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Strengths-based approaches within Indigenous wellness practices focus on leveraging the inherent strengths, resilience, and cultural resources of Indigenous communities to promote health and well-being. These approaches emphasize the positive attributes and capacities of individuals and communities rather than concentrating solely on deficits or problems. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n

This paradigm shift has significant implications for mainstream health providers, as it encourages a more wholistic, culturally sensitive, and collaborative approach to healthcare delivery. Using strengths-based approaches is not about romanticizing Indigenous worldviews and practices or to reinforce stereotypes (pain tolerance, stoicism, etc.) However, these approaches can support utilizing the individual's cultural identity as a starting point for promoting, protecting and maintaining health and well-being. Key elements of strengths-based approaches in Indigenous wellness include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n

Cultural Resilience and Identity<\/em>: Emphasize the importance of cultural identity and traditional practices in promoting health and well-being, recognizing traditional knowledge, languages, and ceremonies as sources of strength and resilience. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Community Empowerment<\/em>: Facilitating community involvement and leadership in health and wellness initiatives, building on community strengths to develop culturally relevant and locally driven health programs. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Wholistic Well-Being<\/em>: Integrates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, recognizing the interconnectedness of individuals, families, and communities in the healing process.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
For those working within mainstream healthcare settings, potential implications of taking up strength-based approaches may include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Cultural Competency and Safety<\/em>: Involves training healthcare providers to understand and respect Indigenous cultures, values, and health beliefs, and implementing practices that ensure culturally safe environments for Indigenous patients.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Collaborative Partnerships<\/em>: Focuses on building relationships with Indigenous communities to co-design and co-deliver health services, involving Indigenous leaders and health practitioners in decision-making processes. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Asset-Based Assessments<\/em>: Shifts from deficit-focused evaluations to approaches that identify and build upon individual and community strengths, recognizing the capabilities and resources within Indigenous communities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Policy and Systems Change<\/em>: Advocates for systemic changes supporting strengths-based approaches, such as funding for Indigenous-led health programs and promoting policies that uphold Indigenous rights to health and self-determination. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Continuous Learning and Adaptation<\/em>: Emphasizes ongoing education about Indigenous cultures and strengths-based practices, adapting health services to meet the evolving needs and priorities of Indigenous communities.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"21d1c38c-49c7-4226-b198-e01dfdcacbb1"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.15","subContentId":"d880e21e-88b1-467f-b03c-1e053a1275ff","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Strengths-Based"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"
Closely related to strengths-based approaches are culture-based approaches. This principle emphasizes integrating Indigenous cultural knowledge, values, and traditions into health care practices and systems. This approach recognizes the unique cultural contexts of Indigenous peoples and aims to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of health services. Culture-based approaches include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Cultural Relevance and Wholism<\/em>: Indigenous health practices often take a holistic view of health, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Culture-based practices incorporate traditional knowledge and healing methods, such as medicines, ceremonies, and spiritual practices, alongside conventional medical treatments.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Community and Relationship-Centered Care<\/em>: Indigenous health care emphasizes the importance of relationships and community involvement. Care is often delivered in a way that respects and incorporates the social and cultural fabric of the community, acknowledging the role of family, Elders, and traditional healers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Traditional Knowledge and Practices<\/em>: Traditional healing practices and Indigenous knowledge systems play a crucial role in health and wellness. This includes practices such as sweat lodges, smudging, and storytelling, which are integral to the cultural identity and healing processes of Indigenous Peoples.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Land and Language Based Practices<\/em>: Land-based practices are a crucial component of culture-based health approaches in Indigenous communities. These practices are deeply intertwined with the cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being of Indigenous Peoples and reflect their connection to the land by integrating physical activity, mental relaxation, spiritual enrichment, and community bonding. Similarly, Indigenous languages are integral to cultural identity and community cohesion. They carry traditional knowledge, values, and practices that are essential to understanding and practicing Indigenous health.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
