Tag Archives: indigenous health

Post #19 A Case Study of a Methodological Approach to Cocreating Perinatal Health Knowledge Between Western and Indigenous Communities

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1609406917696742

This is an example of a co-creation research process about perinatal health beliefs of elder Indigenous women of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. The paper provides a detailed approach to the research process which provides insights into how to research within a decolonizing framework.    The research abstract states:

‘Our study paired constructivist grounded theory data collection and analysis methods with an Indigenous epistemological framework. We aimed to create knowledge that was specific to an Indigenous context, which was useful and resonant with both Indigenous and Western readers. The multidisciplinary research team included Indigenous and non-Indigenous members and worked with a common appreciation for multiple knowledge sources. We offer an account of our process and methodological principles to serve as an illustrative case study of bringing together diverse approaches when working with Indigenous communities.’

 

POST #15 – Digital Health Education – The Touch Pad Body

The Touch Pad Body https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/4/2/256 is a collaborative research project which set out to develop a digital device prototype, with a deep engagement of Indigenous communities to understand their cultural and visual perceptions of health.  The Device facilitates communicative practices about body, health, life and sickness.  The ‘interruptive device’ aims to lead to conversations that support  ‘mutual understanding, collective agreement making, and bottom-up change in remote Aboriginal health policy and practice’ (Christie & Verran, 2014, p. 256).

Unfortunately, as far as I can ascertain this device is still in prototype due to lack of funds.

POST #13 Digital Health Education – #thisismymob

#thisismymob http://thismymob.org/ is a community-based health education initiative which aims to establish the notion of ‘digital land rights’, asserting the right of Indigenous peoples to a safe online space that they control. Through a project to design and evaluate a mobile app, the project aims to investigate how social technology can enhance well-being of Indigenous communities by connecting Indigenous communities.  The focus of the Project is for Indigenous communities to lead the design of culturally appropriate and sensitive technologies that afford a safe refuge for Indigenous peoples .

POST #11 – Indigenous Health Histories

My digital journey in Module 3, is sourced from my research for Assignment 3 Final Project Paper, focusing on community-based health education and use of technology.

In ETEC521 we have discussed the crimes and suffering associated with the residential school policy, however I was not aware of the atrocities that happened in Indian Hospitals which included restraining indigenous children in hospital beds for years, physical and sexual abuse, and experimentation.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canadians-would-be-shocked-survivors-lawyers-describe-treatment-at-nanaimo-indian-hospital-1.4513476

Meijer Drees, Laurie. (2013) Healing Histories: Stories from Canada’s Indian Hospitals, gives testimonies of the survivors of Indian hospitals that are shocking. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healing-Histories-Stories-Canadas-Hospitals/dp/088864650X

In Australia the State’s involvement in perpetuating atrocities to the well-being of indigenous, in youth detention centres continues to go on today, as described here.   https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-many-indigenous-kids-in-detention-in-the-nt-in-the-first-place-63257

POST #5 – Laos

For Laos, I want to share something a bit different, which is a book about an indigenous Laos Hmong family, who migrated to the US.  This is one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read on the clash between indigenous and Eurocentric knowledge systems written by Fadiman (1997) called The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_Catches_You_and_You_Fall_Down, about a Hmong family trying to navigate the health system in USA with a daughter who has epilepsy and serious seizures.    This is an amazingly sensitive book that describes how, despite the best of intentions, the Eurocentric medical knowledge system is diametrically opposed to that of the indigenous knowledge system.