Native People's Circle of Hope

II. NPCOH Activities

NPCOH activities focus on Native cancer survivors and their supporters. A long standing project is the “Medicine-Bag” project wherein NPCOH gifts to newly diagnosed cancer survivors, regardless of type of cancer or ethnic background those items that a cancer survivor might need during their treatment. A few of the items gifted are a pill container, water bottle, hat, lap quilt, cancer books, slippers, beaded “Medicine-Bag” necklace, and other similar donated items. This project enlists the help of many volunteers to collect the products, make the quilts and bead the necklaces. The volunteers are encouraged during the course of the activity to adopt healthy behaviors that can lower their risk for a cancer diagnosis.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for American Indians over the age of 45 and the leading cause of death for Alaska Natives. Although the incidence (the number of people who actually get cancer) is relatively low, death from cancer is high because Natives are generally diagnosed in the later stages of their disease.

So, for many Natives cancer is seen as a death sentence. This does not have to be so. Cancer treatment is better than it once was. People are starting to hear the message that “early detection” is the key to surviving a cancer diagnosis. But for the survivor, their family members or caretakers the fight to defeat the disease can be a lonely, scary, traumatic experience. NPCOH’s mission is to provide hope, an improvement of communication, support, education and advocacy for the cancer survivor. We want to help the Native cancer survivor and their supporters understand that they are not alone. We are here to help.

Helping can be extremely simple, i.e. just listening to a person express their fears or extremely complex, i.e., gaining the trust of tribal governments to allow the opening of their constituents medical records for research purposes. NPCOH can devote their resources to training counselors who help the survivors “navigate” the health care system. NPCOH can facilitate dialogue among tribal, state, federal or private organizations so all Native peoples have access to quality cancer treatment services.

IV. Goals and Objectives

To provide an advocate for AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors.
1. To establish trained advocates at all Indian Health Clinics, tribally operated clinics, private and public hospitals for each newly diagnosed AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors. The purpose of this advocate is to serve as a guide to the cancer survivors, his/her family, caretakers and friends helping the parties to understand what lies ahead for the cancer survivor.
2. To provide to the AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors goods and services to aide them in their treatment.
To develop a national resource data bank for AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors.
1. To provide a resource or data bank for the use of AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors, his/her family, caretakers and friends so they can self educate on the type of cancer afflicting the survivor, the possible treatments and side effects, and can learn what educational resources are available to them.
2. To provide a data bank of financial sources available to them to aide in the treatment of the cancer survivor.
To develop AI/AN/HN/IP cancer support groups .
1. To provide training to individuals interested in starting cancer support groups in their communities.
2. To assist cancer support groups in locating funding for their cancer support groups.
3. To assist cancer support groups in promoting the activities of the organization.
To develop a Speaker’s Bureau for Public and Private Medical Providers.
1. To identify AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors who are available to speak to interested groups.
2. To develop a “Biography” for each member of the Speaker’s Bureau.
3. To train each member of the Speaker’s Bureau in the techniques of making a good presentation.
4. To negotiate with Public or Private Medical providers or other interested organizations the contractual requirements for a presentation.
5. To make the presentation as contracted.
To educate the tribal governments, tribal health facilities or other organizations provided medical services to AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors of the needs of the survivors, their families and caretakers.
1. To serve as a clearinghouse for all cancer research involving AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors, their families, caretakers and friends.
2. To disseminate the research results to tribal governments, tribal health facilities or other organizations provided medical services to AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors.
To promote early detection and routine physical exams, mammogram's and pap smears.
1. To secure the funding for and operation of a mobile mammogram unit that will be available to all AI/AN/HN/IP communities.
2. To train AI/AN/HN/IP providers in the operation of a mobile mammogram unit.
3. By using the birth dates of people contacted either in presentations made or through cancer support groups, develop a reminder system so that AI/AN/HN/IP persons are reminded yearly to secure their annual physical examinations. This system will also include a follow-up feature to assure hat the AI/AN/HN/IP person has indeed had the examination.
To ensue the highest level of palliative care for AI/AN/HN/IP cancer patients whose cancer diagnosis is terminal.
1. To train AI/AN/HN/IP persons in hospice care.
2. To recognize and support traditional healing's and medicines in the treatment of dying AI/AN/HN/IP patients.
3. To promote the rights of the dying patients to seek comfort from friends and family, to decide what medical comfort care they desire, and to aid them in whatever lawful way possible at the end of the patient’s life.
4. To provide grief counseling to the caretakers, family and friends of the terminally ill AI/AN/HN/IP patient. To provide an advocate for AI/AN/HN/IP cancer survivors.