University of Virginia Library

Getting to Know Sioux

Sometimes it takes a little
longer to get close to Sioux
patients. For one thing, the
children are often brought in
by a relative other than the
parents. When the loss of a
day's work can make a really
basic difference in how a
whole family will live for the
next month, parents can't afford
to take time off. So the
child comes with an aunt, an
uncle or a grandparent who
doesn't know the details of his
case or how he is progressing,
and we need to take a little
extra time to establish bonds
with these youngsters. Once
they sense that you're trying
to help them they open up.
They respond.

The Sioux are a proud, reserved
people. Some of them
speak only Dakotah or Dakotah
and it takes time to get
things across through an interpreter.
But when you come
back the following year and
see what progress a patient
has made, it all falls into
place. You know you are doing
something eminently
worthwhile. Just one shy
smile on the face of a solemn
young patient is more than
enough reward.