This DVD includes the 30 minute documentary and three short special feature videos, as well as closed captioning.
American Indians have the highest percentage of any one race of people to volunteer for US military service since before the Civil War. However, their cultural traditions for health and wellness were not recognized or allowed in the military until the last few years. This void left many of our veterans feeling out of touch and out of balance, torn between the rigidity of Western customs and medical practices and the traditional forms of medicine and prayer with which they were raised.
Throughout our interviews with American Indian veterans, the reoccurring theme of veterans' struggle with their cultural identity and its negative repercussions on their health and well-being promoted Trickster Art Gallery to take action and share their stories.
Trickster Art Gallery heard our veterans' voices about this widespread need for healing, and decided to bring the American Indian veteran community together to confront these issues in a positive and constructive way through a National Gathering of American Indian Veterans.