Contribution to Book
Death and Dying in American Indian Cultures
Death across Cultures: Death and Dying in Non-Western Cultures
(2019)
Abstract
The experience of loss and death on traditions, family, language, culture, trust, hope, and life itself has been so familiar for American Indian populations that it has characterized these groups throughout recent centuries. Yet in the midst of this, American Indians have coped and are now forming new characterizations marked by the experience of restoration and rebirth. This chapter discusses the role of historical events in the development of the traumatic nature of death often experienced in the present for American Indians. The author reviews literature related to bereavement rituals, grieving, spirituality, and meaning of death for all groups in this population and presents (a) highlights of a past study conducted with individuals in the Muscogee Creek tribe (see Walker, 2008; Walker, 2009; Walker & Balk, 2007; Walker & Thompson, 2009) and (b) preliminary data from interviews recently conducted with individuals associated with the Lakota Tribe. Given the vast diversity within the individuals, families, and circumstances around death experienced by the 573 federally recognized tribes, we must recognize that any generalizations made should be done with caution. The chapter addresses briefly the interplay of rituals and beliefs with historical trauma and concludes with what death means for some American Indians.
Keywords
- American Indian,
- Native American,
- death,
- dying,
- bereavement,
- grief,
- spirituality,
- meaning of death
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring 2019
Editor
Selin, H., & Rakoff, R. M.
Publisher
Springer
Series
Death Across Cultures
ISBN
978-3-030-18825-2
Citation Information
Andrea C Walker. "Death and Dying in American Indian Cultures" Cham, SwitzerlandDeath across Cultures: Death and Dying in Non-Western Cultures (2019) p. 335 - 349 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/andrea-walker/30/