Cancer Stories from the Woodland Cree : Exploring perceptions of cancer, health and illness in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada

ISBN-13: 9783639115406 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 116 str.

Rose Roberts

Opis

The semi-isolated conditions of Northern Saskatchewanprovide challenges for both health care workers andpatients receiving cancer care. Since limitedinformation exists on the way cancer is perceived andexperienced, the views of cancer, health and illnessamong the Woodland Cree were explored. Perceptions ofcancer, health and illness were elicited through 18personal interviews and two group interviews fromparticipants. The concepts of health and illnessamong the Woodland Cree show that there is a complexintertwining of Western and traditional beliefsystems. Knowledge systems of the Woodland Creeinclude the seminal role Elders have within thecommunities as teachers and knowledge keepers. Canceras experienced by the Woodland Cree reflects thephysical, emotional, intellectual and spiritualaspects of having cancer or having a family memberwith cancer, including the challenges of receivingtimely diagnoses and cancer care in isolated northerncommunities. Furthermore, the Woodland Cree have thecapacity to pick the best from both the Western andtraditional worlds.

O autorze

Dr. Rose Roberts is a Woodland Cree woman, originally from
Stanley Mission,Saskatchewan. Dr. Roberts holds a Bachelor of
Nursing degree, a Masters degree and a doctoral degree in
Community Health and Epidemiology from the University of
Saskatchewan.