Salud, cultura, tradición: Findings from an alcohol and other drug and HIV needs assessment in urban “Mexican American Indian” communities

ABSTRACT

This paper presents findings from an alcohol and other drug use (AOD) and HIV risk needs assessment of 20 “Mexican American Indian” adults in two urban areas of the United States who currently or previously participated in Danza Mexica an Indigenous cultural/ceremonial dance form. Findings describe community perceptions of AOD and HIV knowledge, stigma, and risk. The majority of participants identified AOD and more than half perceived HIV to be significant health concerns. Importantly, the majority of the participants also described specific teachings and practices from Danza Mexica related to AOD and HIV prevention and response, emphasizing cultural identity, community support, and healing.

KEYWORDS:

• Hispanic
• Latinx
• American Indian
• alcohol
• drugs
• HIV
• culture

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Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25MH084565. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors extend our deep gratitude to community leaders and community members for guiding us through this research, welcoming us into their homes and sacred spaces, and for sharing their important stories. We raise our hands to you.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. The term “Mexican American Indian” emerges from the race/ethnic categories defined by the U.S. government in official census reports and, as evidenced by data represented in this paper, is not a term that the community uses for self-identification. For purposes of clarity, we use the term in this paper to describe the population included in our sample.

2. Colín (2014) describes the many “regional, ontological and organizational” (p. 224) descriptions of this practice including “Danza Conchera, Danza Mexica, Danza Azteca, Tradición, Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, Chitontequiza, Macehualiztli, Mitotilitzli, and beyond … (p. 224).” In contemporary vernacular and particularly in the U.S., Azteca and Mexica are used interchangeably (Colín, 2014). We use the term Danza Mexica because it is what the majority of our participants used to describe their traditions. We also use danza as shorthand.

3. Calpulli is a Nahuátl word stemming from the words calli (house) and pulli (reunion). In danza, the term can be understood as a “union of houses” or an alliance between families and most commonly describes the danza group as it works together (Colín, 2014).