Native American Cancer Research 3038389359 EOL Obj.

1
Module Objective 5
5. The workshop participant will be able to
identify examples of how Native cultures perceive
death and dying.
The mystery of all endings is found in the birth
of new beginnings. There is no ending to the
journey of the four directions. The human
capacity to develop is infinite. The medicine
wheel turns forever. Phil Lane, Jr. p. 71
2
Module Objective 5
5. The workshop participant will be able to
identify examples of how Native cultures perceive
death and dying.
Palliative care - to provide comfort and relief
without curing
NOTE Although the medicine wheel is not used by
all tribes, its concept is familiar to most
tribes and is used within this module.
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Which of the following is TRUE?

• Most Natives die in their homes.
• Most Natives have plenty of pain control
  medication when they die.
• Preparation for dying ceremonies primarily focus
  on physical issues.
• Traditional Indian funerals are illegal in most
  states.
• Dont want to answer

Death-myths
0 / 75
4
Which of the following is TRUE?

• Neither the Medicine Wheel nor the Circle of Life
  include death
• All cultures have death ceremonies that are very
  serious and somber
• Almost all Native tribal Nations use the same
  death ceremony
• Preparing the dead body for burial or disposal is
  usually regarded as a high honor by most tribes
• Dont want to answer

Death-culture
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5
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about how many
tribal Nations describe death or dying?

• Walk on
• Cross the river
• Down Under
• Gone to the spirit world
• Dont want to answer

Death-describe
0 / 75
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The medicine wheel
The medicine wheel teaches us that the four
elements, each so distinctive and powerful, are
all part of the physical world. All must be
respected equally for their gift of life. Phil
Lane Jr., The Sacred Tree, Four Worlds
Development Press, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada,
1984 p. 11
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Elders / End of life / death
Birth / childhood
Adults
Youth
Death is part of the Medicine Wheel and the
Circle of Life
variation from Phil Lane Jr., The Sacred Tree,
Four Worlds Development Press, Lethbridge,
Alberta, Canada, 1984
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Have you ever been to a funeral for a family
member?

• No
• Yes
• Dont want to answer

Family Funeral
0 / 75
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Query Why do you think death ceremonies are
important?
helps with the grieving process for family and
for the person who is dying (i.e., preparing for
death ceremonies)
helps community recognize and honor the loss of a
valued individual
thank you January Scott!
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Importance of death ceremonies (continued)
helps the family and grievers know that they are
supported by the community.
helps grievers express and not repress their
grief
Death is part of the / wheel / circle
thank you January Scott!
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What is the underlying theme?

• Non-Native cultures frequently perceive death as
  a very separate part of the life cycle.
• But all cultures have special ceremonies that
  accompany the death of a loved one.

Like funerals
QUERY What are some examples of things other
cultures, religions, or people do to acknowledge
the death of a loved one?
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Stereotypical examples of how cultures respond
to the death of a loved one
Irish funerals?
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Stereotypical examples of how cultures respond
to the death of a loved one
Catholic funerals?
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Stereotypical examples of how cultures respond
to the death of a loved one
New Orleans funerals?
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So what are examples of how some Native cultures
respond to the death of a loved one
Example of 1 SW tribe
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So what are examples of how some Native cultures
respond to the death of a loved one
body is placed in sitting up position in the
grave and must be buried within 24 hours
Another SW tribe
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How do Native communities discuss the death
process?

• Death and dying are referred to using different
  words / phrases by Native communities a lot of
  differences!

Question What are some ways youve heard
Natives use to describe death?
cross the river walk on move on
passing on to the other side gone to the
spirit world and of course the one popularized
by Hollywood, gone to the happy hunting grounds
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How do Native communities discuss the death
process?

• As diverse as Native cultures are, most refer to
  dying as part of the "Circle of Life".

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If the dying person asked you to help prepare
his/her body for burial, how would you feel?

• I am not supposed to touch dead bodies and would
  have to refuse
• I would have a hard time doing it, but I would do
  it
• I would feel it is an honor to be asked and would
  do my best to do things in the right way
• Dont know /not certain
• Dont want to answer

Body Prep
0 / 75
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Native communities and the death process

• Traditionally, ceremonies were implemented,
  sometimes over many months, for the chronically
  ill or dying patient.
• Allows the dying patient make peace with this
  world and prepare for the next.

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Native communities and the death process

• Allows the loved ones to raise upsetting issues
  and consequently to address them with the help of
  others.
• The entire family is affected.
• This includes the extended family which can
  consist of adopted relatives and respected elders
  and healers within our communities.

22
Native communities and the death process

• Most Natives choose to go to the spirit world"
  while in their home setting, surrounded by family
  and community members.
• Many of the cultural support systems that help
  prepare for the passing existed a few decades
  ago. These may or may not be present in our local
  communities today.

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Native communities and the death process
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Interactive Activity Small Group
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Small group activity
1. How does your culture prepare for the death of
a loved one?
2. How does your culture believe the body should
be prepare for burial / burning, etc.?
3. How does your culture believe the spirit
should be prepared for passage to the next life /
world?
4. What types of ceremonies does your culture do
to help deal with death and dying of a loved one?
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Small group activity
Please take 15 minutes to share your answers with
one another in your groups.
After 15 minutes, we will ask for volunteers who
are willing to share something they learned from
their group.
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Summary
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Summary
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Which of the following is TRUE?

• Most Natives die in their homes.
• Most Natives have plenty of pain control
  medication when they die.
• Preparation for dying ceremonies primarily focus
  on physical issues.
• Traditional Indian funerals are illegal in most
  states.
• Dont want to answer

Death-myths
0 / 75
30
Which of the following is TRUE?

• Neither the Medicine Wheel nor the Circle of Life
  include death
• All cultures have death ceremonies that are very
  serious and somber
• Almost all Native tribal Nations use the same
  death ceremony
• Preparing the dead body for burial or disposal is
  usually regarded as a high honor by most tribes
• Dont want to answer

Death-culture
0 / 75
31
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about how many
tribal Nations describe death or dying?

• Walk on
• Cross the river
• Down Under
• Gone to the spirit world
• Dont want to answer

Death-describe
0 / 75
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Was this information for you

• too difficult to understand?
• understandable (I understood it)
• too easy I wanted more challenging information

Difficulty of info
0 / 75
33
Was the Medicine Wheel helpful in the explanation
of chronic care in this session?

• No, it was not helpful or relevant to me
• Yes, it was a little helpful to me
• Yes, it was very helpful to me
• Dont know / not sure
• Dont want to answer

Medicine Wheel
0 / 75
34
Were you comfortable with the language used in
this session?

• No, the words were too difficult or unfamiliar
  for me
• Yes, most of the words were understandable and
  comfortable for me
• Yes, the words were very comfortable for me
• Dont know / not sure
• Dont want to answer

Medicine Wheel
0 / 75
35
How did using the keypads influence your learning
experience?

• interfered with my learning
• made no difference in my learning
• improved my learning
• dont know / not sure

ARS Learning
0 / 75
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Would you want to have a keypad system included
in future education presentations?

• No
• Yes
• Dont know/not certain

ARS Future
0 / 75