Resources
On this page we will be bringing together available articles pertaining to American Indians in Minnesota.
We welcome any help in broadening this well of information. So if you have any articles or reports you think Indian people could benefit from, please send to us. As this page grows we will try to organize it for best reference and possibly add a search engine to it.
Below is an Annotated Bibliography list of articles. You can click on each link to follow the link and open a new page to view the file. You will need a PDF document viewer to open many of these articles.
Minnesota Department of Health Fact Sheet:
Eliminating Disparities in the Health Status of American Indians in Minnesota
Eliminating Disparities in the Health Status of American Indians in Minnesota
Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the country, yet American
Indians experience rates of disease and premature death that are
significantly greater than Whites and other racial or ethnic groups.
Co-Occurring Disorders - Part 2: Native Americans
This issue introduces recommended treatment approaches, cultural
competency and awareness issues, and effective treatment strategies for
counselors serving Native American and Alaskan Native clients having
both substance use and mental disorders. Great diversity exists among
Native American people with regard…
Sarah Palin’s Record on Alaska Native and Tribal Issues
In sum, measured against some the rights that are most fundamental to
Alaska Native Tribes – the subsistence way of life, tribal sovereignty
and voting rights – Palin’s record is a failure.
Rural American Indians’ Perspectives of Obstacles in the Mental Health
Treatment Process in Three Treatment Sectors
This study sought to identify obstacles associated with alcohol, drug,
and mental (ADM) health care utilization in three treatment sectors for
residents on three reservations in the United States. Participants (N =
224) disclosed that they had sought treatment for ADM problems in the
past year and identified obstacles they faced during…
Trail of Tears and Hope
The hamlet of Alkali Lake, about 100 miles north of Vancouver, is home
to one of a handful of surviving Shuswap bands of native Americans in
British Columbia. nearby villages include dog creek, 70 mile house,
horsefly, and likely in many ways, the history of the 400 Indians living
there resembles that of many other indigenous peoples.
RESHAPING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR AMERICAN INDIANS IN MINNESOTA
The decrease in availability of traditional American Indian healing and
support services and a dramatic increase in mental health needs as
evidenced in a disproportionate prevalence of out of home placements,
incarcerations, suicides, educational failure, child abuse and addictive
behaviors has highlighted the disparity in effective mental health…
A Guide for Culturally Sensitive Clinical Practice With Native Americans
It is no secret that Native Americans have suffered a history of
genocide that remains unparalleled, not only in the United States but
throughout the world. For many of us, however, the details of their
struggle remain buried, as the true story is rarely told in educational
settings or history books (Churchill, 2005). Although the multicultural…
Recognizing the Issues of Historical Trauma & Intergenerational
Post-Colonial Stress with a Healing Framework of Tribal & Cultural
Values, Beliefs, and Strengths
Historical trauma, compromised behavioral immunity (risk for expressing
behavioral disorders), unregulated arousal, post colonial stress
disorder, chronic family stress, neuro-development and developmental
psychopathology issues in tribal behavioral health are discussed. A
theoretical perspective describing Post-Colonial…
N.A.M.I: Grading The States
Mental illness causes more disability than any other class of illness in
the nation. One in four Americans experience mental illness at some
point in their lives; twice as many of us live with schizophrenia than
live with HIV/AIDS. Yet in 2003, the presidential New Freedom Commission
on Mental Health found…
MN D.H.S. Chapter 31 - Federal Indian Health Services
American Indians (AI) and Alaskan Natives (AN) are Indian Health Service
(IHS) eligible individuals. AIs/ANs eligible for one of the Minnesota
Health Care Programs (MHCP), including Medical Assistance (MA), General
Assistance Medical Care (GAMC), and MinnesotaCare, are eligible for all
covered services of the applicable MHCP program, not only the services
provided through the Federal IHS facilities.
Guidelines for Culturally Competent Organizations
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) encourages health and
human services providers and organizations to demonstrate their ability
to serve diverse populations before they serve individuals from diverse
cultures. When an organization lacks knowledge and skills in a client’s
culture, it refers the client to someone who has the expertise. The
organization and its personnel are always accountable for culturally
appropriate services.
