Dissertation
Culture, Health, and Hope: Exploring Historical Trauma, Syndemics, and The Application of Anthropology to Reducing Health Disparities in Native American Communities
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/111052
Abstract
The present dissertation is a study of key elements underlying the poor health status of Native Americans, the constellation of factors that drive this health status, and possible pathways for mitigating the burden of health inequity experienced by the population. Health disparities reach into every aspect of life and underlie many of the social, political, and environmental challenges facing indigenous populations around the world. While the specific manifestations of the social determinants of health are unique to specific tribes, and even families or clans within tribes, the etiology is not. Colonialism, and the resulting loss of lives, culture, identity, voice, and place is the base ingredient of a post-colonial trauma syndemic. This dissertation posits that the maintenance and restoration indigenous practices such as storytelling, and traditional tobacco use can reinforce connection to culture and cultural continuity which is a promising protective factor within the post-colonial trauma syndemic. However, in order to effectively address the post-colonial trauma syndemic, further investigation into protective factors must be initiated including an investigation into factors that can be introduced or reinforced as well as provide greater recognition of those that are already in place such resilient oral traditions and knowledge of pre-colonial practices. Finally, the potential contributions to this effort by anthropology are many. This dissertation presents one such contribution by offering an example of efforts to work collaboratively between interdisciplinary and ethnic communities towards the common goal of improving health.
Metrics
24 File views/ downloads
61 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Culture, Health, and Hope: Exploring Historical Trauma, Syndemics, and The Application of Anthropology to Reducing Health Disparities in Native American Communities
- Creators
- Charles Snyder
- Contributors
- Marsha B Quinlan (Advisor)Mary B Collins (Committee Member)Roberta L Paul (Committee Member)Shannon Tushingham (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Anthropology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 140
- Identifiers
- 99900581726001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation