IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v279y2021ics0277953621003051.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A process of healing for the Labrador Innu: Improving health and wellbeing in the context of historical and contemporary colonialism

Author

Listed:
  • Ward, Leonor M.
  • Hill, Mary Janet
  • Picard, Annie
  • Olsen Harper, Anita
  • Chreim, Samia
  • Wells, Samantha

Abstract

In light of the negative effects of historical and contemporary colonialism on the Labrador Innu, healing initiatives grounded in self-determination, renewal of cultural practices, and non-reliance on Western bio-medicine, are known, taught and widely practiced among the Innu. The value of Indigenous healing practices in the treatment of Indigenous people is well-recognized in Indigenous wellness literature, yet non-Indigenous health practitioners know little about healing processes. Moreover, to our knowledge, no studies have examined any contemporary Labrador Innu healing process. The main aim of this paper is to describe the process of healing among the Innu. Although there may be multiple processes of healing, we shed light on a major process that emerged from interviews and focus groups with 39 participants. Five stages of healing were described: being “under the blanket”; finding spiritual strength; extending hands out; finding strength and power; and helping others. Findings highlighted enablement of healing through spiritualities, support from Elders, return to culture, and resistance to negative stereotypes. We provide health professionals with valuable information for considering Innu healing as a model that expands their views for the benefit of Innu seeking mental health services. Implications for non-Innu health and social service providers are about broadening their understanding of the significant role of self-determination among Innu, learning Innu ways-of-knowing and being, recognizing one's own biases, and acknowledging the power imbalances between themselves and Innu people.