Cultural Competency Guidelines For the Provision of Clinical Mental
Health Services To American Indians In the State of Minnesota
While there are many similarities in the provision of mental health
services across treatment populations, there are essential and unique
components that must be considered when providing mental health services
for American Indian clients. While American Indians are also unique
individuals, there are consistent similarities across this cultural…
MN D.H.S. Chapter 16 - Mental Health Services
There are many mental health services and funding resources available to
residents of Minnesota. Minnesota’s publicly provided mental health
system is state-supervised and county-administered, reflected in the
Minnesota Comprehensive Mental Health Acts (MS 245.461 to 245.486 and MS
245.487 to 245.488) which designates the county as the…
MN D.H.S. Chapter 15 - Chemical Dependency
The Consolidated Chemical Dependency Treatment Fund (CCDTF) is the
mechanism for provision of fee-for-service chemical dependency services
for MA and GAMC recipients. Each county and Indian reservation is
responsible for…
American Indian Symposium on Mental Health & Chemical Dependency
Briefing Book
In working with tribal and urban Indian communities over the last 10
years or more, the
Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has held a number of focus
groups and meetings at which representatives of these communities have
identified issues that either impede or would improve the access and
delivery of chemical dependency and mental…
Populations of Color in Minnesota – Health Status Report
In 2002 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center
for Health Statistics announced that life expectancy in the United
States reached a new high of 77.4 years. i Health improvements have been
noted in many other areas as well. In the 2003 edition of America’s
Health: State Health Rankings, Minnesota tied with New Hampshire for
the…
Homeless and Near-homeless People on Northern Minnesota Indian
Reservations
This is the first in-depth study of homelessness and near-homelessness
on Minnesota's Indian reservations. The study was conducted in the fall
of 2006, by a collaborative of tribal representatives in conjunction
with Wilder Research's statewide study of homelessness, and with the
assistance of the Corporation for Supportive Housing's Minnesota Program
through the…
Introductory Data on American Indians American Indian Community Profile
and Data Center
The data on race were derived from answers to the question on race which
was asked of all people. The concept of race as used by the Census
Bureau reflects self-identification by people according to the race or
races with which they most closely identify. These categories are
socio-political constructs and should not be interpreted as being…
Health Characteristics of the American Indian and Alaska Native Adult
Population: United States, 1999–2003
This report compares national estimates for selected health status
indicators, health behaviors, health care utilization, and health
conditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) with those of
white, black, and Asian non-AIAN adults 18 years of age and over.
Demographic and Economic Profile - MN
Based on the most recent listing of core based statistical areas by the
Office of Management and Budget (December 2005), 21 counties in
Minnesota are part of metropolitan areas, and 20 counties are part of
micropolitan areas. The micropolitan category defines counties that
include an urban area with a population of 10,000 to…
The Minnesota Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity
The Minnesota Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity assesses the
performance of the Minnesota Legislature and the governor during the
2005–2006 biennium on policies that address and strengthen racial equity
and opportunity in the state. It also assesses legislative efforts that
strengthen American Indian tribal sovereignty.
