Storytelling and Healing

Storytelling and Healing

by 

The Navajo Sugar Monster

Long ago the Holy People predicted that a monster would take over the Navajos.

Our mothers and fathers would change…No longer were man and woman together.

One after another this monster ate away their faces.

It gnawed away Navajo identity….Everything turned from light to dark….Words ceased to exist.

The Holy People begin to cry.

The Navajo language meets its end…Mouths would soon close entirely.

X marked the spot….Over the eyes and mouths of the people.

The Navajo were not human anymore.

They were beings who craved only one thing

It was not water or food…Nor prayer or traditions…Nor love or family.

The Holy People were right.

Sugar is our monster.

A killer claiming Navajo lives…With a craving that could never be satisfied

Who are these monsters?

Mom? Dad?  Where are the elders? Where is my family?  Who will save us?

It’s going to claim the next generation if things don’t change…

We must stand and make a change…Stand up and fight against this monster

For you…For your family,

Your mother, Your father, Your children

For your Nation.”

by Chantelle Yazzie (A neo-traditional story published on Wellbound Storytellers.)

 

Native Peoples have higher rates of death by alcoholism (552%), diabetes (182%) and unintentional injuries (138%) than other Americans.  The story above is a neo-traditional story addressing the impact diabetes is having on the Navajo nation.  Neo-traditional stories are creations of today’s Native Americans; attempts at merging the old ways and addressing today’s problems.

Native American’s believe in the power of the story to heal.  Traditional healing stories are unique to particular nations and certain individuals, specifically elders and healers are the only ones who can tell these stories.

According to Teresa Lamsam, of Wellbound Storytellers, specific individuals have a responsibility for traditional healing stories. “Most of the stories that would be relevant [to healing] are considered to have healing within the telling of them — which is what creates the responsibility for the person who carries the story [the healer].  The person who receives the story [patient] also has responsibility.  Usually, a ceremony must accompany the story.”

Do you have a story to share about your experience with diabetes?  Can you create a healing story?

Source: Medivizor

Recent Posts

Celebrating the Heartbeat of Healthcare: A Tribute to Nurses
As the calendar turns towards May, a special week shines a spotlight on the very heart and soul of healthcare: our Nurses. National Nurses Week, celebrated each year from May 6th to May 12th, is not...
Read More
Beyond Bedside Manner: Cultivating True Empathy in Nursing Practice
In the whirlwind of healthcare settings, where minutes can feel like hours and emotions run high, it's easy to fall into the trap of equating politeness with genuine care. While saying "please" and...
Read More
Real Steps to Promote Diversity in Nurse Leadership
Diversity in Nursing leadership is essential for delivering equitable, culturally competent care and fostering innovation within healthcare systems. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly...
Read More

Subscribe to Email Our Newsletter

Education_Award_Square