Suggested Citation

  • Ward, Leonor M. & Hill, Mary Janet & Picard, Annie & Olsen Harper, Anita & Chreim, Samia & Wells, Samantha, 2021. "A process of healing for the Labrador Innu: Improving health and wellbeing in the context of historical and contemporary colonialism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:279:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621003051
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113973
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953621003051
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113973?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Neuwelt, Pat M. & Kearns, Robin A. & Hunter, Duncan J. W. & Batten, Jane, 1992. "Ethnicity, morbidity and health service utilization in two labrador communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 151-160, January.
    2. Ward, Leonor M. & Hill, Mary Janet & Chreim, Samia & Poker, Christine & Olsen Harper, Anita & Wells, Samantha, 2020. "Developing an Innu framework for health research: The canoe trip as a metaphor for a collaborative approach centered on valuing Indigenous knowledges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    3. Pollock, N.J. & Mulay, S. & Valcour, J. & Jong, M., 2016. "Suicide rates in aboriginal communities in Labrador, Canada," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(7), pages 1309-1315.
    4. Butler, Tamara L. & Anderson, Kate & Garvey, Gail & Cunningham, Joan & Ratcliffe, Julie & Tong, Allison & Whop, Lisa J. & Cass, Alan & Dickson, Michelle & Howard, Kirsten, 2019. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's domains of wellbeing: A comprehensive literature review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 233(C), pages 138-157.
    5. Brady, Maggie, 1995. "Culture in treatment, culture as treatment. A critical appraisal of developments in addictions programs for indigenous North Americans and Australians," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(11), pages 1487-1498, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Morton Ninomiya, Melody E. & Tanner, Bryan & Peach, Laura J. & George, Ningwakwe & Plain, Sara & George, Tracey & Graham, Kathryn & Bernards, Sharon & Brubacher, Laura Jane & Wells, Samantha, 2022. "Anishinabek sources of strength: Learning from First Nations people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Morton Ninomiya, Melody E. & Pollock, Nathaniel J., 2017. "Reconciling community-based Indigenous research and academic practices: Knowing principles is not always enough," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 28-36.
    2. Lavrencic, Louise M. & Donovan, Terrence & Moffatt, Lindy & Keiller, Tamara & Allan, Wendy & Delbaere, Kim & Radford, Kylie, 2021. "Ngarraanga Giinganay (‘thinking peacefully’): Co-design and pilot study of a culturally-grounded mindfulness-based stress reduction program with older First Nations Australians," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Kaley Butten & Peter A. Newcombe & Anne B. Chang & Jeanie K. Sheffield & Kerry-Ann F. O’Grady & Newell W. Johnson & Neil King & Maree Toombs, 2021. "Concepts of Health-Related Quality of Life of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children: Parent Perceptions," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1653-1671, August.
    4. Kingsley, Jonathan & Munro-Harrison, Emily & Jenkins, Anne & Thorpe, Alister, 2021. "Developing a framework identifying the outcomes, principles and enablers of ‘gathering places’: Perspectives from Aboriginal people in Victoria, Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    5. Currie, Cheryl L. & Wild, T. Cameron & Schopflocher, Donald P. & Laing, Lory & Veugelers, Paul, 2013. "Illicit and prescription drug problems among urban Aboriginal adults in Canada: The role of traditional culture in protection and resilience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-9.
    6. Howard, K. & Garvey, G. & Anderson, K. & Dickson, M. & Viney, R. & Ratcliffe, J. & Howell, M. & Gall, A. & Cunningham, J. & Whop, L.J. & Cass, A. & Jaure, A. & Mulhern, B., 2024. "Development of the What Matters 2 Adults (WM2A) wellbeing measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    7. Leonor Mercedes Ward & Mary Janet Hill & Nikashant Antane & Samia Chreim & Anita Olsen Harper & Samantha Wells, 2021. "“The Land Nurtures Our Spirit”: Understanding the Role of the Land in Labrador Innu Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Bryan Tanner & Ningwakwe George & Laura Jane Brubacher & Melody E. Morton Ninomiya & Laura Peach & Sharon Bernards & Renee Linklater & Julie George & Samantha Wells, 2022. "Navigating Paths to Wellness: A Strengths-Based Photovoice Study Conducted with One First Nation in Southern Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Morton Ninomiya, Melody E. & Tanner, Bryan & Peach, Laura J. & George, Ningwakwe & Plain, Sara & George, Tracey & Graham, Kathryn & Bernards, Sharon & Brubacher, Laura Jane & Wells, Samantha, 2022. "Anishinabek sources of strength: Learning from First Nations people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    10. Ward, Leonor M. & Hill, Mary Janet & Chreim, Samia & Poker, Christine & Olsen Harper, Anita & Wells, Samantha, 2020. "Developing an Innu framework for health research: The canoe trip as a metaphor for a collaborative approach centered on valuing Indigenous knowledges," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    11. Bryan Tanner & Sara Plain & Tracey George & Julie George & Christopher J. Mushquash & Sharon Bernards & Melody Morton Ninomiya & Samantha Wells, 2022. "Understanding Social Determinants of First Nations Health Using a Four-Domain Model of Health and Wellness Based on the Medicine Wheel: Findings from a Community Survey in One First Nation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, February.
    12. Fong, Polly & Cruwys, Tegan & Robinson, Sam L. & Haslam, S. Alexander & Haslam, Catherine & Mance, Paula L. & Fisher, Claire L., 2021. "Evidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    13. Hartmann, William E. & Saint Arnault, Denise M. & Gone, Joseph P., 2022. "Conceptualizing culture in (global) mental health: Lessons from an urban American Indian behavioral health clinic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    14. Cubillo, Beau & Stacey, Natasha & Brimblecombe, Julie, 2023. "How is nutrition, health and wellbeing conceptualised in connection with seafood for coastal Indigenous Peoples’," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    15. Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson & Anna Hoad & Mei L. Trueba, 2024. "‘My appetite and mind would go’: Inuit perceptions of (im)mobility and wellbeing loss under climate change across Inuit Nunangat in the Canadian Arctic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    16. Taylor, Kevin & Ratcliffe, Julie & Bessarab, Dawn & Smith, Kate, 2023. "Valuing indigenous quality of life: A review of preference-based quality of life instruments and elicitation techniques with global older indigenous populations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    17. Alaazi, Dominic A. & Masuda, Jeffrey R. & Evans, Joshua & Distasio, Jino, 2015. "Therapeutic landscapes of home: Exploring Indigenous peoples' experiences of a Housing First intervention in Winnipeg," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 30-37.
    18. Tara Erb & Krista Stelkia, 2023. "Best Practices to Support the Self-Determination of Indigenous Communities, Collectives, and Organizations in Health Research through a Provincial Health Research Network Environment in British Columb," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-11, August.
    19. Elaine Toombs & Jessie Lund & Aislin R. Mushquash & Christopher J. Mushquash, 2022. "Predictors of Land-Based Activity Participation in a National Representative Sample of Indigenous Individuals Living Off-Reserve," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    20. Gail Garvey & Kate Anderson & Alana Gall & Tamara L. Butler & Lisa J. Whop & Brian Arley & Joan Cunningham & Michelle Dickson & Alan Cass & Julie Ratcliffe & Allison Tong & Kirsten Howard, 2021. "The Fabric of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A Conceptual Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:279:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621003051. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.