Youth and Violence: What We Can Do About It
Violence is the most serious of moral issues, and youth violence is
especially sobering. It can set adolescents on a wrong track, scar
bodies and minds, and poison environments. It almost always shows a
breakdown of ethical thinking. At the same time, it is remarkably
prevalent. In study after study, about 30-40 percent of boys and 15-30
percent of girls reports having…
Minnesota’s Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Initiative
Identifying and responding to the mental health needs of youth in
contact with the juvenile justice system is recognized as a critical
issue at the national, state, and local levels (Cocozza & Skowyra,
2000). Based on 2005 mental health screening data, it appears that
approximately 70 percent of justice-involved youth in Minnesota have…
The Persistence of American Indian Health Disparities
Disparities in health status between American Indians and other groups
in the United States have persisted throughout the 500 years since
Europeans arrived in the Americas. Colonists, traders, missionaries,
soldiers, physicians, and government officials have struggled to explain
these disparities, invoking a wide range of possible causes. American
Indians joined these debates,…
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services American Indian and Alaska
Native Strategic Plan
The Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) prepared the CMS American
Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) Strategic Plan under the guidance of the
TTAG Plan Subcommittee. A preliminary version of the plan (called Part
1) was sent to CMS in April 2005 so that the recommendations related to
the highest priority issues could be…
Native Americans with Traumatic Brain Injury and the First National
Native American Summit on TBI
In May of 2003, the First National Native American Summit on Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) was held in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Summit was an
outgrowth of a relationship forged over a year’s time between the
Federal TBI program and members of the Indigenous People’s Brain Injury
Association (IP-BIA). Through this year-long…
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research
The story of the Circles of Care initiative is one that demonstrates the
power of thoughtful collaboration for addressing critical health policy
issues. Under Circles of Care, the Center for Mental Health Services
(CMHS), part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with Indian Health…
Broken Promises: Evaluating the Native American Health Care System
Today, in Indian Country health-related problems and the lack of
adequate health care are the enemy. This was borne out on October 17,
2003, when the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) held a
public briefing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to examine the extent of the
disparities in the health status and outcomes of Native Americans,
Minnesota Adults with Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health
Disorders
The 2004/2005 Minnesota Survey on Adult Substance Use and Treatment Need
(MNSASU) found approximately 8.0% of the adult population met the
criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence and 2.2% met the criteria for
drug abuse or dependence. Overall, 9.1% of Minnesota adults reported
symptoms for substance use disorder.
Cultural Strengths and Challenges in Implementing a System of Care Model
in American Indian Communities
Reports show that mental health services for Indian children are
inadequate, despite the fact that Indian children are known to have more
serious mental health problems than all other ethnic groups in the
United States.1 This monograph examines five American Indian children’s
mental health projects funded by the Center for Mental Health…
Disparity and Dispossession, Hope and Healing: Health in American Indian
Communities
There are over 400 separate American Indian tribes in the United States,
including 336 federally-recognized tribes in the contiguous 48 states.
Tribal groups differ widely in culture and language, and each tribe has
its own criteria for tribal membership. This means that broad
generalizations about health practices and beliefs must be made with
caution. However, most American Indian cultures have a…
CDC Childhood Injury Report
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality
among children in the United States. This report uses data from the
National Vital Statistics System and the National Electronic Injury
Surveillance System - All Injury Program to provide an overview of
unintentional injuries related to drowning, falls, fi res or burns,
transportation-related…
Traditional healers are legitimate resources for youth in American
Indian communities, says mental health expert
According to numerous studies, American Indian youth experience
disproportionate rates of mental health and behavioral problems,
including substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression
and suicidal thoughts. To address this critical problem, an adolescent
mental health expert at Washington University in St. Louis says that…
American Indian psychology program finding success at OSU
Seventy percent of the American Indians Into Psychology program’s first
class already has or will soon earn a doctoral degree, said the
program’s director. “Seventy percent is huge,” said program director
John Chaney, a psychologist. “There are not a lot of (American Indians)
with their Ph.D.”
American Indians and Alaska Natives in Health Careers
A psychologist is a person with an advanced degree (master's or higher)
in clinical psychology, counseling, industrial psychology, educational
psychology, or one of many other subfields of psychology. Depending on
his or her education and background, a psychologist works in such roles
as therapist, counselor, researcher, teacher or consultant.
MN D.H.S. Governor’s Mental Health Initiative
The Governor recommends adoption of a number of measures totaling
$44.841 million over the coming biennium to improve the accessibility,
quality, and accountability of publicly funded mental health services.
The Governor recommends using health care access fund resources to fund
this proposal.
Helping American Indians earn Psychology Degrees
Like many ethnic minorities, American Indians often meet with a mental
health provider once, and then never return for more treatment,
psychologists say. Commonly, that's due to cultural differences in the
way that American Indians and non-Indian providers perceive wellness and
family roles. And because there are so few American Indian…
Directions in gender research in American Indian societies: Two spirits
and other categories.
