Health Issues and the Pala Indian Reservation, 1903-20 JOELR.HYER

Abstract. Joel R, Hyer investigateshealth conditions on one Indian reservation in Southern California during the first two decades of the twentieth century. Hyer contends that unsanitary conditions on the Pala Reservation actually facilitated the s read of diseases among local CupeAo, Luisefio, and Kumeyaay Indians. He a so describes how the United States federal overnment employed doctors, field matrons, and others to promote good hea th and combat disease among Indians at Pala. The author asserts that, despite their altrustic intentions, some of these governmentworkers attempted to discourage local indigenouspeoples from consultingtheir shamans for medical attention-Native healers whose extensive knowledge of roots and herbs had cured many form of illness for years. In addition, the teacher at the redrvation's day school sought to prevent the spread of disease among her Indian pupils by exposing them to American modes of health care. Furthermore, Hyer maintains that one national health program, the "Save the Babies" cgmpaign, was successful on the Pala Reservation because Indian mothers believed in it and followed specific guidelines to lower mortality rates among their own children. Throughout his essay, the author addresses the pressures of assimilation and acculturation that were so accute at this time in the United States. Hper concludes by suggesting that many of his findings reflect broader health trends on Indian reservations throughout the United States during this period.

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Rttszlrnd. Joel R. Hyer traite des conditions de santd sur une rdserve indieme de la Califomie du sud durant les deux premi2res dkennies du Me siecle. Hyer soutient que l'btat d'insalubritb de la rrSserve Pala a faciliM la propagation de maladies panni les populations Cu eno, Luiseno and Kumeyaay. I1 explique aussi comment le gouvernement eddral des hats-unis a us4 des mac cins, des meires de famille et d'autres personnes pour promouvoir la santd et combattre la maladie chez les autochtones de Pala. L'auteur entend montrer que, en ddpit de leurs intentions altruistes, certains des employbs gouvernementaux ont cherchb B dkourager la population locale de consulter ses sha~ mddicales -des therapeutes autochtonesdont la connaissance mans B d e fins approfondie des racines et des herbes avait permis de gu6rir diverses formes de maladies d ~ u ide s longues am&. De plus, Hyer pense qu'un programme na-

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JoelHyer,Visiting Assistant Pmksor,CaliforniaStateUnivemity at San Marcos. CBMWBCHM / Volume 18:2001 / p. 67-84

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JOEL R. HYER

tional de sante, la campagne