Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in northeastern Ontario, Canada.

As with many Indigenous groups around the world, Aboriginal communities in Canada face significant challenges with trauma and substance use. The complexity of symptoms that accompany intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders represents major challenges in the treatment of both disorders. There appears to be an underutilization of substance use and mental health services, substantial client dropout rates, and an increase in HIV infections in Aboriginal communities in Canada. The aim of this paper is to explore and evaluate current literature on how traditional Aboriginal healing methods and the Western treatment model "Seeking Safety" could be blended to help Aboriginal peoples heal from intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders. A literature search was conducted using the keywords: intergenerational trauma, historical trauma, Seeking Safety, substance use, Two-Eyed Seeing, Aboriginal spirituality, and Aboriginal traditional healing. Through a literature review of Indigenous knowledge, most Indigenous scholars proposed that the wellness of an Aboriginal community can only be adequately measured from within an Indigenous knowledge framework that is holistic, inclusive, and respectful of the balance between the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social realms of life. Their findings indicate that treatment interventions must honour the historical context and history of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, there appears to be strong evidence that strengthening cultural identity, community integration, and political empowerment can enhance and improve mental health and substance use disorders in Aboriginal populations. In addition, Seeking Safety was highlighted as a well-studied model with most populations, resulting in healing. The provided recommendations seek to improve the treatment and healing of Aboriginal peoples presenting with intergenerational trauma and addiction. Other recommendations include the input of qualitative and quantitative research as well as studies encouraging Aboriginal peoples to explore treatments that could specifically enhance health in their respective communities.

Exploring the Appropriateness of Culturally Safe Dementia Information with Indigenous People in an Urban Northern Ontario Community.

Ce projet en application de connaissances a exploré la pertinence d'une documentation en promotion de la santé élaborée pour une population autochtone nationale en vue de son utilisation dans une communauté autochtone urbaine du nord de l'Ontario. Une approche décolonisée et communautaire de recherche-action participative faisant appel à l'épistémologie tribale a été suivie pour former un groupe consultatif autochtone local et établir un partenariat avec le N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. Deux groupes de discussion (n=8) composés d'adultes autochtones et cinq entrevues individuelles avec des aidants autochtones soignant une personne atteinte de démence ont alimenté l'analyse thématique qualitative. Quatre thèmes sont ressortis des données: (1) la nécessité d'une compréhension commune des cultures autochtones et occidentales dans le cadre des soins de santé; (2) l'amélioration de la communication interculturelle dans les discussions sur la santé; (3) l'ancrage du matériel de promotion de la santé dans la culture, et (4) les stratégies autochtones de littératie en matière de santé et la sensibilisation aux maladies neurodégénératives. Considérant que les prestataires de soins de santé cherchent des moyens efficaces pour communiquer avec les peuples autochtones, il est important de fournir de l'information pertinente localement et sur le plan culturel afin d'améliorer l'adoption et l'efficacité chez ces populations.This knowledge translation project explored the appropriateness of utilizing health promotion materials developed for a national Indigenous population with Indigenous people living in a northern Ontario urban community. A de-colonized, community-based participatory action research approach using tribal epistemology assisted in establishing a local Indigenous advisory group and a partnership with the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. Two focus groups (n = 8) with Indigenous adults and five one-on-one interviews with Indigenous caregivers of a person with dementia informed a qualitative thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) the need for shared understandings of Indigenous and Western cultures in health care; (2) improving cross-cultural communication within health-related encounters; (3) grounding health promotion materials in culture; and (4) Indigenous health literacy strategies for dementia awareness. As health care providers search for effective ways to communicate with Indigenous people, it is important to deliver locally and culturally relevant information to improve uptake and effectiveness by Indigenous people.Maanda enkiichigaadeg binda kenjigemgad gezhi nakaasang dibaajimowinan gaazhitoong giiwedinong anishinaabek endaajig nji. Enanchgwenzigwaa miinwaa N'swakamok Friendship Center maamwi giinaadmaadok nokiitmowaad wii maandonaa'aad waa nkwenmaagenjig. Niish we'aangizijig, kchi aak miinwaa enkiitaagejig gii nibwaachidook nenendamaawziwin nji wii rnkamwaad ge minodaapinigaadeg. Niiwin giibi zikaamgadoon ge naadmaagemgak. (1) Zhindawendaagwod nsastaadwin wiiteg Anishinaabe miinwaa Ewaabshkiiwed ezhi naagdawendiwaad; (2) Weweni wii ginoonding nokiitaageng; (3) Wii kinoomaading weweni dibaajimowinan waazhi giniwendizad bemaadzid; miinwaa (4) Anishinaabe ji nsastang enaabiisjigeng nenendamaawziwin nji. Epiichtaawaad bemiikgagejig wii mkamowaad gezhi ginoonaawaad Anishinaaben, kchi piitendaagwad weweni ji nsastamookiiwaad mii dash dani naawsek.