Native American Heritage Month: A Reflection on My Choctaw Roots

By April Mcgehee

Patient Coordinator, AccessNurse

At TeamHealth, recognizing Native American Heritage Month is an important way to honor the contributions, cultures, and traditions of Native American communities. This allows us the opportunity to enrich our understanding, respect, and appreciation for those diverse histories which align with our commitment to inclusivity and community-centered care.

We recently invited April Mcgehee, Patient Coordinator at AccessNurse, to reflect on her Choctaw heritage and its influence in her life. In this piece, April shares about her roots, the work she does in her community and how that shapes her perspective, commitment, and compassion in caring for others.

Tell us about your Native American roots

Halito! Chim achukma (Hello, How are you?)? I am honored to speak about National Native American Heritage Month. To me, this month is a celebration of not only my own Choctaw heritage but of other tribes as well. It's a time to recognize the strength and fortitude of those whose ancestors faced immense challenges, including pressures to assimilate, which for too many led to the loss of cultural identities and customs.

This difficult part of history has taught me to appreciate the privilege of attending local festivals, relearning our language, and to be thankful to have the honor to grow my hair long like my ancestors. My great-grandmother taught me about my culture when I was a young child. I treasure favorite memories of my grandmother braiding my hair while telling me stories about the great panther, the raccoon, and the snake. The rattlesnake diamond pattern is on our traditional clothing as a symbol of pride and respect to nature and all life that exists within it.

Why is it important to recognize Native American Heritage Month?

Education and awareness are so important in addressing existing challenges that include a lack of access to clean water and the restoration of wildlife that returns our hunting lands and once thriving ecosystems and cultural practices. During Native American Heritage Month, it's important to reflect on the ongoing journey of healing and justice for Indigenous communities through initiatives that address the legacy of Indian Residential Schools, the missing, and lives tragically lost.

As communities come together to reclaim cultural knowledge, language, and ancestral lands, there is hope in the dedication of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to bring awareness, support healing, and ensure that these stories are told with the dignity they deserve. Sharing stories of historical and ongoing struggles raise awareness and foster a more informed and compassionate future. Educating our children and keeping our traditions alive has been monumental. So too has re-learning our dances, our language, and customs to preserve our rich heritage for current and future generations.

How do you work to help preserve your heritage and traditions?

I have worked within the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for several years to help preserve, document and record items that were found in archaeological digs, mainly at the Carson Mound area outside of Clarksdale. Doing so has returned items home to their tribes. Specific to my ancestors, one of our most recent victories is having our Mother mound, Nanih Waiya, returned to us in 2008.

Since my great-grandmother was the last remaining native speaker in our family, one of my cousins and I are currently relearning our native language so that we can teach our children and grandchildren not only to honor our ancestors but to keep our languages alive. I also love ishtaboli (stickball) and rarely miss the World Finals. I take pride in my ancestry and a future marked by acceptance and equity.

How have your roots shaped your perspective, commitment, and compassion in caring for others?

My upbringing and things that I personally experienced have allowed for self-growth and taught me to value the experience of others. As I grew older, I took that into every aspect of my life, so I definitely carry that into my work as a patient coordinator. I know that the frustrations that some callers may have, aren't about me. I remember that they are experiencing things in their lives that I know nothing about, so I serve them with empathy and respect. I want to genuinely help people, so I do my best to remember that in every conversation I have with a patient, no matter the circumstance.

Would you like to share any final closing thoughts?

I am thankful for the diversity within TeamHealth. I have felt very welcomed and in my 20 months here have met some very wonderful people who I hold dear to my heart. Thank you for this opportunity to share my culture!

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