(Watch video until 10:45)<\/span>.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"59155c07-9875-49a5-8600-3b28e470f4b9"},"useSeparator":"auto"},{"content":{"params":{"interactiveVideo":{"video":{"startScreenOptions":{"title":"Interactive Video","hideStartTitle":false},"textTracks":{"videoTrack":[{"label":"Subtitles","kind":"subtitles","srcLang":"en"}]},"files":[{"path":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SFs7Ln1CUOg","mime":"video\/YouTube","copyright":{"license":"U"}}]},"assets":{"endscreens":[{"time":2471,"label":"41:11 Submit screen"}]},"summary":{"task":{"library":"H5P.Summary 1.10","params":{"intro":"Choose the correct statement.","summaries":[{"subContentId":"7d67cddf-3f82-43ab-8e12-cd1e20d3c449","tip":""}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"solvedLabel":"Progress:","scoreLabel":"Wrong answers:","resultLabel":"Your result","labelCorrect":"Correct.","labelIncorrect":"Incorrect! Please try again.","alternativeIncorrectLabel":"Incorrect","labelCorrectAnswers":"Correct answers.","tipButtonLabel":"Show tip","scoreBarLabel":"You got :num out of :total points","progressText":"Progress :num of :total"},"subContentId":"48b2a45c-531b-4f93-8a75-2accb16d0c8c","metadata":{"contentType":"Summary","license":"U","title":"Untitled Summary"}},"displayAt":3}},"override":{"autoplay":false,"loop":false,"showBookmarksmenuOnLoad":false,"showRewind10":false,"preventSkipping":false,"deactivateSound":false,"startVideoAt":473},"l10n":{"interaction":"Interaction","play":"Play","pause":"Pause","mute":"Mute, currently unmuted","unmute":"Unmute, currently muted","quality":"Video Quality","captions":"Captions","close":"Close","fullscreen":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreen":"Exit Fullscreen","summary":"Open summary dialog","bookmarks":"Bookmarks","endscreen":"Submit screen","defaultAdaptivitySeekLabel":"Continue","continueWithVideo":"Continue with video","more":"More player options","playbackRate":"Playback Rate","rewind10":"Rewind 10 Seconds","navDisabled":"Navigation is disabled","sndDisabled":"Sound is disabled","requiresCompletionWarning":"You need to answer all the questions correctly before continuing.","back":"Back","hours":"Hours","minutes":"Minutes","seconds":"Seconds","currentTime":"Current time:","totalTime":"Total time:","singleInteractionAnnouncement":"Interaction appeared:","multipleInteractionsAnnouncement":"Multiple interactions appeared.","videoPausedAnnouncement":"Video is paused","content":"Content","answered":"@answered answered","endcardTitle":"@answered Question(s) answered","endcardInformation":"You have answered @answered questions, click below to submit your answers.","endcardInformationOnSubmitButtonDisabled":"You have answered @answered questions.","endcardInformationNoAnswers":"You have not answered any questions.","endcardInformationMustHaveAnswer":"You have to answer at least one question before you can submit your answers.","endcardSubmitButton":"Submit Answers","endcardSubmitMessage":"Your answers have been submitted!","endcardTableRowAnswered":"Answered questions","endcardTableRowScore":"Score","endcardAnsweredScore":"answered","endCardTableRowSummaryWithScore":"You got @score out of @total points for the @question that appeared after @minutes minutes and @seconds seconds.","endCardTableRowSummaryWithoutScore":"You have answered the @question that appeared after @minutes minutes and @seconds seconds.","videoProgressBar":"Video progress"}},"library":"H5P.InteractiveVideo 1.24","metadata":{"contentType":"Interactive Video","license":"U","title":"Untitled Interactive Video"},"subContentId":"a3342d6b-bcac-481f-b89b-7471496b8468"},"useSeparator":"auto"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
The implications for the value of culture-based practices within health systems may include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Enhanced Cultural Competency<\/em>: Mainstream health providers need to develop cultural competency to effectively engage with Indigenous patients. This includes understanding Indigenous cultural practices, history, and the impact of colonialism on health. Training and education in cultural competency can help providers deliver more respectful and effective care.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Integration of Traditional Practices<\/em>: Mainstream health systems should be open to integrating traditional Indigenous practices with conventional medical treatments. This might involve collaborating with Indigenous healers, incorporating traditional knowledge into treatment plans, and respecting patient preferences for traditional therapies.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Language Services and Interpretation<\/em>: Providing language services such as interpretation and translation can improve access to health care for Indigenous patients who speak Indigenous languages. Providers should ensure that these services are available and accessible to meet the needs of their patients.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Building Trust and Relationships<\/em>: To build trust with Indigenous patients, health providers must engage in relationship-centered care. This involves recognizing and valuing the role of family, community, and traditional knowledge in the patient\u2019s health journey.