Indigenous Perspective on Health

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people share a definition of health similar to the World Health Organization, a division of the United Nations. The WHO's definition says that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. Indigenous people traditionally believe that individual health depends not only on a person's individual resources, but is best assured through the maintenance of healthy social, economic, and cultural systems. With this belief, intervention is necessary when an individual becomes sick.

According to the healers of the Dene Nation, the individual has to take responsibility for his or her own healing. Too often, they believe, people give others the responsibility to take care of their minds, their bodies, their emotions, and their spirituality in a disconnected way.

Many First Nations people believe in practicing traditional medicine. Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge, and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques, and exercises. These practices are used alone or in combination to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.

Many Albertans support the Western medical system where medical doctors and other health-care professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, medical treatments, or surgery.