This dissertation explores the areas of healing and wellness within Indigenous communities on Turtle Island. By drawing on a decolonising approach to Indigenous health research, this study engaged 10 Indigenous healthcare practitioners in a dialogue regarding Indigenous worldviews; notions of wellness and wholistic health; critiques of psychiatry and psychiatric diagnoses; and the cultural strategies that Indigenous healthcare practitioners utilise while helping their clients through trauma, depression, and experiences of “parallel and multiple realities.” Importantly, this study addresses a gap in literature and puts forth a necessary contribution in regards to Indigenous peoples and psychiatry. Indigenous healthcare practitioners reveal their thoughts and strategies in relation to psychiatric diagnoses, cultural treatment, and psychotropic medication. The stories and strategies gathered during the interview dialogues created a broader discussion that is situated among the existing literature. This research found that Indigenous knowledge and experience was deeply embedded in the practises of Indigenous healthcare practitioners. The strategies presented by these practitioners offer purposeful and practical methods that originate from Indigenous worldviews, yet can be utilised by any practitioner that is seeking therapeutic strategies to help traumatised individuals and communities. Moreover, this research will be a particularly relevant resource for health policy initiatives, agency programming, and education and training institutes. Bringing forth Indigenous strategies for helping and healing is a vitally important contribution to the field of trauma work.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/31696 |
| Date | 05 January 2012 |
| Creators | Broadbridge Legge Linklater, Renee |
| Contributors | Edmund, O'Sullivan |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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