Principles of Indigenous Learning and Its
Application to Understanding Health Impacts
of Uranium Exposure
David Begay, Ph.D.
National Indian Health Board
2012 Tribal Public Health Summit
May 30, 2012
This work funded by CDC U01 TS000135; 3P20MD004811 - 02S1
Presentation Agenda
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Overview of the concepts of Indigenous world
views and learning
Juxtaposition of Euro-American and Dine’
Perspectives
Comparison of Western & Navajo Research
Protocol
Overview of the Navajo Birth Cohort Study
(NBCS) Logo
Considerations for NBCS training
Worldviews
Peek through the lens of the Navajo mind
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Commonalities and
differences between EuroAmerican and Navajo
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Interrelationships of all
things
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All the parts enfold the
whole
Navajo Worldview
and Perspectives
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Worldview provides
perspective
Order created by natural
cosmic process
Process creates organization,
structure, and epistemology
Natural order creates natural
law of interrelationship and
interdependence
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
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Separation of man and
nature
View of the universe as
mechanical to be
manipulated and controlled
by man
Dine’/ Indigenous
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Inseparable organic
interconnection between
man and nature forms
harmonious whole
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View of universe as living
system of interrelationships
with man as an integral part
of the whole
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
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Rational, empirical faculties
overrule intuitive faculties
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Intuitive and subconscious
faculties are not valued in
reductionist methodology
Dine’/ Indigenous
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Intuitive, spiritual faculties
important
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Intuitive consciousness of
the unity and
interrelationships of all
phenomena
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
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Library as repository of
knowledge
Value of objectivity research
– subjectivity is devalued
Dine’/ Indigenous
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Nature and elders are
repository of knowledge
(stories and songs)
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Value of participatory
research – subjectivity and
objectivity are both valued
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
•
Emphasis on individuality
•
Primarily quantitative
•
Validation through preagreed upon set of criteria
Dine’/ Indigenous
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Emphasis on value of
collaboration
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Primarily qualitative
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Self-validation comes from
individual intuitive,
community recognition and
approval, application to
relevant way of life
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
•
•
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Scientific methods include
hypothesis, experimentation
and replication
Reductionistic, breaking
down to smallest
denominator
Separation of matter and
spirit
Dine’/ Indigenous
•
The use of hypotheses,
experimentation and
replication is of lesser value
•
Consciously aware of parts
as they relate to the whole
dynamic system
•
Unity of matter and spirit
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
•
Separation of body and
mind
•
•
Dine’/ Indigenous
•
Unity of body and mind
Separation of inanimate and
animate
•
Everything in the universe is
animate
Spirituality not often a way
of life
•
Spirituality is integral part of
life
Juxtaposition
Euro-American
Dine’/ Indigenous
•
Religion is separate from
state and profession
•
Spirituality is integral way of
life, all-encompassing
•
God is patriarchal noun-god
who lives in heaven,
separate from man on earth.
God is transcendent
•
Spirituality is intrinsic to
entire universe processes,
man is inherently
interrelated to the
immanent.
Matters to Consider
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Importance and
awareness of
indigenous
perspectives
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Constructive
dialogues should
include indigenous
perspectives
Western and Navajo
Research Protocols
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(W)
(N)
Language of mathematics – measurement based
Language of Spirit – interrelationship based
(W)
(N)
Interplay between theory and observation or experiment
Validated through centuries of observation and empirical
knowledge
(W)
(N)
Prediction and repeatability using the scientific method and
Cyclical way of knowing and living in accordance with nature’s
process
teachings
(W) Humans can be viewed as being superior to nature – technology can create
distance between people and nature
(N) Humans are integral participants in an animate universe – non hierarchical
Western and Navajo
Research Protocols
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(W) Knowledge is gathered and transmitted by anyone with
often through written journals
(N) Knowledge is collectively honored and only imparted to
deemed qualified
technical training,
those who are
(W) Scientific community vouches for results of experiment, not the character of
an individual
(N) Navajo community often provides validation connected
to
the
character of the knowledge holders
Iiná Nizhóní
A Beautiful Life for Mother and Baby
Development of the Navajo Birth Cohort Study Logo
Logo Created by: Sandy Ramone
15
My Initial Thoughts
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Child birth is one of the most
sacred events for a Diné family
Reminds us of White Shell
Woman, the Diné emergence story
White blanket with stripes is an
old design, reflective of age-old
teachings that continue today
Baby represents all Navajo
newborns and their quest for a
beautiful life
16
Study will be Navajo Nation-wide:
Within the Four Sacred Mountains
EAST
White Shell Mountain (Mt. Blanca)
or Sisnaajiní
NORTH
Obsidian Mountain
(Mt. Hesperus)
or Dibé Nitsaa
SOUTH
Turquoise Mountain (Mt.
Taylor),
or Tsoodził
WEST
Abalone Shell Mountain
(San Francisco Peaks), or Dook’o’oosłííd
17
The Four Directions
give meaning to the Study
Awareness of Role of Environment in Health
Science
Education
Social Life, Ceremonies
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Why corn stalks appear in
the NBCS logo
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Corn pollen represents life –
the growing of the child
Corn pollen used as an
offering in prayers
White corn represents male
Yellow corn represents female
Provides for our food base
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Why “Iiná Nizhóní”?
Photo courtesy of America West Center, University of Utah
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Diné life is holistic –
strives for beauty, peace,
joy and harmony
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Ultimate desire of all
Nihokáá Dine’é
(“Worldly People”) is to
achieve a Iiná Nizhóní (a
“life beautiful”) before
and after the birth of a
child
20
The Navajo Birth Cohort
Study
This study will look at effects of
community uranium exposures on birth
outcomes and child development. We,
the research team, have a sacred duty to
conduct the study with knowledge and
respect for traditional Diné teachings and
practices around child birth.
Our logo is a constant reminder of that
responsibility to the research team and to
our communities.
Photo courtesy of
nativeamericanlinks.com
21
Navajo Birth Cohort Study
Helping Your Baby and Future
Generations To Grow in Beauty
Coming Summer 2012!
A research study responding to
community concerns about uranium
effects on Navajo babies
Call 1-877-545-6775
for more information and how you can participate
A collaboration of ―
• DiNEH Project (University of New Mexico Community Environmental
Health Program, Southwest Research and Information Center);
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry;
• Navajo Area Indian Health Service; and
• Navajo Nation Division of Health
Principal Investigator – Johnnye Lewis Ph.D., D.A.B.T.
Artwork by Sandy Ramone
Funding from CDC/ATSDR: U01 TS000135
All work will be approved and monitored by
• University of New Mexico Human Research Review Committee – HRPO# 11-310
• Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board – pending
Interface with Existing Clinical Care
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Work within existing clinical systems
Standard or routine clinical care
Additional specimens to be collected
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Urine and blood at prenatal visit for mom (enrollment, 3rd trimester,
delivery)
Urine and blood from dads at time of consent
Meconium at birth
Baby blood from finger sticks
Baby urine at home
Considerations for Training
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Effective communication of sensitive
topics in Navajo & English
Pregnancy, birth, development
 Birth defects
 Developmental concerns
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Thank You !
Contact us if you have questions:
Call 1-877-545-6775