gregory, 1992;Heath, 1992;Peters, 1992;Wolf, 1992) argued that, although there are some unique and specific differences, in general, Native Americans react to alcohol much like other people.…”

“…It is also important to recognize that the majority of Native American drinkers, like most non-native people, enjoy alcohol socially without problems (Mail, 1992). Gregory (1992) also stated that although alcohol-related problems are indeed serious, the prevalence of Native American drinking is commonly exaggerated. Mail also reported that many Native American communities have reduced this trend significantly.…”

The Safe Futures Initiative at Chief Leschi Schools: A School-Based Tribal Response to Alcohol-Drug Abuse, Violence-Gang Violence, and Crime on an Urban Reservation

“…PAV offered the consistent alternatives to chemical dependency and violence described by Gregory. 69 However, this program had not been formally evaluated. The revitalization of values and behaviors inherent in Indian culture that are reinforced by the PRIDE and PAV programs can be significant forces in rectifying social ills.…”