ABSTRACT
This commentary highlights the importance of social and nature prescribing programs reflecting culturally diverse perspectives and practices. Creating and holding space for Indigenous and other worldviews should be a key priority of nature prescribing, a relatively recent practice in Canada that recognizes and promotes health benefits associated with engaging in a variety of activities in natural settings. Central to designing and delivering nature prescribing that is culturally inclusive and grounded in fulfilling obligations of reconciliation is recognizing the ongoing dominance of Western worldviews and their associated implications for decolonizing and Indigenizing nature-based programming. Consciously working to expand Western values, with the aim of extending nature prescribing practices beyond mere nature exposure to fostering emotional connections to nature, is a critically important part of the ongoing development of nature-based interventions and nature prescribing.
Nature prescribing is an increasingly recognized aspect of social prescribing that acknowledges and promotes enhanced health benefits associated with natural settings to address illness and promote health and wellness. The Western worldview maintains a narrow view of human relations with nature, consisting of humancentric needs and interests. The limited priority that the Western worldview places on the relationship with nature and the importance of establishing and maintaining nature connection, may limit the potential reach and benefits of nature prescribing. Nature prescribing efforts should recognize pre-existing, nature-based approaches such as land-based healing practised by Indigenous people and ensure culturally inclusive design and practices.
La prescription d'exposition à la nature, une dimension de plus en plus reconnue de la prescription sociale, reconnaît et promeut les bienfaits de l'environnement naturel pour la santé, le bien-être et le traitement des maladies. Le monde occidental entretient une vision étroite des relations entre la nature et l'être humain, qui se résume aux besoins et aux intérêts de ce dernier. La priorité limitée accordée dans le monde occidental à la relation avec la nature et à l'importance des liens avec la nature risque de limiter la portée et les avantages des prescriptions d'exposition à la nature. Les efforts en matière de prescription d'exposition à la nature devraient tenir compte des approches antérieures fondées sur la nature, comme la guérison par la terre pratiquée par les Autochtones, et assurer l'inclusivité culturelle sur le plan de la conception et des pratiques.