In Canada the Federal government, through the
department of Northern and Indian Affairs, will pay for an aboriginal student to
go to college to become a chiropractor yet there are no reported native DCs. In
the USA there are only a hand full of native DCs in practice, even when they
also get a free education, but they are not necessarily serving tribal
populations.
Indian Health Services does
not exclude chiropractic services according to the Federal IHS Medical Director,
Dr. Waggoner. If a tribal clinic decides to add chiropractic it becomes a covered
benefit. The Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps has developed the A.R.C. program to
actively encourage IHS clinics to offer chiropractic services onsite with the
intention of attracting young natives to use their free education to become
chiropractors and to return and serve their tribal community.
The CDC is looking to partner with DCs throughout
the USA to participate in this outreach. If you are a rural DC near an Indian
Reservation and have been trying to figure out how to help them receive
chiropractic care, you are invited to register below so we can begin a
meaningful dialogue.