Hi, Kerri:  I co-ordinated a prenatal and peds clinic on an Indian
Reservation in northern Minnesota (USA) back in the early '80s and had the
great fortune to have a wonderful mentor in a Native American nurse
practitioner.  The tribe I worked with is Ojibwa (Chippewa) and she is
Cherokee.  I learned quite a bit about childbirth/childrearing practices
from her.  Native people do best in one-on-one settings.  The mother and
immediate female relatives or close female friends.  They also tend to be a
more private people, not as outgoing and sharing as the average "white"
American. It was my experience that a class setting probably would not be
well-received or attended.  The extended family unit is also important to
them.  They have strong cultural medical traditions, some of which they
will not share or allow to be observed by non-Native Americans.  The
medicine man or female healer often takes precendence over "modern" doctors
and medicine.
I would encourage you to follow your mothers' lead and adjust your teaching
accordingly.  Enjoy!

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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