The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing

Lori uses the term scalpel to symbolize her life as a professional surgeon. At times, this life appears to collide with her Navajo beliefs and traditions. To get at the inside of a human body, surgeons typically use a scalpel. This action, however, disturbs the natural beauty and harmony of the body, which is inappropriate from a Navajo standpoint. Lori notes, “a surgical knife would defile an intact, miniature universe, with rules and systems that evolved naturally over millennia” (144). Yet, to heal people, surgery is often necessary. To provide patients, and especially Navajo patients, with the best care possible, western medicine needs to be part of any medical practice. 

To Lori, the silver bear represents her Navajo heritage, which serves as her guiding star. Bears are powerful and sacred to the Navajo and found in many myths and folklores. One story that Lori enjoys is the maiden who became a bear to avenge the death of her family. This story illustrates the strength of the bear. Often when Lori feels lost or afraid, she gathers the bear spirit energy around her, which helps her feel strong. Before some surgical procedures, she will also envision herself walking in the bear’s body and breathing its breathe. This image clears her mind and channels the bear’s strength, helping her mind and spirit to prepare for surgery. Like many of her family members, Lori also has a silver bear fetish, which she wears around her neck. She also gifts her husband a silver bear fetish as a wedding present, further illustrating its importance to her. Lori and Jon also wanted their son’s name to be associated with a bear spirit, which is the reason they chose “Kodiak.”