The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Research conducted by The University of Michigan-Dearborn Pluralism Project.

History and Description

The Native American Health Center was founded in 1987. After its building at Michigan and Livernois, in the city of Detroit, burned, the Archdiocese of Detroit donated a structure that had formerly been a Roman Catholic church to the group. The center is located in a working class neighborhood in southwest Detroit, an area that has a large population from Latin America, along with whites and blacks. Homes are of older construction and range from poor to good condition. Along Michigan Avenue are a variety of commercial establishments, along with some boarded-up stores.

The center still has all of the features of the church: stained glass windows, the cross on the top of the building, and a rectory. The altar and pulpit in the former worship area have been removed to make an open area with tables and seats. At the entrance to the hall is a large ceramic turtle set in the floor, representing the Turtle clan. Paintings of animals and birds along with posters with Native American spiritual sayings line the walls. Since Native Americans do not have a specific building for religious activities, many of their spiritual and traditional ceremonies are held here. Some of the ceremonies and traditions that take place here include: sweat lodges, talking circles, pipe-teaching ceremonies, grandfather teachings, drumming and dancing.

Services

American Indian Health and Family Services was designed to meet the spiritual, mental, and physical health needs of Native Americans. Not only does the center offer traditional medicine and spiritual advice, there are physicians, dentists, psychologists, and nurses who staff a substance-abuse and mental-health clinic, drug prevention services, and an AIDS/HIV education program. AA meetings held each week. There are family and spiritual consultations held at least once a month and men's and women's talking circles once a week. In addition, there are group therapy sessions and spiritual education presentations. Referrals to different agencies are made if more help is needed. Books and pamphlets are available on a wide variety of topics, including health and wellness, specific diseases, pregnancy, child rearing, and a large number of works on Native American culture and history. In order to help individuals economically, referrals are made to Michigan Indian Employment Training Services.

Activities

Social functions occur during the week, and every Wednesday is social night. There is drumming and dancing on the first Wednesday of the month. The center also sponsors functions where arts and crafts are displayed and sold. There are annual canoe trips, summer and winter camps for youth, and special services such as the Veterans Night Ceremony. On many occasions, elders and guests are invited to teach songs, prayers, dancing, and drumming. English is the most commonly heard Language at the center, however Ojibwa is also heard and taught. The basement of the building is currently undergoing renovation and will include a kitchen and dining area

Interfaith

In the Fall 2000, for the first time, Native Americans, including some associated with the Native American Health Center, participated in metropolitan Detroit's Interfaith Thanksgiving service, held at Temple Shir Shalom, in conjunction with Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, Sikhs, and Jews. Native American spirituality was a primary feature of the gathering, which focused on the environment. Increased interfaith activity will undoubtedly occur in the future.

Affiliations

Most Native American centers are separate and serve their own clientele, and approximately 80 people are formally affiliated with this one. Nevertheless, all of them serve Native Americans and will refer people to other centers if necessary. The oldest off-reservation center in the area (and the United States) is the North American Indian Association, located in northwest Detroit.