This is a must read for everyone. You never know when it might come in handy: http://info.kyha.com/documents/CG-Native_American.pdf

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION
Health care providers need to have an understanding of and respect for a wide spectrum of
beliefs and religious preferences of their Native American patients in order to provide optimal
care for them. As the population of Native American increases, health care workers including
physicians, nurses and chaplains will more frequently encounter Native American patients who
require contact with the health care system. The information in this document is general and is
applicable to all communities of Native Americans. In the United States, there are more than
500 nations of Native Americans, each having their own separate customs, language, culture,
set of beliefs and religious practices. There is no single “Native American Religion”, or church
hierarchy. There is no central figure like Moses, Jesus, Muhammad or Buddha, nor is there a
central holy book in Native American Religious tradition. It is an oral tradition that is passed
down from generation to generation, based on certain guiding principles that are internalized
from childhood and are an integrated part of each person’s life. Following the sacred way does
not separate life into segments, it is seen as one.


There are two and half million Native Americans living in the United States and Canada with
over 100,000 residing in the metropolitan Chicago area. There are many Native Americans
who follow traditional customs and spiritual beliefs. There are also many Native Americans
who combine their traditional set of beliefs and religious practices within the framework of
Christianity and would want both traditional and Christian religious traditions while in the
hospital. Chief Seattle said,
“Our religion is the tradition of our ancestors—the dreams of our

old men and women, given them in the solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit, and the


visions of our tribal chiefs—and is within the heart of our people”
.