Indigenous social role categories that represent third and fourth gender
characteristics, such as the Lakota (Sioux) winkte and the Dino (Navajo)
n<dleeh and other Native terms, mark the status of these individuals.
However, they are often blanketed by the term, berdache, in social
science literature. Contextualization in an ethnographic frame is…
Native American Postcolonial Psychology
The indigenous approach to cultural psychology seeks to understand
psychological processes and outcomes from the unique perspectives of
diverse native peoples. This approach has become popular in cultural
psychology, but its origins can be traced to Germany's Wilhelm
Wundt,(c1885), a founder of modern psychology. Wundt called…
Psychology in Indian Country
When it comes to health care, rural minority communities suffer from a
double-whammy: They have many of the same concerns as urban communities,
plus other problems--such as isolation and the absence of basic
infrastructure--unique to rural areas. And of all rural minority groups,
American Indians and Alaska Natives have…
Revisiting the Spirit: A Call for Research Related to Rural Native
Americans
The research on multiculturalism has focused on Native American Indians
(all tribal affiliations and Nations) as one homogeneous population.
This approach has failed to consider "within group" differences both by
affiliation and geographic context. For example, Native American Indian
children who live and grow up in rural areas may be…
Effects of Group Practice of the Transcendental Meditation Program on
Preventing Violent Crime in Washington, DC
This study presents the final results of a two-month prospective
experiment to reduce violent crime in Washington, DC. On the basis of
previous research it was hypothesized that the level of violent crime in
the District of Columbia would drop significantly with the creation of a
large group of participants in the Transcendental Meditation® and…
Culturally Competent Mental Health Services
Race, ethnicity, beliefs, norms and values determine culture. Culture
involves the history leading to a group’s economic, social and political
status. It defines roles and behaviors. All of this affects families’
willingness to seek and receive mental health services for their
children. Their emphasis on treatments, including ceremonies and
rituals, will��
Cultural Competency Guidelines For the Provision of Clinical Mental
Health Services To American Indians In the State of Minnesota
While there are many similarities in the provision of mental health
services across treatment populations, there are essential and unique
components that must be considered when providing mental health services
for American Indian clients. While American Indians are also unique
individuals, there are consistent similarities across this cultural…
New study looks at homelessness on northern Minnesota Indian
reservations
Low employment, low pay, an insufficient number of housing units, and
inconsistent access to public and supportive services are key
contributors to homelessness on six northern Indian reservations
according to a new study released today by six Minnesota Indian tribes:
Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Bois Forte, and Fond…
White people need to acknowledge benefits of unearned privilege
Here's what white privilege sounds like: I'm sitting in my University of
Texas office, talking to a very bright and very conservative white
student about affirmative action in college admissions, which he opposes
and I support. The student says he wants a level playing field with no
unearned advantages for anyone. I ask him whether he thinks that…
Our Indian Senate Chaplain
Tom Stillday, of Ponemah, the northernmost village on Red Lake
Reservation, has been chosen chaplain of the Minnesota Senate for a
two-year term. This recognizes the traditional elder and acknowledges
Native culture, spirituality and religion. It is the first time that a
Native American has been given this responsibility, and the first time
that…
Medicine Men for the 21st Century
Native American veterans face unique struggles upon returning home from
war, including high rates of post-combat stress. Now a mix of modern and
traditional medicine is helping them heal.
Clinton Says No to Indian Country
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton today became
the first and only candidate to refuse an invitation to speak at a
first-ever candidate forum in Indian Country. The forum, called Prez on
the Rez by its organizers, the INDN's List Education Fund (ILEF), will
be August 23, on the reservation of the Morongo Band of Mission…
For Indians, healing can start only with history
The tragedy on the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota has placed native
people and our "social ills" on the mainstream media news for our 15
minutes. Most of these stories retrace the same well-traveled ground,
citing our high levels of poverty, substance abuse and lack of
opportunities, before we recede, once again, into news oblivion...
