Waking up for the first time in Alaska was both tiring and breathtaking. Having only gotten 5 hours of sleep that morning, I was glad to have the stunning view of the mountains outside my widow to wake me up a bit. Our day was spent at the Alaska Native Heritage Center where we listened to a few speakers teach us about the different Native groups that inhabit the island, and some of the things that make up the individual cultures. As a point of reference, Alaska is approximately 1/5 the size of the lower 48, which means the environment in one part of the island can be drastically different from another part. These different environmental exposures means the people of each group face unique challenges- these challenges plays a major role in the development of their skills, values, and traditions.
Yaari, our main speaker, is a member of the Yupik tribe located on St. Lawrence Island. The name Yupik translates to ‘”genuine people”. People of this clan value concise communication and have been taught to think before they speak. One of the main points Yaari emphasized was that there is so much more to the Native people than what we see on the surface. She used the analogy of an iceberg where the surface (what we see) is only 10%- clothing, body language, actual language, and tone of voice. Staying above the surface can be dangerous; it can lead to misinterpretation and contributes to stereotypes. The 90% below the surface- the values, traditions, and beliefs about communication- are what we need to strive to identify when we communicate with these patients. Digging deeper leads to more genuine connections and gives meaning to their actions.
One thing I found really interesting was the differences between Alaskan Natives and Native Americans in the continental US. Many Alaskan Natives are still involved with their clan and their native culture is still very much a part of their everyday life. Native Americans in the lower 48 have experienced more historical trauma.-It is clear the dehumanization and oppression past generations faced has caused serious long-term backlash that we see with the Native American population today. The stark difference between Alaskan Natives and Natives in the continental US is a sad reminder of the broken promises of the past, but it was inspiring seeing how much help the Alaskan Natives have and how the health care providers are really working towards providing more culturally competent care. It shows that it is possible to work with people of other cultures to empower them to be their healthiest self, and I think we could use Alaska as an example of the steps we need to take to make progress in reversing some of the distrust many natives feel towards the healthcare system.