Conceptualizing aboriginal health centres in the Northwest Territories

CONCEPTUALIZING ABORIGINAL HEALTH CENTRES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: A DISCUSSION PAPER The contents of this publication are entirely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the view or opinions of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation. [...] Traditional healing is considered “holistic” because it is a means of treating all four dimensions of health that have been negatively impacted as the result of colonialism for Aboriginal Peoples, thus explaining my rationale that traditional healing has a very important role to play in the restoration of the health and social status of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. [...] The success of these two Aboriginal health centres provided further justification that these centres have an important role to play in the health and well-being of Aboriginal Peoples in Ontario.7 Following the implementation of the Aboriginal Health Policy in Ontario, ten AHACs were developed. [...] This section begins with (1) the health and social status of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, (2) how the health and social status of Aboriginal Peoples is tied to colonialism, and (3) how health-care systems are colonial institutions and reflect a Western understanding of health and healing. [...] For optimal health, these dimensions are to be treated equally as all are relevant and interrelated.17 The current health and social status of Aboriginal Peoples, the differing worldviews as it relates to health and healing, coupled with the history of colonialism and trauma help explain the barriers Aboriginal Peoples face when accessing mainstream health care.