Native American Medicine: Part 2 – Healing Modalities
Part 1 discussed key characteristics of Native-American medicine. It
focused on the paramount role of spirit, including not only in the
patient but also the healer, family, community, environment, and
medicine, and the dynamics between these forces as a part of the
Universal Spirit. Part 2 summarizes specific healing modalities, some of
which..
Native Spirituality in Prisons
Native Spirituality suggests that every aspect of life is sacred,
including the spirit of the animals, rocks, sky, and humans. For
traditional Native Americans, there is no separation between the sacred
and the ordinary. Every act, every thought, every feeling walks
hand-in-hand with Spirit.
Nutritional Approaches to Mental Health
Besides the oxygen we breathe, all that we need to survive comes from
what we eat. Food nourishes both the body and the brain. In fact, the
brain has first call on the available supply of nutrients. Therefore,
the first effects of nutritional deficiencies are often mental symptoms.
Obama joins American Indian tribe, eyes policy change
CROW AGENCY, Montana (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama became an
honorary member of an American Indian tribe on Monday and promised a
proactive policy to help tribal people if he wins the White House in
November.
Returning Veterans
WINDOW ROCK -- For centuries, Navajos returning from war were welcomed
back to their homeland with ceremonies to restore them to harmony and
get thoughts of war and death out of their minds. But since the end of
World War I, Navajo veterans have been fighting the federal government,
arguing that the cost of these ceremonies was a…
Pawlenty Unveils Major Initiative to Improve Mental Health for Children
and Adults
Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced $109 million in new and redirected
government investments to transform the way the state provides mental
health services and improve mental health care and treatment for
children and adults. “Our current mental health care system needs
improvement and this initiative will deliver significant…
Minnesota Vulnerable Adult Act
626.557 Reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults. Subdivision 1.
Public policy. The legislature declares that the public policy of this
state is to protect adults who, because of physical or mental disability
or dependency on institutional services, are particularly vulnerable to
maltreatment; to assist in providing safe environments for…
Mental Health, United States, 2004
Our nation has made great strides in recent years in achieving recovery
for persons with mental illnesses. We know much more about how to
deliver recovery-oriented mental health care, improve service quality,
achieve desired improvements in quality of life outcomes, and implement
needed care systems in each community in America.
Science of Addiction
Throughout much of the last century, scientists studying drug abuse
labored in the shadows of powerful myths and misconceptions about the
nature of addiction. When science began to study addictive behavior in
the 1930s, people addicted to drugs were thought to be morally flawed
and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society’s…
Traumatic Stress Reactions - What They Are and What to Do About Them
Many people have been discussing traumatic stress reaction to describe
the emotional experiences of people who were strongly effected by the
events of September 11. While stress reactions can feel and appear to be
very strange they are, in fact, normal reactions to abnormal events.
When an event is overly aversive, powerful, and frightening, the…
Low Income Mothers coming to Primary Care: Depression and Reports of
Problems with their Children
Research indicates that children who have a parent who is depressed are
at greater risk of depression themselves, as well as more frequent
behavioral and school problems. Early detection and treatment of
depression among mothers may be a particularly important prevention
strategy, since it provides the opportunity to not only improve the
health…
Tribal Health Program: Billing Instructions for Tribal Health Programs
and Indian Health Services Providers
A provider may use HRSA's toll-free lines for questions regarding its
programs; however, HRSA's response is based solely on the information
provided to the [HRSA] representative at the time of the call or
inquiry, and in no way exempts a provider from following the rules and
regulations that govern HRSA's programs.
Children’s Mental Health: DRAFT Technical Assistance Guide For Tribal
Health Programs
The publicly provided children’s mental health system of care is
composed of different rules, regulations, and standards as the system is
administered, funded and services delivered through and by federal,
tribal, state and local agencies. Services are also delivered by private
agencies using individual providers or teams of providers. The
complexity of the multiple service delivery systems can lead to
confusion in…