Choosing a Healer
A shaman would treat life-threatening illnesses
Robert Fortuine, M.D.
About Robert Fortuine, M.D.
Robert Fortuine, M.D. is a two-time winner of the Alaska Historian of the Year Award. He focuses on the anthropological history of Alaska Natives prior to European contact. Dr. Fortuine served with the U.S. Public Health Service from 1961 until his retirement in 1987. He first came to Alaska in 1963.
Tribal Affiliation
Hometown
Wasilla, Alaska
Region
Alaska
VIDEO CLIPS
Shaman
Two original types of Native healers: shamans and empirical healers
Smallpox
Many Natives turned down smallpox vaccination because of distrust