Life experiences in care, illness, health, and healing among Inupiat practitioners of traditional healing in Northwest Arctic Alaska : a qualitative exploration
The Inupiat of northwest Alaska, once dependent upon themselves for staying healthy and treating illness in a harsh environment, today have access to modern healthcare via an innovative hub system. The availability of modern healthcare and other human services has come at a cost, however, in terms of local Native control and the practice of traditional Native lifeways. Nurses and other healthcare providers outside the culture can improve the quality of care they provide by becoming culturally informed and providing culturally congruent care. Caring is assumed to be the central essence and primary activity of nursing. This study explored the life experiences of six Inupiat traditional healers in caring, health, illness, and healing. Ideas about caring are discussed, and ways of implementing these findings in the provision of quality care are suggested.
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Dissertations: Held at Consurtium Library Alaskana Collection E99.E7 B748 1992