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Native American Adult Lifespan Perspectives: Where Power Moves

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Handbook of Race and Development in Mental Health

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Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to present information summarizing research findings on strengths and challenges to mental health in Native adult populations. This will be accomplished by offering a comprehensive overview and understanding of this population through discussion of (a) basic demographic information, (b) strengths that contribute to the resilience of Native adults, (c) significant challenges Native adults face in maintaining mental health, and finally (d) a discussion linking strengths and challenges at the level of research and/or policy in order to better understand how the strengths and resilience of Native adults can be used for the betterment of this population.

“Ah, I see my reflection,” I responded proudly. “That’s good,” he replied confidently. “What you see is your whole life ahead of you. Know that the Great One has a plan for you to be the keeper of everything you see with your eyes, ’cause every living thing is your brother and sister.” “Even the rocks?” I questioned. “Yes, even the rocks,” he answered, “because they have elements of Mother Earth and Father Sky, just as we do.”

“Remember to give thanks every day for all things that make up the Universe,” said my Grandfather. “Always remember to walk the path of Good Medicine and see the good reflected in everything that occurs in life. Life is a lesson, and you must learn the lesson well to see your true reflection in the water.”

J. T. Garrett, Eastern Band of Cherokee (in Garrett 1996b, p. 12)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Collaborative Support and Intervention, 237 Education Center Annex, University of West Georgia, 30118, Carrollton, GA, USA

    Michael Tlanusta Garrett

  2. N356 Lindquist Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Tarrell Awe Agahe Portman

  3. School of Psychology & Counseling, Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, CRB228, 23464-9800, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Cyrus Williams

  4. Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, MSC 3 CEP, New Mexico State University, 88003, Las Cruces, NM, USA

    Lisa Grayshield

  5. School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, 1206 Norman Hall, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Edil Torres Rivera

  6. Department of Collaborative Support and Intervention, Education Center Annex, University of West Georgia, 30118, Carrollton, GA, USA

    Mark Parrish

Authors
  1. Michael Tlanusta Garrett
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  2. Tarrell Awe Agahe Portman
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  3. Cyrus Williams
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  4. Lisa Grayshield
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  5. Edil Torres Rivera
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  6. Mark Parrish
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Tlanusta Garrett .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Church St. 530, Ann Arbor, 48109, Michigan, USA

    Edward C. Chang

  2. , Department of Psychology, Indiana University Kokomo, 2300 S. Washington St., Kokomo, 46904, Indiana, USA

    Christina A. Downey

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Tlanusta Garrett, M., Agahe Portman, T., Williams, C., Grayshield, L., Torres Rivera, E., Parrish, M. (2012). Native American Adult Lifespan Perspectives: Where Power Moves. In: Chang, E., Downey, C. (eds) Handbook of Race and Development in Mental Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0424-8_7

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