Indigenous healing and health care; future directions

First Nations Health Authority. (n.d.-a). Respecting Tobacco. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/wellness-streams/respecting-tobacco

Examples; Aboriginal traditional healing gives psychological, emotional and spiritual support. Learn how it may help you cope during cancer treatment. Canadian Cancer Society

The findings of this review collectively support a decolonizing approach that upholds Indigenous knowledge, respects Indigenous rights to self-determination, and recognizes Indigenous resilience and agency. More research is needed with a focus on Inuit or Métis healing, and innovative knowledge synt … Yu, Z., Steenbeek, A., Biderman, M., Macdonald, M., Carrier, L., & MacDonald, C. (2020). Characteristics of Indigenous healing strategies in Canada: a scoping review. JBI evidence synthesis, 18(12), 2512–2555. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBISRIR-D-19-00385

We found that collaborative and Indigenous-led strategies were more likely to facilitate and implement the integration of Indigenous healing practices. Commonalities across strategies included community engagement, elder support or Indigenous ceremony or traditions. However, we did not evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies. Corso, M., DeSouza, A., Brunton, G., Yu, H., Cancelliere, C., Mior, S., Taylor-Vaisey, A., MacLeod-Beaver, K., & Côté, P. (2022). Integrating Indigenous healing practices within collaborative care models in primary healthcare in Canada: a rapid scoping review. BMJ open, 12(6), e059323. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059323

During this time of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada and beyond, health care leaders and providers have an ethical responsibility and important opportunity to help improve the troubling health disparities at hand. This will inevitably require tremendous reflection, humility, courage, … Drost J. L. (2019). Developing the Alliances to Expand Traditional Indigenous Healing Practices Within Alberta Health Services. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 25(S1), S69–S77. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0387

Evidence from this scoping study suggests that the culture-based interventions used in addictions treatment for Indigenous people are beneficial to help improve client functioning in all areas of wellness. There is a need for well-designed studies to address the question of best relational or contex … Rowan, M., Poole, N., Shea, B., Gone, J. P., Mykota, D., Farag, M., Hopkins, C., Hall, L., Mushquash, C., & Dell, C. (2014). Cultural interventions to treat addictions in Indigenous populations: findings from a scoping study. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 9, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-9-34

We report on the incorporation of a North American aboriginal procedure called "the talking circle" into primary care in areas serving this population. Communication is regulated through the passing of a talking piece (an object of special meaning or symbolism to the circle facilitator, who is usual … Participation in at least 4 talking circles resulted in a statistically significant improvement in reported symptoms and overall quality of life Mehl-Madrona, L., & Mainguy, B. (2014). Introducing healing circles and talking circles into primary care. The Permanente journal, 18(2), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/13-104

Service providers need to acknowledge and understand the existence of Aboriginal knowledge (epistemology) and accept that traditional healing can be an important addition to an Aboriginal person's healing complementing Western medical treatment regimes. Allowing and supporting traditional approaches … Such healing processes and medicines were preferred by some because it helped reconnect them with their heritage, land, culture and the spirits of their ancestors, bringing peace of mind during their illness. Shahid, S., Bleam, R., Bessarab, D., & Thompson, S. C. (2010). "If you don't believe it, it won't help you": use of bush medicine in treating cancer among Aboriginal people in Western Australia. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 6, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-6-18

As with many Indigenous groups around the world, Aboriginal communities in Canada face significant challenges with trauma and substance use. The complexity of symptoms that accompany intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders represents major challenges in the treatment of both disorders. … most Indigenous scholars proposed that the wellness of an Aboriginal community can only be adequately measured from within an Indigenous knowledge framework that is holistic, inclusive, and respectful of the balance between the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social realms of life. Their findings indicate that treatment interventions must honour the historical context and history of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, there appears to be strong evidence that strengthening cultural identity, community integration, and political empowerment can enhance and improve mental health and substance use disorders in Aboriginal populations. Marsh, T. N., Coholic, D., Cote-Meek, S., & Najavits, L. M. (2015). Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Harm reduction journal, 12, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-015-0046-1

