IN THIS ISSUE...
By Thomas E. Kottke, MD, MSPH Editor-in-Chief, MetroDoctors
Sharing Medicine Ways I was a second-year medical student in 1971. In an obstetrics Peacock (Anishinaabe Ojibwe) class the lecturer asserted that Minnesota had the world’s best describes how he co-founded Black birth outcomes. I raised my hand and asked how he could say Bears and Blueberries Publishing to that when the birth outcomes for Native peoples living in the produce the books that help Native Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis were considerably worse children develop the positive than even those on the reservations. His response? “Well, if you self-image fundamental to health don’t count those…” and well-being. Fifty years on, Dr. Mary Owen (Tlingit) and I have asked So, how can those of us who a group of Native authors to tell MetroDoctors readers how are not Native help? Certainly, Minnesota Native communities have organized health and neither by stepping in to take well-being programs in response to indifference, hostility, and control nor by disengaging. Rather, violence. Among other roles, Dr. Owen is a clinician, Direcit might be by asking, “How would you like me to help?” If tor of the Center of American Indian and Minority Health, the answer comes back, “Just step back and let us sort this out UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus, and President of the ourselves,” respect it. But always help when asked. Helping Association of American Indian Physicians. Her Colleague might mean advocating in St. Paul and Washington or in your Interview tells much more. For those seeking a retrospective of own city or county. Helping always means challenging the the physical and cultural violence Native people have endured systematic racism, false narratives, and biases that run deep in from first contact, Dr. Owen Minnesota society. recommends David Treuer’s, Before I close, I want to The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee thank Dr. Angela Erdrich for and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s, painting the cover art, and An Indigenous Peoples’ History I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank of the United States. Those Mangan Golden, Research seeking an autobiographiCoordinator, the Center of cal account of the American American Indian and Minority Indian Movement will want Health, UMN Medical School, to read The Thunder Before Duluth Campus, for her assisThe Bears Meet to Share Medicine the Storm, by the late Clyde tance in producing this issue of Sarah Agaton Howes, artist Bellecourt, and I would add MetroDoctors. Louise Erdrich, another internationally recognized Native Wait — we’re not done! Please head to the TCMS Blog author living and working in Minneapolis. Those wanting to page (metrodoctors.com/tcms-blog) to read an article by John review the health statistics of the Minnesota Native population Hunter (Winnebago, Ojibwe, Creek), co-founder and director should turn to the Minnesota Department of Health Center of Twin Cities Native Lacrosse, on how this Native-inspired for Health Statistics reports. sport, also known as “Creator’s Game” remains a tradition, but In the same year that I was a second-year medical student, differs from today’s games played in high schools. a young Native woman, Gloria, died of hepatitis in the Phillips Finally, I want to say, “Welcome!” to my long-term colneighborhood when she could not find a physician willing to league, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, and a new one, medical student Clare treat her. This event led to the organizing of the Indian Health Buntrock, as they join the MetroDoctors editorial board. Board (IHB). Its 50-year history and vision for the next 50 is described by Dr. Angela Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe). Best wishes, Knowing who we are, why we’re here, and where we came Tom from is critical for a positive sense of self. In his article, Thomas MetroDoctors
The Journal of the Twin Cities Medical Society
Spring 2022
3
