Connection to land has been identified as a central determinant of the health and well-being of First Nations in Canada. The wholistic, interconnected, spiritual, and sacred relationship that many Indigenous Peoples have with the land is an integral part of strengthening physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health and well-being. However, there has been little empirical evidence on how to assess, measure, and report on connection to land for First Nations Peoples. Using a Two- Eyed Seeing approach, this study explores what connection to land, water, and territory means for health and wellness for First Nations in the Fraser Salish region in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Data were collected through a sharing circle with five First Nations Knowledge Keepers and five youth from Stó:lō communities as part of a land-based gathering in Stó:lō territory. Three themes were identified: (a) “the spirits of the land, water, and territory are within us”: the intersection of cultural identity, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and health and well-being; (b) letsemot, “togetherness”: relationality; and (c) disruptions and new ways of living. For Stó:lō Peoples, connection to the land is an integral component of health and well-being. Connection to land was found to strongly influence physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of health while also intersecting with Stó:lō cultural identity, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and ways of living. The findings can be used to inform the development of an indicator for connection to land, water, and territory as a measurement of ecological wellness for the First Nations Population Health and Wellness Agenda in BC.
In Canada and across the globe, indicators play a fundamental role in measuring, tracking, and reporting on the overall health of the population. Mainstream population health indicators used to measure the health and well-being of First Nations peoples are constrained by the Western biomedical paradigm which focuses solely on illness and disease. These indicators are limited and fail to capture aspects of cultural, spiritual, and interconnected aspects of Indigenous health such as spirit, ceremony, and the connection to land. To advance First Nations self-determination in the healthcare system, it is essential for Indigenous narratives and knowledges to thrive in population health data and reporting. Five promising practices are shared to guide the development of First Nations health and wellness indicators and reporting: (1) be culturally relevant and centred on First Nations worldviews on health and wellness (2) must honour Indigenous knowledges and methods; (3) must involve respectful relationships & meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples’; (4) “Nothing about us, without us”- Indigenous leadership and self-determination at all stages of indicator development; and (5) taking a strength-based approach & contextualizing indicators within historical, socio-political contexts. The co-development of indicators between the [First Nations Health Organization] and the [Office of the Executive Health Officer] in the Province of [Name of Canadian Province] are discussed as promising practices in action. Celebrating the strength and resilience of First Nations health which is required to pave a new way forward in Indigenous grounded population health.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.