Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, including First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Innu, have a wide range of perspectives when it comes to health and wellness.

It's interesting and helpful to learn about some of these perspectives, including traditional approaches to health and wellness that may be used at times, in whole or in part, by some Aboriginal people, groups or communities.

Aboriginal Peoples in Canada are comprised of diverse groups and communities that have many different cultures, societies, languages and beliefs.

According to Emilea Karihoo, a Métis woman working with the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA), “culture is key in the overall health of Aboriginal people."

Though it's difficult to make generalizations, on the "cultural level" personal identity of Aboriginal persons is often intimately linked with their home community or the group they belong to or identify with.

Traditionally shared values like balance (giving equal importance to the parts), harmony (creating a pleasing whole) and interconnectedness (parts that all link together) are part of Aboriginal culture.

In addition, there are certain beliefs that are commonly held by many Aboriginal persons or groups, such as the importance of the connection to nature, and the idea that being healthy means having balance in the mind, body, heart and spirit.

In short, many Aboriginal persons believe that well-being is made up of mental, physical, spiritual and emotional elements.

Western medical practice tends to focus on physical health. The holistic approach to medical treatment which is often taken by Aboriginal persons, groups or communities offers a balanced and interconnected worldview.

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The holistic approach generally involves the use of traditional healing practices that are based on beliefs related to the Medicine Wheel. Using this approach, treatment of an individual includes a focus on the person's emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health. Treatment may include the use of natural, medicinal herbs and plants, among other practices or traditional methods.

Four Key Aspects of Healthy Aboriginal Communities
Four important aspects of healthy Aboriginal communities are:

• the need to find balance as shown in the Medicine Wheel;
• the spiritual connection to nature; 
• the mutual value of elders and youth, where elders provide guidance and wisdom, while the youth are encouraged to carry on with traditional teachings; and
• the importance of community.

Finding Balance with the Medicine Wheel
In the Medicine Wheel, balance between all four spheres of the wheel is needed for health: mental (mind), physical (body), emotional (heart) and spiritual (spirit). People are always in a state of change, so the Medicine Wheel also shows motion and the need to continually focus on the process of balance.

Healing from illness, trauma and grief involves re-establishing a balance among the four spheres of the Medicine Wheel (Anishnawbe Health Clinic, 2006).

Many Aboriginal people learn through the Medicine Wheel that balance is needed within an individual, between other living things and Mother Earth (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2005). Many would say that embracing these beliefs can help to create healthy Aboriginal communities.

The Spiritual Connection to Nature
It is often said that feeling connected to nature – or Mother Earth – is very important to the health of Aboriginal people. Aboriginal communities often express this connection to nature through traditional ceremonies or activities. These actions or events are different from region to region or group to group, but all express the importance of nature in sustaining a person's good health. Sweats, smudging and other purification ceremonies, as well as powwows, pipe ceremonies, dancing and drumming may be used to express this connection to one’s self, group, community, history, beliefs, culture and nature

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Plants and animals provide medicine from the earth. Sacred plants such as tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass help community members connect to the spirit world and are part of ceremonies.

Gathering sweetgrass, berries and natural remedies are activities that help to keep many Aboriginal people connected to nature. Sacred plants are burned in ceremonies so that the medicine they provide can be shared by the people through the smoke.

The Mutual Value of Elders and Youth
Elders are the knowledge keepers who pass on traditional teachings in many Aboriginal groups or communities. Their teachings or experience may include:

• knowledge about traditional medicines
• spiritual knowledge from dreams, visions, myths and legends that can help people with their health issues or other problems
• cultural or traditional skills, such as hunting, cooking, gardening and traditional crafts

Traditionally, there has been a unique mutual respect between elders and youth in Aboriginal communities.  Youth value the wisdom and teachings of their elders, while elders value the power that youth have to carry on traditional practices and become the leaders of tomorrow.  Youth look to elders for guidance and elders empower youth with the knowledge and skills they need to "walk in a good way." (Emilea Karhioo, ANFCA, 2009).

In line with this tradition of respect and knowledge sharing, many Aboriginal groups or communities host regular events (e.g., community gatherings, powwows, feasts, or round dances) that bring whole communities and all generations together, including elders, adults, youth and children.

Improving Health and Wellness in Aboriginal Communities
People working with Aboriginal persons, groups or communities to improve health and wellness, such as health practitioners, can benefit by learning about some of the common beliefs and values of Aboriginal people. Practitioners should keep in mind that traditional beliefs and values may positively influence the overall health of an Aboriginal person, group or community.

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For health promoters, activity coordinators and event planners who may be working to implement health-related programs or measures in Aboriginal communities, it may be helpful to:

• include all community members (e.g., children, sibling, elders) when planning community-focused events and activities
• listen to Elders worldviews on health and well-being
• engage youth in the process and events
• focus on community-driven or grassroots initiatives or programs, as this may generally increase acceptance and participation
• depending on the group and community, abide by local protocols and traditions

Learning from Aboriginal Peoples' Traditions
Given some of the traditional, health-enhancing approaches that are valued and practiced in many Aboriginal groups or communities, it may be that some of these approaches or ideas could be applied to non-Aboriginal communities. For example, holistic health approaches, as expressed in the Medicine Wheel, may be of interest to health practitioners. Some people go as far as to say that Aboriginal ways of knowing are being incorporated into non-Aboriginal communities. For example, the determinants of health approach draws, in some ways, upon the medicine wheel holistic perspective of health and well-being.

Similarly, by understanding some of the "core values" of Aboriginal communities – such as connecting to nature and respect for elders – non-Aboriginal communities, health practitioners and others may discover ways to apply some or all of these core values in their own lives or communities.

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Learn More:

Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association
A provincial organization that represents and provides support to the twenty Aboriginal Friendship Centres located in Alberta.

Nechi Centre
As stated on this website: "The Nechi philosophy is founded upon spirituality of Aboriginal Peoples for our collective well being. It is through the Aboriginal way of knowing, healing and learning that Aboriginal people master our challenges and determine our destinies." The Health Promotions & Publications division of the Nechi Institute is known across the country for developing and coordinating a variety of culturally-sensitive promotional programs, materials and campaigns.

National Aboriginal Health Organization NAHO
A national organization working to advance the well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit.