General Information
Included in this section are statistics from the US Census Bureau describing this population.

• Total population ~ 3,997,919
• High School graduate or higher ~1,766,190
• Bachelors degree or higher ~ 341,800
• Speak a language other than English at home ~ 853,944
• Median Household income in 1999 ~ $32,325
• Individuals below poverty level ~ 898,444
• Disability Status ~ 969,398
• Foreign born ~ 236,325

*The above information was obtained from the 2000 U.S. Census from the U.S. Census
Bureau (http://www.census.gov/). Updated information will be available upon the completion of the 2010 Census.

Internet Website Resources
Use this condensed list of information to locate reliable resources on the internet to further your knowledge about the culture of the client you are working with.

• National Library of Medicine
  • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/if_you_knew/if_you_knew_01.html
  • Indian Health Service Today
  • Thoughts about Native American Medicine
    • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nativeamericanhealth.html
      • Genetics
      • Environmental factors
      • Access to care
      • Cultural factors
• US Department of Health & Human Services: Indian Health Services
  • http://www.ihs.gov/
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • http://www.doi.gov/bia/
  • Even though the BIA website has been essentially shut down for the last several years, they have a comprehensive list of related links.
• US Department of Health & Human Services: Indian Health Services
  • http://www.ihs.gov
  • The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level.
  • The IHS currently provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 35 states.
• Register of Federally Recognized Tribes
  • Dated July 12, 2002, list of 562 tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding and services form the Bureau of Indian Affairs by virtue of their status as Indian tribes.
• Census Bureau - "The American Indian and Alaska Native Population: 2000"
  • This 12 page report provides a portrait of the American Indian population in the United States and its distribution at both the national and sub-national levels.

Books and Videos
Included in the list of books and videos that may make you learn more about your client are a list of discussion questions to answer as you read the book or watch the video. These questions are designed to get you to think about the material and apply what you’ve learned to working with your patient.

Books:

• Russel, George (2004). American Indian Facts of Life. St. Berkeley, CA: Russel Publications
• Devon A. Mihesuah (1997). American Indians: Stereotypes & Realities Clarity Press: Gardena, CA
• National Museum Of The American Indian (2007). Do All Indians Live in Tipis?: Questions and Answers from the National Museum of the American Indian. Collins: New York, NY
• Vine Deloria Jr. (1970). We Talk, You Listen: New Tribes, New Turf. MacMillan Company. New York, NY.

Videos:

• Simoneau, Y. (Producer) (2007.) Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. [Motion Picture] USA: HBO Films.
• Cornsilk, C.P., & Blythe, F. (Ex. Producers), & Lucas, P. & Geiogamah, P. (Producers) (2006). Indian Country Diaries [Motion Picture]. USA: PBS.
• Loew, P. (Producer). Way of the Warrior [Motion Picture]. USA: Wisconsin Public Television.

*The creators of this website have not previewed all of the above videos and books, therefore it is recommended that you visit PBS.org or tolerance.org for a complete list of books and videos available.

Scholarly Journals
There are many scholarly journals that contain great information concerning healthcare disparities, cultural groups, and healthcare beliefs. Once you have access to these journals, common keywords or phrases are provided to guide your search and narrow your focus.

Journals:

• American Indian Library Association: has a significant list of journals:
  • http://www.ailanet.org/other/am_indian_journals.htm
• Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
• Journal of the National Medical Association
• Medical Care
• Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
• Health Affairs: Project Hope
• Journal of Transcultural Nursing

Keywords to Use When Searching:

• “Native American”
• “Indian”
• “American Indian”
• “Healthcare”
• “Multicultural healthcare”
• “Healthcare disparities”
• “Alternative medicine”
• “Native American medicine”
• “Native American” AND “healthcare"
• “Indian” AND “healthcare”
• “Native American” AND “access to healthcare:
• “Indian” AND “access to healthcare”