TITLE:
Cultural Competence in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: The Case of Blueberries in North America
AUTHORS:
Niobra Samuel-Peterson
KEYWORDS:
Blueberries; Berry Fruits; Cultural Competence; Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Anthropology,
Vol.3 No.2,
May
9,
2013
ABSTRACT: Berry and berry-type fruits have gained the title
of “super fruits” in recent years due to their anti-disease promoting
phytonutrients. While researchers have been hard at work isolating the
mechanisms by which these bioactive chemicals influence the human body,
scientists have largely ignored the influence of culture on the co-evolutionary relationship between berry
fruits and humans. This paper explores the phytochemical makeup and cultural
groundings of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Cultural and spiritual connections of northeastern Native
American groups such as the Ojibwe tribe with blueberries have influenced the survival of both species.
Considering the poor consumption of fruits across the United States, this paper
presents the thesis that effectively changing the dietary habits of a
population requires a multi-faceted
approach where scientific knowledge of the benefits of fruits in addition to
the history and sociocultural meaning of
various fruits are taken into account. Moreover, this paper discusses the importance of sociocultural backgrounds
(specifically of fruits) as a platform for strengthening cultural competence in order to more effectively communicate
knowledge concerning the use of fruits in the prevention and treatment of
various cancers.