Description
This workshop describes the traditional use of sacred psychedelic medicines within Indigenous communities and discusses the challenges that arise with the medicalization of psychedelics and PAT. Dr. Kelliher will discuss the responsibilities of health care providers working in this space and the ways in which they can honor and learn from centuries of Indigenous practice wisdom and minimize the potential harms to these communities from cultural appropriation.
Instructor
Dr. Kelliher is a physician, researcher, scholar, educator, leader, traditional healer, and advocate for planetary health. She is the first and only Medical Doctor trained as an Alaska Native healer and is enrolled in her Tribe, the Nome Eskimo Community. Dr. Kelliher holds a co-appointment at the Center for Indigenous Health and the School of Nursing, where she focuses on decolonizing and Indigenizing research and curricula. She is double board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative and Holistic Medicine and has experience providing drug and alcohol treatment in both Arizona and Alaska.
Her research portfolio includes studies on behavior and addiction, including a recent NIDA-funded project in the Great Plains that explores a Tribally derived research agenda prioritizing cultural strengths to address health disparities. Dr. Kelliher’s clinical experience in full-spectrum family medicine spans Tribal, Urban, Indian Health Service, and private practice settings. She established the American Indian Collaborative Rural Research Network (AICoRN) at the University of North Dakota, where she continues to mentor students as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Indigenous Health.
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of American Indian Physicians and was awarded Alumnus of the Year in 2022 by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Kelliher contributes to the World Health Organization by serving on the Indigenous Determinants of Health workgroup. Although she has a background in neuroscience, she considers it an honor to have studied with practitioners of Global Healing Traditions since the age of four. This includes her Alaska Native heritage as a Denaa or Koyukon Athabascan healer, alongside practices in acupuncture, reflexology, acupressure, healing touch, herbalism, and osteopathy. Her work builds upon the foundations laid by those who have come before her, striving toward a future where health is recognized as a fundamental human right.
Learning Objectives
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Provide at least two specific examples of sacred psychedelic medicines and describe their traditional uses and cultural significance in Indigenous communities during group discussions.
- Identify and discuss at least three challenges or ethical issues related to the medicalization of psychedelics and cultural appropriation.
- List of at least two key responsibilities of healthcare providers and share their insights in small group discussions.
- Describe practical strategies to minimize potential harms to Indigenous communities and respectfully incorporate traditional knowledge into professional practices.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Anja Loizaga-Velder, Cecile Giovannetti, Ricardo Campoy Gomez, Teresa Eduwiges Castillo Valenzuela, Gloria Rachel Ochoa Jaime, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Olivia Marcus & Brian Rush (2023) Therapeutic Effects of Ceremonial Ayahuasca Use for Methamphetamine Use Disorders and Other Mental Health Challenges: Case Studies in an Indigenous Community in Sonora, Mexico, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 55:5, 549-557, DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2255182
Pablo Sabucedo (2017) The Psychological Flexibility Model from a cultural perspective: an interpretative analysis of two Native American healing rituals, International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 10:4, 367-375, DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2017.1323935
Peter N. Jones (2005) The American Indian Church and its sacramental use of peyote: A review for professionals in the mental-health arena, Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 8:4, 277-290, DOI: 10.1080/13674670412331304348
Muscat, S.-A.; Wright, G.D.; Bergeron, K.; Morin, K.W.; Crouch, C.R.; Hartelius, G. Ketamine-Assisted and Culturally Attuned Trauma Informed Psychotherapy as Adjunct to Traditional Indigenous Healing: Effecting Cultural Collaboration in Canadian Mental Health Care. Behav. Sci. 2021, 11, 118. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/bs11090118
Williams, M. T., Davis, A. K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N. D., Colon Grigas, P., Sinnott, S., & Haeny, A. M. (2021). People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 28(3), 215–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2020.1854688
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
ADA Accommodations
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
