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Cancer Causes Grief, Hardship

SICANGU SCRIBE



 

 

The majority of our Lakota Tiospaye have had an experience with cancer. We’ve lost precious family members to this devastating disease. Many of our people have survived and are currently in remission. Today we all know of someone who is fighting a courageous personal battle to overcome this disease.

I have personally lost several relatives to cancer. I’ve also lost several of my good friends to this disease. Many of us wondered why some people can recover and go on with their lives, while others don’t. It’s confusing for those of us who have been affected.

Sometimes cancer strikes people when they are in their prime of life. For instance, you might find out what you may have thought was a minor health problem is actually cancer when the doctor comes in that little room with your test results. The word cancer summons fear for most of us.

Tribal officials have long puzzled over why the cancer rates on our reservations have skyrocketed in the past 25 years. Consequently, part of wellness has to do with how we take care of ourselves. Healthy eating, exercise, relieving stress, drinking enough water and getting proper rest are things we all must do to be well.

But even when people take care of themselves, some are still diagnosed with cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This disease has taken a lot of our people. Rosebud has lost both women and men to breast cancer.

Cancer patients generally must undergo surgery, chemotherapy or both. Chemotherapy treatments require patients to travel to an off-reservation facility. In an area known as one of the poorest in this country, cancer creates a financial hardship. For instance, Sioux Falls is over 250 miles away, a drive that takes 3 or 4 hours one way. Meals, gas and lodging are not cheap.

When we are young, we often take our good health for granted. Many of us engage in unhealthy behavior, increasing our chances for developing cancer or diabetes. The abundance of junk food sold nowadays is a big contributor to many diseases our people suffer from. Also, we tend to spend our youth engaging in heavy alcohol drinking, smoking cigarettes and using dangerous drugs. Some people will work to get healthy later in life, while others don’t seem to care about being well.

Health is a precious gift. You won’t have a full life if you don’t have your health. A central prayer in Lakota ceremony is for Wicozani (good health). Prayers for good health are also made daily by Lakota people. Prayers are wonderful, but we also have to do our part to have a healthy life.

I smoked cigarettes for most of my adult life. I started when I was in my teens and was soon smoking nearly a pack a day. When my Takoja came into this world, I wanted to set a good example for them. As an Unci, I had to be a role model. That meant I had to give up smoking, drinking and drugs. Our Takoja need adult role models who live healthy lives.

Taking care of yourself will set an example for our Takoja to want to do the same. Many of us pray for the day when cancer is eradicated from humanity. We pray on a daily basis for everyone to have Wicozani in their lives. We also pray for the many cancer patients living on our reservations to have strength to undergo treatment. We pray for healing for all who are afflicted with a disease.

For all of our Lakota and other Indigenous relatives who are fighting cancer or another terminal illness, please know we are praying for you to have Wicozani.

Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and has been a journalist since 2001. She can be reached through email editor@lakotacountrytimes.com.

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