Health Beliefs and

Healing Traditions
 Traditional Healing
• Traditional healing speaks to psychological and
physiological processes but adds an element of
metaphysics and spirituality as well.
• The term traditional implies static or past oriented.
– While the knowledge from past experts is vital healing
the term unfortunately doesn't highlight the new
emerging forms of Aboriginal healing.

• Thus, some prefer the term Aboriginal Healing

– Aboriginal healing and traditional healing will be used
interchangeably

Waldram et al., 2006

 Traditional Healing
• Re-emergence in healing traditions-1980s
onward
• Significant losses of traditional healing
knowledge and fewer healers than in the past
• Part of the legacy of colonialism, epidemic
diseases, and government policies on
assimilation.
• Not all was lost-many traditions hidden from
non-Aboriginal society and law enforcement.
Waldram et al., 2006
 Traditional Healing
• It has become common to see Healers in
health centers undertaking a ceremony for a
patient.
• It is important to remember that just like
physicians Healers have specialties.

Waldram et al., 2006

Traditional • Healing Circles have
become common in
Healing Western Canada.
– Therapeutic sessions that
deal with problems such as
the effects of residential
schools, abuse, alcoholism.

• Sweat lodges have also

been revitalized.
– Used to treat a variety of
mental and physical
problems.

Waldram et al., 2006

• Under the current non-
insured health benefits
Traditional
program of health Canada,
the federal government will
Healing
cover the cost of travel
associated with bringing a
patient to a healer or a
healer to the patient.

• Conditions:
– The healer is recognized by the
local Band, tribal council, or
health professional.
– The healer is located in the
Client’s region
– A licensed physician has
confirmed the client has a
Waldram et al., 2006
medical problem.
 Herbal Medicine
From sore throat to Chronic disease
• Is used for a wide array of reasons

• Efficacy
– Employing validation measures of
biomedicine is often not
encouraged.
– Often requires the removal of the
treatment from its proper cultural
context and evaluation using
standards other than those for
which the treatment was derived.

Waldram et al., 2006

 Herbal Medicine
From sore throat to Chronic disease
• Research partnership is becoming more common.
• New territory
– Intellectual property rights

• Cree healers working with researchers to examine

herbal remedies for use in hypertension.

• CIHR has funded a research team to look at anti-

diabetic plants in northern Quebec.
Waldram et al., 2006
 Traditional Healing
• Some Aboriginal people feel that their
medicine is a gift from the Creator and as a
result there is no need to prove it’s efficacy
according to scientific principals.

• Some also belief this knowledge is sacred and

secret and therefore not to be subjected to
inquiry or broadcast outside of a select group.

Waldram et al., 2006

 Medical Pluralism
• The practice of utilizing the medical services of more than one medical system.

• Many Aboriginal patients have access to biomedical services and alternative or

complementary modalities (chiropractics, acupuncture), in addition to their own
healing system.

• In some cases the patient does not share that they are seeking other forms of
care for various reasons.

• Many Physicians do not inquire wither the patient is using alternative

treatments; many do not even inquire if home management has been
attempted.

• Miscommunication can lead to a negative interaction of treatments.

Waldram et al., 2006

 Discussion
• Would you feel comfortable asking a patient
about traditional healing practices?
• How would you go about asking this question?
• Are their risks to asking these types of
questions?
• Who would you ask these questions to?
Aboriginal Healing in the City
• Those who utilize Aboriginal
healing in the city are often those
who have higher levels of cultural
continuity such as language
• One study (Waldram, 1990)
looked at access to Aboriginal
healing in Saskatoon.
– Only a small fraction of respondents
knew a healer in the city.
– 60% said they would like to see a
healer in a clinic.

Waldram et al., 2006

 Health Beliefs
• Not all illness is bad. It is often sent to help
people revaluate their lives (Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada).

• Treatment may be successful even when the

patient dies.

• Aboriginal healing seems less concerned with

prolonging life than with improving the quality of
life, both in this world and the next.
Waldram et al., 2006
 The role of family
• The western / European concept of nuclear family is in sharp
contrast with Aboriginal perspectives of family.
– Often includes strong relationships with a large network of relatives who
would be considered extended family in western European terms.

• Their is often a community and family role in parenting.

– Mom, Dad, Auntie, Uncle, Kokum, Mushum...
• Example- Health care staff surprised when a mom let her toddler wonder around
the health center unattended. She assumed that staff would assist in the
supervision of the child as they do in her home community.

• Often family and community needs are placed above personal

needs.
– An example of this in health care?
Smylie et al., 2001
 Holistic health
• Aboriginal concepts of health and healing start from the
position that all the elements of life and living are
interdependent (RCAP).

• Wellbeing flows from balance and harmony among all

elements of personal and collective life (RCAP).

• The concept of the circle is a fundamental theme

common to many Aboriginal cultures.

• Rather than viewing an object independently it is

perceived as part of an interrelated sequence.

Smylie, 2001
Holistic
• Worldview is inspired by nature,
Health the cycle represents the life cycle
of humans, animals, plants,
seasons, qualities of being.

• All can be overlaid forming a rich

conceptual framework through
which you can interpret the world.

• As in nature they cycle needs

balance, or problems arise such as
illness or famine.
 Medicine Wheel

Wisdom and Logic

Mental
Spring Activity:
Children Write or draw a reflection
Introspection, based on the medicine
Trust and Innocence
& Insight Physical wheel of how Medical
Winter Summer School has affected
Spiritual (positively or negatively)
Youth
Elders the balance of these
Illumination elements or the knowledge
& Enlightening you have about them.
Emotional
Adults Fall
Food For
Thought

Differences
Between
Aboriginal and
Western
Mainstream
Culture

Aboriginal Human Resource

Council, 2007