pdf download - First Nations Health Council

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Though often overlooked by the health care
system First Nations have consistently worked to
maintain, and where necessary, rebuild traditional
medicine knowledge and practices. Efforts
continue to integrate traditional medicine into
the health care system. The First Nations Health
Council is pursuing several strategies to ensure that
traditional medicine is an integral part of efforts to
improve the health and wellbeing of First Nations
(e.g. data base of traditional healers and centres,
discussion groups, surveys, etc.). Participants
in this table discussion examined the critical
role of the philosophy, protocols and impact of
traditional medicine and the ‘knowledge keepers’
in their communities, practical ways of weaving
traditional and western practices (e.g. Cowichan,
Alert Bay), and policy and program changes that
demonstrate respect for traditional medicines,
support its practitioners and engage a broader
audience (e.g. youth, community exchanges). The
ideas highlighted from the discussion notes provide
advice on how the FNHC might modify its current
activities in this area:
• Limited awareness in the community of
traditional medicines.
• Knowledge is held by individual families.
• Some commercialization happening (individuals
selling medicines).
• Forums for both traditional/alternative
practitioners, and conventional doctors.
• Teaching the community traditional/alternative
medicines – focus on youth programs, and
summer camps, etc.
• Documentation/database/book/Elders
(recordings of them speaking) – some
concerns about knowledge ownership (i.e.
pharmaceuticals).
• Community must drive policy change.
• Options: providing choice.
• Traditional healer forums – recognition.
• Liability issues regarding traditional medicine
in health centres – funding for training in
traditional medicine.
• Environmental protection (including financial
support to maintain plants).
• Integrating traditional knowledge into school
system.
Food Security
The issue of ‘Food Security’ refers to addressing
the barriers that limit or threaten a community’s
access to adequate healthy food sources. In a First
Nations context this often includes consideration
of the shift away from traditional practices to
supermarket foods, access to land, contaminants
and other environmental conditions. BC First
Nations have been very active in addressing food
security issues and participants identified actions
that could be taken to improve First Nations
people’s access to, and knowledge about, healthy
food. In summary this includes:
• Diffusion of innovation.
• Community Champions.
• Increase access:
• Community kitchens.
• Community gardens.
• Flexible funding program.
• Food boxes.
• Breakfast school program.
• Community food co-op.
• Increase knowledge:
• Community sharing of traditional and nontraditional
knowledge.
• Peers teaching peers.
• Regional food forums.
• Increase tools:
• Community freezers, stoves, fridges, pots and
pans.
Open Space Responses
• Stigma within the community around substance
users and related sexual issues
• At present, contribution agreements limit use of
traditional models
• Needs to be more attention paid to number of
FN with arthritis, i.e., Arthritis Initiative
• Respect for two spirit peoples health issues/
Homophobia is a main concern in Aboriginal
communities
• Knowledge about HIV, HEPC, STIs needs to be
taught to all people in communities
• Right to clean water!
• Create groups of young girls/teens/women/
elder women to create opportunity for coming
of age education
• Home care centre and detox unit, that are
culturally appropriate, in the northeast
• Leadership must encourage, support and model
real meaningful youth engagement
• C’iiq’ciiga quuquulaca – our languages
• Return to 100% fluency = health
• In community health plans, look at options to
use traditional medical interventions as well as
western interventions
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm