I DID YOU KNOW? There are more than 325 federally recognized Native American/Alaskan Native tribes. Many of them share similar health beliefs and practices. For many, health is a reflection of living in harmony with nature, and illness occurs when there is disharmony. They believe that they should treat the earth and themselves with respect, and failure to do so creates an imbalance with nature and they are likely to become ill. Illness may be seen as a price they pay for past or future events. The diagnosis and treatment for such illnesses are provided by medicine men who perform various ceremonies to purify the individual. Nurses need to know that not all Native Americans and Alaskan Natives share these health beliefs and practices because differences occur as a result of education, employment, and assimilation with the dominant culture.