We examined the explanatory roles of social determinants of health (SDOH) for First Nations people using a four-domain model of health and wellness based on the Medicine Wheel (i.e., physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health), including colonial-linked stressors (i.e., historical trauma, chi … Tanner, B., Plain, S., George, T., George, J., Mushquash, C. J., Bernards, S., Morton Ninomiya, M., & Wells, S. (2022). Understanding Social Determinants of First Nations Health Using a Four-Domain Model of Health and Wellness Based on the Medicine Wheel: Findings from a Community Survey in One First Nation. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(5), 2836. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052836

Colonization has negatively impacted Canada's Aboriginal people, with one of the consequences being loss of traditional knowledge, beliefs and practices, including traditional healing practices. Registered Band Members and volunteers from two First Nations communities (N = 613) participated in a well-being survey. About 15% of participants used both traditional medicines and healers, 15% used traditional medicines only, 3% used a traditional healer only, and 63% did not use either. Of those who did not use traditional healing practices, 51% reported that they would like to use them George, J., MacLeod, M., Graham, K., Plain, S., Bernards, S., & Wells, S. (2018). Use of Traditional Healing Practices in Two Ontario First Nations. Journal of community health, 43(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0409-5

Learn about Indigenous-designed and delivered programs and services to improve Indigenous healing, health and wellness and reduce violence against Indigenous women and children. Ontario. (2022b, April 28). Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy. Ontario.Ca. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/indigenous-healing-and-wellness-strategy

first nations healing and wellness image

Definition and examples; First Nations Health Authority. (n.d.). Traditional Wellness and Healing. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/health-system/traditional-wellness-and-healing

Since April, an Indigenous healer and an elder have been meeting Bluewater Health patients, offering traditional herbal medicines, and Indigenous ceremonies. The two-days-per-week pilot program at Bluewater Health, which has already served 35 Indigenous patients to date, is the latest offering from the hospital group’s Indigenous Navigation Services Team. Like the smudging ceremonies, hospital navigation help and Indigenous self-identification programs that have been introduced since she was hired in 2018, the traditional healing services are about providing culturally respectful and inclusive care, George said. One healer and one elder have been conducting the visits mostly in the hospital’s spiritual centre, she said, but also in patient rooms and at Ryan’s House, a recovery facility at the hospital for people with substance dependencies. Feedback has been positive so far and hopes are to make the program permanent. The approach, she explained, is to look at a patient’s mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as physical health. Kula, T. (2022, July 7). Traditional-healing pilot launched at Bluewater Health for Indigenous patients. The Sarnia Observer. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/traditional-healing-pilot-launched-at-bluewater-health-for-indigenous-patients

Indigenous services 8. A health service provider or an Ontario Health Team that is funded under section 21 of the Act to provide traditional healing shall only provide that service if the provider, Team or their provider of traditional healing is an Indigenous person or entity. Ontario. (2022, March 11). Law Document English View. Ontario.Ca. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22187#BK7

“The reality is, we do deliver on these marginalized, hard-to-service geographies. We’re solving the impossible.” Example; A teen who lived on a First Nations reserve in rural Southwestern Ontario, and her trauma required a specialized care provider. MacDonald, also Gotcare’s president, felt the girl should ideally receive support that aligned with her Indigenous background and culture. Within five hours, she was connected with an Indigenous spinal specialist from the same community. For other home-care services the girl’s file might have been impossible to fulfil, yet it’s exactly the kind of work Gotcare has been doing since launching in 2018: making home care more accessible across Canada. With tens of thousands of registered workers, Gotcare can quickly respond to these types of requests. Costanza, T. (2022, June 5). The women behind Gotcare are making personalized home care a reality. Thestar.Com. https://www.thestar.com/life/together/2022/06/05/the-women-behind-gotcare-are-trying-to-make-personalized-home-care-more-available-across-canada.html

Patients who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuk will have the right to receive services in a culturally safe manner Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. (2022, March 22). Health System Integration Update: Filing of Regulations for Improved Home and Community Care Framework while Continuing to Maintain Stability of Services. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/news/connectedcare/2022/CC_20220322.aspx