, 2001). Additionally, studies support that the stress of attempting to adapt to two dissimilar cultures has significant impact on overall mental health, drug abuse, suicide rates, and eating disorders. On the other hand, according to Morris, Crowley and Morris (2001), enhancing and honoring cultural or ethnic identity may reduce these problems as well as loneliness and depression and heighten emotional well-being, social adjustment, self-esteem, coping abilities and optimism. They further state that "retraditionalization" - which is "increasing reliance on cultural beliefs, customs, and rituals as a means of overcoming problems and achieving Indian self determination" (p. 34) - has been called essential to the revitalization of American Native communities. .
A report to the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs stated that American Indians, particularly adolescents, have more serious mental health problems than are reported for all the other race populations in the United States (Office of Technology Assessment, 1990). The report lists problems such as developmental disabilities, alcohol and substance abuse, depression, suicide, truancy, etc. as high priority areas. "Persistent and pervasive social pressure to adapt or acculturate is a fact of life for most American Native children and families" (Morris, et al., 2001, p 35). Furthermore, children with a strong bicultural identity may have a wider range of options, greater success, and experience lower levels of stress, in coping with a variety of cross-cultural situations. "Being Indian" is very important in the development of self-identity for American Indian adolescents (Robbins, 2001). .
For centuries American Indians have been pushed out of their natural habitats onto delineated reservations. Their livelihoods were taken away, catapulting the race into poverty and denying them a sense of purpose. The strong belief in natural healing and mysticism evoked fear and mistrust in the White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant (WASP) culture that declared itself the true and dominant culture.
