Introduction to Indigenous Health and Healthcare in Canada

Introduction to Indigenous Health and Healthcare in Canada

This textbook for Canadian nursing and allied health students explores the major health issues of Indigenous populations and how to improve their overall wellbeing. The second edition addresses a key development since the first edition was published: an increasing consensus among Indigenous peoples that their health is tied to environmental determinants, both physical and philosophical. This text describes what is distinctive about Indigenous approaches to health and healing and why it should be studied as a discrete field. It provides a framework for professionals to approach Indigenous clients in a way that respects the client's worldview while retaining a professional epistemology. Grounded in the concepts of cultural sensitivity, competency, and safety-yet filled with practical information-this book integrates historical, social, and clinical approaches illuminated by concrete examples from the field and relevant case studies.