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Guest Lecture - Lynne T. Bemis and Linda Burhansstipanov

Sarah Kintner

Lynne Bemis and Linda B, Native American Cancer Research, from the University of Minnesota spoke about how they present the topics of cancer to the various native American groups they serve. They seek to energize people during their talks to get them moving their blood when people become bored.

The class participated in several of their techniques used during their discussions on cancer including: That’s Me, Warrior-Princess-Bear and an activity required the participants to engage the help of a group such as canoeing, looking for a horse.

Lynne discussed what makes us more creative and it requires working with someone you trust. Taking walks to get in fitness and talk think through a problem. Carry a pencil and paper pad. One needs to be in balance since working when angry or frustrated makes work difficult.

When teaching, focus on the learner not the self. Ask what can be done hands on and have no fear in trying things. Avoid anything that may be received as distasteful or disrespectful. Some idea bomb, just try something else or revise the original idea. Best to do an activity to get people involved.

Funding can be obtained from many of the SBIR or STTR offering at various Federal agencies. Phase 1 is the hardest hurdle to overcome of which only 17% of those proposals put forth are accepted and funded with $100k. Phase 2 are usually funded about 100% after a successful Phase 1. Obtaining information using the Freedom Of Information avenue (FOI) may take 3 months or more. Developing business plans appears to be the limiting factor in an application to these agencies.

Things that make people more creative:

  1. Are there locations that let me be more creative (personal to the unique person.)
  2. Find what times of day are more creative.
  3. Activities – visualization give answers
  4. Coworkers and colleagues may help get answers

Three questions not asked

  1. Are there factors in the native children such as contaminations in the native lands that seem to promote cancer?
  2. What traditional methods have been successfully been used to treat cancer such as Shamans and other healer.
  3. How much interference does the Federal government dish out if you receive their funding?

Future work:

  1. Can Native American cultures remember if cancer was present in their past and find out if an event or activity started to cause cancer in their groups?
  2. Can other traditional tribes in other countries share their methods for working with cancer and other chronic diseases?
  3. Since the present treatment methods are primarily toxic to the body and result in a survival rate overall of around 68%, how does the Native American groups plan to prevent the cancer in the future?