Chapter 22: Indigenous Health & Nursing Practice

Indigenous Health & Nursing Practice begins with a historical overview of pre-contact societies, highlighting the richness of Indigenous Knowledge and traditional healing practices that existed long before European arrival. The subsequent devastating impacts of colonization are examined, including the introduction of foreign diseases, resource depletion, and the legal imposition of the Indian Act of 1876, which viewed Indigenous peoples as wards of the state. The text provides a deep analysis of systemic assimilation policies, such as the Indian Residential School system, the Sixties Scoop within child welfare, and the history of segregated Indian Hospitals, all of which are identified as root causes of profound intergenerational trauma and contemporary health inequities. The discussion clarifies the distinct healthcare delivery systems and legal statuses for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples, navigating the complexities of federal and provincial jurisdictions and the importance of treaty rights. A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to the social determinants of health, categorized into proximal, intermediate, and distal lenses. This framework recognizes that upstream factors like colonialism and systemic racism are the primary drivers for higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and infectious diseases like tuberculosis. For the community health nurse, the chapter mandates a shift toward decolonizing nursing practice by adopting cultural safety and cultural humility. The concept of Two-Eyed Seeing is introduced as a vital methodology for integrating Western medical knowledge with traditional Indigenous ways of knowing to provide holistic, client-centered care. Finally, the chapter underscores the ethical and professional responsibility of nurses to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls to facilitate healing and self-determination.