Johnson State College External Degree Program. WAM-2010-JYB01 Native American Healing Syllabus Spring 2017

Transcription

1 Johnson State College External Degree Program WAM-2010-JYB01 Native American Healing Syllabus Spring 2017 (1 credit) Instructor: Jennifer McFeeters Dates: Accelerated Online Section (7 weeks) March 13 to April 30 Location: Online using Moodle ( ADA Statement: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact JSC s Learning Specialist in Academic Services, as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations, if needed, are implemented in a timely fashion. Please call or Kevin.Fleck@jsc.edu. Academic Honesty: (from JSC Catalog) Students are expected to conform to the highest standards of academic honesty in all of their academic work at Johnson State College. Academic dishonesty in any form is prohibited and unacceptable. Acts of dishonesty for which a student may be disciplined include, but are not limited to, receiving or providing unauthorized assistance on an examination and plagiarizing the work of others in writing assignments. The American Heritage Dictionary defines plagiarism in the following way: To steal or use (the ideas or writings of another) as one s own. Students are responsible for knowing what specific acts constitute plagiarism; if students are uncertain as to whether a particular act constitutes plagiarism, they should consult with their instructors before turning in assigned work. Texts: Texts are available through the JSC bookstore. Call or go to Text Required: The Scalpel and the Silver Bear, by Lori Arviso Alvord, M.D. and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt ISBN Description: This class is about ancient Native American healing. The journey a young Navajo woman makes to become the first Navajo surgeon and how traditional Native American healing methods and modern western medicine can co-exist and complement each other. The successful student will be able to: 1. Describe how sound and music can heal. 2. Understand and describe what the Navajo term Walking in Beauty means in native life, and how Dr. Alvord, M.D. applied this concept to her surgical practice and personal life.

2 3. Explain how the physical genocide of the 1800 s and the cultural genocide of the 1900 s affects the Navajo people today. 4. Explain how Dr. Alvord, M.D. created a bridge between ceremony and surgery. 5. Describe how Dr. Alvord, M.D. integrated her Navajo background into her medical practice, and what her patients taught her. 6. Describe Navajo traditions regarding pregnancy and birth. 7. Explain what is paramount in bridging different approaches to healing, such as traditional Navajo and western medicine. Method of Instruction. Independent research. Discussion-style lecture. Independent reading and writing assignments. Chat groups. Letter Grade Criteria: A = Outstanding Work: Demonstrates clear understanding of all course objectives Actively participates in classroom activities Has challenged oneself significantly in communication skill levels and awareness. B = Good Work: Demonstrates an understanding of all course objectives. Participates in most classroom activities. Shows significant intent to expand communication skills level and awareness. C = Meets Course Expectations: Demonstrates an understanding of the majority of course objectives. Participates to some extent in classroom activities. Demonstrates knowledge in communication skills level by meeting completion requirements. D = Does Not Meet the Majority of Course Expectations Demonstrates little understanding of the course objectives. Lacks participation in class discussions and small group activities. Turns assignments in late and/or shows little skill level in the requirements of the assignments. F = Unacceptable Work: No credit. Demonstrates no interest in understanding course objectives. Did not meet completion requirements. Grading Criteria: Participation in class discussions And small group activities 25% Weekly Reading and writing assignments 50% Research Paper & Presentation 25%

3 Schedule DATE WEEK 1 March 13 Read Chapters 1 & 2 Topic: How sound and music can heal. Written Assignment: How do other indigenous people use sound or song to heal. Give two examples. What is WALKING IN BEAUTY? Topic: Walking the path between worlds Written Assignment: Describe Navajo life, including Navajo rules. What cultural differences was Dr. Alvord exposed to at Dartmouth, New Hampshire? March 20 Week 2 Read Chapters 3 & 4 Topic: Dr. Alvord s journey down the medicine path What cultural challenges did Dr. Alvord face at Stanford as Dine? What was Dr. Alvord s inner conflict as she conquered the most difficult obstacles of medical school? Topic: Adjusting to life at Gallup, New Mexico: bridging two worlds What are skin walkers? How do they affect health in Navajo culture? Describe the unique culture in the Gallup Indian Medical Center(GIMC). March 27 Week 3 Read Chapters 5 & 6 Topic: The epidemic of alcoholism at GIMC. How did the physical genocide of the 1800 s, followed by the cultural genocide of the 1900 s affect the Navajo people? Topic: Bridging ceremony and surgery. Describe the Night Chant ceremony and its purpose. What is a Yeibechei?

4 April 3 Week 4 Read Chapters 7 & 8 Topic: Spiritual Surgery. Describe the importance of balance, harmony, and wholeness to the Navajo people. Topic: The Navajo plague. What was the Navajo diagnosis of the Navajo plague, and how did this diagnosis relate to the western diagnosis? April 10 Week 5 Read Chapters 9 & 10 Topic: A Navajo Wedding. What is the unbreachable taboo Navajo s have concerning marriage? Topic: Navigating Navajo tradition in the operating room. What is typical Navajo medical care like? What was Dr. Alvord s approach to Melanie Begay s grandmother? April 16 Week 6 Read Chapters 11 & 12 Topic: Pregnancy and Navajo wisdom. What was Dr. Alvord s primary focus to remain healthy during pregnancy? Topic: Dr. Alvord visits the hataalii. List the Indian Health Service statistics on Indian people served. What is the Navajo ceremony that traditional women have in their eighth month of pregnancy? April 23 Week 7 Read Chapters 13 & 14 Topic: Navajo birth tradition. Describe the Navajo sash ritual. Describe a traditional Navajo birth.

5 Topic: Walking in beauty in western medicine. Knowing what walking in beauty means, review your life, extending your relationship to the community, and describe where you are walking in balance and out of balance. What is paramount in bridging different approaches to healing, such as traditional and western medicine?