Epidemiologic Transition Among a Native American Community in Kansas During the 20Th Century

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Epidemiologic Transition Among a Native American Community in Kansas During the 20Th Century EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRANSITION AMONG A NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN KANSAS DURING THE 20TH CENTURY By ©2014 Steve M. Corbett Submitted to the graduate degree program in Anthropology and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Sandra J. Gray Anthropology ________________________________ Dr. Jeanne Drisko Integrative Medicine ________________________________ Dr. Kelly Kindscher Environmental Studies ________________________________ Dr. James H. Mielke Anthropology ________________________________ Dr. Devon A. Mihesuah Humanities and Western Civilization ________________________________ Dr. Donald D. Stull Anthropology Date Defended: April 11th, 2014 The Dissertation Committee for Steve M. Corbett certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRANSITION AMONG A NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN KANSAS DURING THE 20TH CENTURY ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Sandra J. Gray Date approved: April 21st, 2014 ii EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRANSITION AMONG A NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN KANSAS DURING THE 20TH CENTURY Abstract This dissertation is an examination of the mortality patterns of Native Americans during the 20th century, particularly the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation and surrounding communities in Kansas. Shifts in mortality patterns are the focus of epidemiologic transition theory, which describes the patterns as models that are specific to populations and due to a number of disease determinants. This examination describes the epidemiologic transition among Native Americans generally and the Prairie Band Potawatomi community specifically, and compares that pattern to the classical (Western) model that characterizes the United States. The mortality pattern of Native Americans featured high rates of infectious diseases during the first half of the 20th century, followed by a dramatic rise in chronic diseases during the second half of the century. Subsequent high rates of illnesses related to metabolic disorders led to the development of hypotheses to account for the rise of these conditions during the modern era. The thrifty gene hypothesis attempts to explain obesity-related illnesses as a genetic maladaptation to a modern lifestyle. The New World syndrome concept applies the thrifty gene hypothesis to indigenous American populations in particular. Both ideas have been prominent explanations for the current epidemiology of Native Americans. The epidemiologic transition among the Prairie Band Potawatomi community and other Native Americans differs markedly from that experienced by the general U.S. population in being delayed and featuring higher death rates, a dramatic increase in certain chronic diseases, and a high rate of deaths due to accidents. The Prairie Band community differed from other iii Native American groups in having higher death rates due to heart disease and cancer and lower death rates due to suicides and homicides. The results of this analysis call into question the preeminence of New World syndrome and “thrifty genes” as the primary causes of high rates of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions, and suggest research into other areas that may better account for the unique disease patterns among Native Americans. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes result from a mosaic of causal factors, which now include epigenetic factors that provide a greater understanding of environmental causes and intergenerational trauma. iv Acknowledgements There are a number of folks to whom I am indebted for helping me see this project through to completion. Acknowledgement of these individuals is not presented lightly, I greatly appreciate the support I have received from a number of individuals. First of all I would like to acknowledge the members of my committee, especially Dr. Sandra Gray for her mentorship, advocacy, and for allowing me to pursue my interests in the course of completing this dissertation. I would like to thank Dr. Jim Mielke and Dr. Don Stull for resources and helpful comments on my field statements. In addition I am thankful to Dr. Jeanne Drisko, Dr. Kelly Kindscher, and Dr, Devon Mihesuah for providing me with financial support and collaboration opportunities. Of course I thank all of my committee members for agreeing to serve, reading my dissertation, and providing helpful feedback. Additionally I want to thank Dr. Linda Redford for initiating the work with the Prairie Band Potawatomi and Kickapoo tribes. And thanks to Paula Smith for her help in preparing me for the defense. During the course of this project I worked with a number of people from the Prairie Band Potawatomi community and clinic. There are so many good people on the reservation that I worked with over the years. In particular I want to acknowledge Sebe Masquat, Roy Spoonhunter, Richard Pruiksma, and Randy Mitchell for their valuable work on the Diabetes Program, and Sogi Leclere, John Holtz, Tim Mendez, Mina Neubarger, Sarah Price, Angela Emert, Mary Shopteese, Dawn Matchie, Jeanette Little Sun, Jenell Kern, Laura Thackery, and Nancy Stegeman for their assistance to the grant programs at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Health Center. I want to acknowledge the Diabetes Prevention Program participants, as well as community members and others involved with the Reclaiming a Health Past, Honoring the Gift of Heart Health, and Working Together for Balance programs. I would also like to thank the v staff and students of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Language and Cultural Department for allowing me to participate and accepting me as a full part of the program. I especially want to acknowledge Mike “Ne-se-ka” Jensen and Jim “Na-nim-nuk-shkuk” Mckinney as friends of mine, both of whom I miss greatly and appreciate having the opportunity to know. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family for their support and encouragement during this process. I especially want to thank Lisa Spangler, and my mother, Sondra Kemberling, for their support during this long process. I also want to thank my grandparents, Jean and ‘Okie’ Snedeger, for providing me with general guidance on how to live one’s life. vi Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xi List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 The Problem ................................................................................................................................ 1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 2 Dissertation Overview ................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 1 References Cited ........................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2: The Prairie Band Potawatomi Community ................................................................... 9 Potawatomi History .................................................................................................................... 9 Origins of the Prairie Band Potawatomi ................................................................................... 19 Fighting to Maintain Tribal Integrity ........................................................................................ 28 Self-Determination .................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 2 References Cited ...................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3: Epidemiologic Transition ............................................................................................ 42 The Age of Pestilence and Famine ........................................................................................... 46 The Age of Receding Pandemics .............................................................................................. 47 The Age of Degenerative and Man-Made Diseases ................................................................. 49 Causes of Disease Transition .................................................................................................... 52 Living Standards and Nutritional Intake ............................................................................... 53 Public Health and Medical Services ..................................................................................... 55 Personal and Household Hygiene ......................................................................................... 58 Immunization ........................................................................................................................ 60 Changes in Disease Virulence............................................................................................... 61 Increase in Chronic Disease .................................................................................................. 62 Variation in the Epidemiologic Transition ............................................................................... 63 Socioeconomic Differences .................................................................................................
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