Honoring Indigenous culture-as-intervention: Development and validity of the Native Wellness Assessment^TM

Abstract

There is a need for Indigenous-centered research to appraise culture's role in wellness. Researchers described the development and validity of the Native Wellness Assessment (NWA). The NWA has culture-as-intervention at its apex. Wellness, culture, and cultural intervention practices (CIPs) are explored from an Indigenous perspective. Indigenous clients completed matching self-report and observer versions of the NWA at three time points during addictions treatment. Statistically and psychometrically, the NWA content and structure performed well, demonstrating that culture is an effective and fair intervention for Indigenous peoples with addictions. The NWA can inform Indigenous health and community-based programs and policy.

Miýo-pimātisiwin Developing Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT): Improving Indigenous Health and Well-Being

“…Indigenous Peoples and communities are leading the way by melding science with tradition, laying new ground for evaluating culture-as-intervention (Fiedeldey-Van Dijk et al, 2016). In 2016, The Muskowekwan First Nation (MFN) engaged Indigenous scholars JoLee Sasakamoose (Ojibwe) and Shauneen Pete (Cree), as well as Indigenous therapist Dr. Kim McKay-McNabb (Cree), to work with the MFN community to develop a First Nations community-based family healing and wellness centre.…”

“…For Indigenous Peoples, endemic poverty and attitudes toward health further compound these barriers from the earliest age. However, evidence reveals that recovery from colonization is grounded in cultural healing practices (for example, sweat lodges, traditional teachings; Fiedeldey-Van Dijk et al, 2016;Yellow Bird, 2012. These culturally based healing practices are usually regionally specific and are commonly led by respected community members who are able to facilitate such experiences (Rowan et al, 2014).…”

“…Culturally based healing addresses wellness in a holistic manner, unlike Western biomedical approaches that focus on the absence of disease (Shea et al, 2013). Culturally based healing practices have been shown to improve functioning in all areas of wellness for Indigenous Peoples on the road to recovery from Canada's colonial policies and practices (Fiedeldey-Van Dijk et al, 2016).…”

“…However, unified concepts of culture have been identified (Dumont, 2014) and we use this as a basis for building the theory. As an Indigenous construct, wellness is an inclusive state or position of balance, wherein spirit-heart-mind-body work together through the primary unified concepts of culture, thus rendering culture, in and by itself, as an intervention toward wellness (Fiedeldey-Van Dijk et al, 2016). McConnery and Dumont's (2010) concept of Native wellness is defined as the whole and healthy person expressed through a balance of spirit, heart, mind, and body.…”

“…It is through the community-specific teaching maskihkiy that one can ensure the needs of the community are met. It is important to support wellness for Indigenous Peoples through initiatives that reflect the community's unique lived experiences and that highlight culturally appropriate modes of enhancing wellness (Fiedeldey-Van Dijk et al, 2016). In this ethical space, the two-eyed seeing approach is used to determine the best Indigenous and evidence-based Western approaches to be engaged.…”