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Policy and Systemic Changes<\/em>: Health care policies and systems may need to be adapted to better accommodate culture-based practices. This could include creating pathways for the inclusion of traditional practices, ensuring that funding and resources support culturally relevant care, and addressing systemic barriers that affect Indigenous health.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Addressing Health Disparities<\/em>: By incorporating culture-based practices, mainstream health providers can help address health disparities faced by Indigenous populations. Culturally relevant care can improve patient outcomes, reduce barriers to accessing health services, and enhance overall well-being.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Collaborative Approaches<\/em>: Mainstream providers should work collaboratively with Indigenous communities, organizations, and health workers to ensure that health services are culturally appropriate and responsive to community needs. This collaboration can lead to the development of innovative care models that respect and integrate Indigenous practices.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Respect for Autonomy<\/em>: It\u2019s essential for mainstream providers to respect the autonomy of Indigenous patients and communities in making health decisions. This includes honoring their choices regarding the use of traditional and conventional health practices and involving them in the decision-making process.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Check out this video of Patricia Makokis and her son, Dr. James Makokis (link opens in new browser window)<\/a>, sharing their stories of experiences within the healthcare system to help others understand an alternative way of practising wholistic wellness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"48447c24-2b90-4e55-8f44-082d92266784"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.15","subContentId":"4ae84cb3-e339-4797-8f49-b3fd8d413c5a","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Culture-Based"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"
Reinforcing strength and culture-based approaches is the fundamental principle of Indigenous self-determination. As described previously, Indigenous Peoples have the right and responsibility to be self-determining, including related to wellness and health delivery. Article 23 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) states that,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. The particular, Indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining their health, housing, and other economic and social programmes through their own institutions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Within healthcare settings, there are several implications for policy and program development related to respecting Indigenous self-determination. These may include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Supportive and Complementary Care<\/em>: Allowing for the incorporation of traditional healing practices alongside conventional medical treatments. This approach recognizes the value of both systems in promoting wholistic wellness.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Flexible Models<\/em>: Adopting flexible service delivery models that accommodate cultural practices and community preferences. This may include offering services in culturally safe settings and providing support for traditional healers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Policy and Advocacy<\/em>: Mainstream health providers can play a role in advocating for policies that support Indigenous self-determination in health and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives and advocating for policy changes that promote self-determination and cultural safety in health care.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Resource Allocation<\/em>: Ensuring adequate funding and resources for Indigenous-led health programs and services. This involves recognizing the unique needs of Indigenous communities and supporting their efforts to manage and deliver health services.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Examples of self-determined health services within the communities of Mississaugas of the Credit, Six Nations of the Grand River and in the urban Hamilton setting are detailed here. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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MNCFN Community Health Unit (link opens in new browser window)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
Six Nations Health Services (link opens in new browser window)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\t
De dwa da dehs nye Aboriginal Health Centre (link opens in new browser window)<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n\t
\n\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"a49de99b-3ded-495f-bc4b-1f4879c318fb"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.15","subContentId":"69bf6e44-6535-4e29-acd7-6d576c6f4271","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Self-Determination"}}],"behaviour":{"tabPlacement":"dynamic","tabSpread":80,"colorBackground":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)"},"l10n":{"tab":"tab","noContent":"There is no content to be displayed."},"a11y":{"tabLsist":"Choose a tab."}}

IHLL: Allyship and Indigenous Reclamation: What it Means for You

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Kyle Mackie

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