Last Day in Cherokee

This week has been amazing and it has had a strong impact on my life. The people of Cherokee were so generous and welcoming to our group. At the museum Jerry Wolfe took time to take us back and tell us Cherokee legends. He was so genuine and welcoming of us being there.  Everyone in the community welcomed us openly and was willing to share their history and culture with us. I never imagined I would have learned as much as I did about the Cherokee and about myself. Everyday we were at the hospital key members of their team spoke with us. Victoria, the ER Manager met with us at lunch and told us her personal story and the history healthcare in Cherokee. Her story came from the heart and gave a very real picture of the trauma the Cherokee people have endured.

 On our last day the hospital we had the pleasure of meeting Patty, a licensed social worker that works in the behavioral health department. She gave a talk on trans-generational grief. The lecture explained how the past effects the future generations. I appreciated the education and explanation as to why it is so hard for people to change their ways depending on how they were raised.  She gave an example. ‘A new wife is cooking sausage for her husband and she cuts off the ends before putting in the pan. The husband asks why and she says because that’s the way my mother does it. He later sees his mother in law and asks her why she cuts it that way and she says I don’t know that’s how my mother did it. He then asks the grandmother and she says it was the only way I could put it in the pan.” This story had a funny ending but it demonstrates trans-generational grief and how it effects multiple generations. She also talked about letting go of personal trauma so you would be able to better help yourself and in turn help your patient.

            In this hospital the focus of their model is on preventative care including screenings and vaccinations. They also see the patient as a whole and assess their emotional and physical well being. They do not just focus on treating with medications which is a more common practice in Western medicine. That practice is one of many things I will take away from this trip as a future nurse. I will focus on mental well being especially in cases of patients being inconsistent with taking their medications. It is important to look at all aspects of their life. I was not able to interact directly with patients but I was able to see the healthcare team make their patients a priority and attend to their needs.  

            I think the new model practiced at the hospital will help improve the health of their tribe and the community around them. As I mentioned before there is a large focus on behavioral health and I think that is going to be the key to overall better health in their community. After learning about trans-generational grief I understand better the emotional trauma that still effects many members of the tribe that has led to problems with drugs and alcohol. Currently, the younger population has a rampant drug addiction problem that is starting to be addressed more by the tribe. They are putting more restrictions and required financial classes for per capita distributions. Hopefully, this will help curb wasteful spending and lead to the people having more financial stability.

            The hospital was designed with many aspects of the Cherokee culture so the members of the tribe would feel like it was their own and they would feel comfortable coming in for care. This helps with healthcare and keeping the culture alive. By having artifacts and incorporating traditions the Cherokee will always know where they came from. The schools also focus on the children learning the native language. One of the schools requires the parents to speak Cherokee only to the children. They are doing this in an effort to keep the language and culture alive in their youth. By doing this it will preserve their heritage for generations to come. The museum, Indian Village, and Unto the Hills performance all were excellent ways to bring in the outside world to their area and help keep members of the culture engaged in their history and culture.

            It is important to keep the culture alive within the community it gives them a sense of their history and pride. It is an important part of a person’s identity to know and understand their culture. It is a way to bring everyone together for one common interest giving everyone a sense of community and family. Culture is a way to pass down traditions through the family.  The Cherokee culture is unique and dying off with the elders. It is important to teach it to the children to keep it alive.

            This week we learned so many things and were exposed to a different way of life. On Friday we met with Patty from behavioral health she gave us a presentation about trans-generational grief. This subject hit home in so many ways and brought out emotions in me that I was not expecting. It was an excellent way to end the journey and gave me something to reflect upon when I got home.  After that we had an introduction to Healing Touch training it was awkward at times when we were trying to feel each others energy I think most of us were out of our comfort zone including me. I think there is a valid science to this method but you have to open to it and believe in what you are doing. Even though it was a little different we had fun with the experience.

            Reflecting back on my expectations for this trip I think they were exceeded. I thought I knew or understood their culture but I only knew a tiny bit. All of the talks with elders in the communities gave me so much more information about the Cherokee that I could not have found in a textbook. I was not sure what the boundary would look like and it looked like any other small town. The Cherokee people was very welcoming and thoughtful. I was not sure what to expect but everyone was very open about the community and how they perceive healthcare and that many are more comfortable seeking medical attention. I did not know the hospital had to work to gain trust because many of the older generations were unwilling to come in because of they way they were treated under the previous system. I was able to witness their healthcare model in action I was not sure what to expect but it was so refreshing to see an interdisciplinary team in action. Everyone was respectful to each other and worked together.

            I am so honored to be a part of this experience and to have gone on this trip. I will be forever changed by the interactions we had with all the members of the community.