Abstract
In March 2002, the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy will present its recommendations to President Bush on CAM education, training, licensing, coordination of research, dissemination of informa tion, access and delivery of services. The Commission's report will have implica tions for the medical care of indigenous peoples. This article discusses traditional healing in Alaska and responds to Commission questions on traditional healer designation, selection, credentialing, licensing, preservation and the potential integration of traditional healing with conventional care. Philosophy underlying allopathic medicine and traditional healing is explained. An integrative model of care, The Circle of Healing, is described. "We are rebels, someone to flout. They drew a square that shut us out. But love and we had the will to win. We drew a circle that let them in." (Anonymous, 1997)