The Barrier of Fear: An Ethnographic Interview About Native American Health Disparities

Interview Jane Doe is a 57-year-old member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation, living in Montana. Native Americans are a significant entity in Montana, a state that otherwise lacks much in the way of ethnic diversity. Having grown up in Montana myself, I thought it might be interesting to learn about the health and health practices of the Blackfeet. Though I had never met Ms Doe before our interview, I knew of her background through some of her coworkers. As I understood it before contacting her, she is very involved in the traditional practices of her people, perhaps even acting as the keeper of the “medicine bundle.” She agreed to meet with me at her office on December 21, 2004. Upon first meeting Ms Doe, her dark features, braided black hair, jewelry, and distinctive vocal intonation gave me the impression that she embraces her Blackfeet ancestry. She spoke very softly, but eloquently and with purpose. I learned that she had been born in a small town in the northern part of Montana along the Rocky Mountain front at the heart of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. From a working-class family, Ms Doe has four siblings: three sisters and a brother. Ms Doe’s husband is from a large family in the same community. During her childhood, people were punished for speaking their native language, so she spoke English in and out of her home. When she was in middle school, her family moved to northern California as part of a program designed to relocate and assimilate Native Americans into other parts of society. She eventually attended UC Berkeley earning a degree in Social Work. She then returned home, married and raised three daughters and five sons. Two years prior to our interview, Ms Doe moved to a larger city and became employed full-time as a social worker. Ms Doe and her husband, aged 60 years, own their own home and several of their children live nearby. They have a large extended family, and support structure, within a three-hour drive. Ms Doe and her husband are both fluent in the Blackfeet language, though their children are not; therefore they speak English at home and on the telephone. Ms Doe told me that she has had a television in her home for as long as she can remember, though she personally dislikes it. She would prefer to get her news and information from National Public Radio, and the local newspaper, which is delivered daily.