Spring 2015: Alaska WWAMI School of Medical Education presents "Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness"

Exhibit: "Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness" Location: Health Sciences Building, Third Floor Lobby (map) Show dates: Jan. 20-March 6 Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.*

The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) in consultation with American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians has created an exhibition on Native Peoples' concepts of health and illness. "Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness," currently on display at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., has been developed into a traveling exhibition that includes an interactive iPad component, making it accessible to communities outside NLM in Indian country and elsewhere.

The exhibition looks at how wellness and illness are interconnected with cultural life. Stories examine both past and present, and show how the determinates of health for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians are tied to community, the land and spirit. Speaking in their own voice, Native Peoples will tell how individual and community wellness were affected during the nineteenth and twentieth century. Individual stories show how epidemics, federal legislation, the loss of land and the inhibition of culture affect the health of Native individuals and communities today. The exhibition also presents a contemporary story about renaissance, recovery and self-determination, and how the Native Peoples of the U.S. use traditional and Western methods to enhance wellness.

We wish to acknowledge that the large number of tribes and communities of potential relevance means inevitably that we are not able to fully include all in the exhibition. We regret this and plan to incorporate ways in which attendees to the exhibition can add their own stories. By the same token, we do not want to homogenize the three Native groups into a synthetic "Native People's voice." We expect the features of our common humanity will be plain, but not to obscure the fascinating differences in perspective and teachings. We strive to present a picture of concepts of health and illness that will be viewed with pride by Native Peoples, and will be viewed with interest, understanding and acceptance by all who visit or see the exhibition. NLM has made every effort to be sensitive to the cultural preferences of Native Peoples, and have only included in the exhibition items and information that have been made public and freely available.

The traveling exhibition of six banners and six iPad kiosks includes interviews and images from Native People living in or near reservations or tribal villages, and those living in urbanized areas. To the greatest extent possible, we have attempted to allow Native People to tell this story through their own recorded interviews, credited and featured in the exhibition.

Native Voices is divided into five distinct areas-individual, community, tradition, nature and healing-that touch upon the following topics:

• Native views and definitions of health and illness;
• Native views of the land, food, community, the Earth/nature and spirituality as they relate to Native health and illness;
• Role of traditional healing in Native American culture today;
• Historical role of traditional healing in the context of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian history;
• Relationship of traditional healing and Western medicine in Native communities;
• Native stories about the practice of healing;
• Native traditions and activities that symbolize health and healing;
• Issues of economic development and the impact on health in Native communities;
• Role of Native Americans in military service as an element of pride, honor, sense of tribal health and commitment to tribe and country;
• Contemporary intergenerational views of Native health including those of Native elders, women and youth; and
• Current work by Native communities and leadership to improve their community and individual health conditions.

The iPad component of the exhibition provides a robust selection of videos, imagery and personal stories to complement and enhance each topic. You will experience the journey of the healing totem from the Lummi Nation in Washington State to the site of its permanent home at the National Library of Medicine; follow the voyage of the Hōkūle'a canoe in Hawai'i, an icon of Hawaiian culture and health; and learn about the experiences of the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II.

For more information, visit the Native Voices website.

*Note: Large groups and/or classes will need to contact Nancy Hall at nancy@uaa.alaska.edu or (907) 786-4789 for scheduling.

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