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Use of Traditional Healing Practices in Two Ontario First Nations

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Abstract

Colonization has negatively impacted Canada’s Aboriginal people, with one of the consequences being loss of traditional knowledge, beliefs and practices, including traditional healing practices. In a study of two Ontario First Nations, the objectives of this research were to examine: (1) the extent of use of traditional healing practices, including traditional medicines and healers; (2) factors associated with their use and people’s desire to use them; and (3) reasons for not using them among those who want to use them, but currently do not. Registered Band Members and volunteers from two First Nations communities (N = 613) participated in a well-being survey. About 15% of participants used both traditional medicines and healers, 15% used traditional medicines only, 3% used a traditional healer only, and 63% did not use either. Of those who did not use traditional healing practices, 51% reported that they would like to use them. Use was more common among men, older people, and those with more than high school education. Those who used traditional healing practices were found to have a stronger First Nations identity, better self-reported spiritual health, higher scores on historical loss and historical loss symptoms and higher levels of anxiety compared with people who did not use them. Common reasons for not using traditional practices were: not knowing enough about them, not knowing how to access or where to access them. These findings may be useful for promoting the use of traditional healing practices for the purpose of improving the health of First Nations people.

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Funding

This research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Researh (CIHR) team grant (Principal Investigator: Samantha Wells; CBG-101926).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, London, ON, Canada

    Julie George, Melissa MacLeod, Kathryn Graham, Sharon Bernards & Samantha Wells

  2. Mental Health, Addiction and Violence Support Program, Kettle & Stony Point Health Services, Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, ON, Canada

    Julie George

  3. Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Melissa MacLeod

  4. Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Kathryn Graham

  5. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kathryn Graham & Samantha Wells

  6. Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Kathryn Graham & Samantha Wells

  7. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Kathryn Graham

  8. E’Mino Bmaad-Zijig Health Centre, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, ON, Canada

    Sara Plain

  9. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Samantha Wells

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  1. Julie George
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie George.

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Conflict of interest

Julie George is a status member of one of the study communities. Other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

The RHOC project was approved by the Research Ethics Board at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Western University. This research was developed in close consultation with community advisory committees in both communities and was also reviewed and approved by Chief and Band Council in both communities.

Informed Consent

The study was completely voluntary and participants were told that they could omit any questions or drop out of the study at any time. Participants were informed that all data collected would remain confidential and never be linked with their names or other personal information. All participants provided written consent.

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George, J., MacLeod, M., Graham, K. et al. Use of Traditional Healing Practices in Two Ontario First Nations. J Community Health 43, 227–237 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0409-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0409-5

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