Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(12), pp. 1017 - 1022
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051205
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Heads You Win, Tails I Lose: The Paradox of Canada's Lack of Support for First Nations' Traditional Healers
Michael Hankard *, John Charlton
Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Sudbury, Canada
ABSTRACT
Historical First Nations 鈥� Canadian relations are marked by a range of contradictions鈥攑laces where opposition, inconsistency and tension dictate how the state regulates First Nations everyday life. Lack of support for traditional healers is one paradox in this relationship. Tacit denial of recognition and support for traditional healing in Canada constitutes a hidden paradox not evident to those on the sidelines of this daily life. Even though practiced for thousands of years before European contact, First Nations traditional healing practices have yet to gain full support from the government of Canada. There is a contradiction between Canada's support for international initiatives such as the World Health Organization's (WHO) Social Determinants of Health model and its lack of support for traditional healers within First Nations at home. This article explores this paradox and critiques it from an Indigenous knowledge (IK) perspective through an articulation of the holistic First Nations worldview.
KEYWORDS
Indigenous Peoples, Social Determinants of Health, Paradox
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Michael Hankard , John Charlton , "Heads You Win, Tails I Lose: The Paradox of Canada's Lack of Support for First Nations' Traditional Healers," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 12, pp. 1017 - 1022, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051205.
(b). APA Format:
Michael Hankard , John Charlton (2017). Heads You Win, Tails I Lose: The Paradox of Canada's Lack of Support for First Nations' Traditional Healers. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(12), 1017 - 1022. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.051205.