Indigenous health views challenge Western frameworks
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Researchers at the University of Otago, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in New Zealand found that current health systems do not adequately address how Indigenous communities define health.
Lead author Laura Gemmell-Sinnott and her team studied Indigenous peoples in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Hawai'i to understand their perspectives. They identified five key themes: holistic well-being, cultural knowledge, connection to land, relationships, and self-determination, demonstrating distinct Indigenous knowledge systems regarding health.
The study argues that the World Health Organization’s definition of health, established 80 years ago, doesn’t reflect evolving understandings of health determinants, human rights, or the specific needs of Indigenous populations. Existing health systems prioritize and evaluate health based on frameworks that fail to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and priorities, contributing to health inequities. Gemmell-Sinnott advocates for health frameworks driven by Indigenous communities and culture.
She suggests health systems should move beyond clinical measurements and instead adopt culturally relevant indicators reflecting what Indigenous people themselves identify as essential to their well-being. The research also suggests that these insights could be valuable for understanding diverse health perspectives beyond Indigenous groups, potentially improving healthcare for all communities.
