Embracing Our “Otherness”

Abstract

Theories on the importance of holistic and spiritual healing within nonconventional models of care are vast, yet there is little written about the practical, clinical-level interventions required to deliver such practices in collaborative cross-cultural settings. This article describes the learning experiences and transformative journeys of non-Indigenous nurse practitioners working with a Cultural Lead from an Indigenous community in British Columbia, Canada. The goal of the Seven Sisters Healthy Heart Project was to improve heart health promotion in an Indigenous community through a model of knowledge translation. The article describes the development of a bridge between two cultures in an attempt to deliver culturally responsive programming. Our journeys are represented in a phenomenological approach regarding relationships, pedagogy, and expertise. We were able to find ways to balance two worlds-the medical health services model and Indigenous holistic models of healing. The key to building the bridge was our willingness to be vulnerable, to trust in each other's way of teaching and learning, and allowing diverse viewpoints and knowledge sources to be present. Our work has vast implications for health promotion in Indigenous communities, as it closes the gap between theory and practice by demonstrating how Indigenous models can be integrated into mainstream health promotion practices.

Learning From Our Strengths: Exploring Strategies to Support Heart Health in Indigenous Communities

“…The included studies specifically targeted the following diseases of focus: CVD; n = 8); heart health (n = 5); hypertension (n = 2); stroke (n = 2); coronary artery disease (n = 2); rheumatic fever (n = 1); or a combination of multiple chronic diseases (eg, CVD, diabetes; n = 1). 2 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 The aim of each study varied, in reflection of the following categories (note that some studies were identified as falling within multiple categories; Table 2 ): risk factor—understand discrepancies in or origins of heart health (n = 10); intervention—design/implementation of program or strategy (n = 9); and heart health management—Indigenous and/or Western approaches to manage heart health (n = 8). …”

Women-Centered and Culturally Responsive Heart Health Promotion Among Indigenous Women in Canada

“…Throughout the project, the NPs were challenged to balance Western traditional health promotion messages with indigenous healing ways. They navigated this experience as one of colearning, acknowledging differences, and allowing both worldviews to be present (Prodan-Bhalla et al, 2015).…”

“…The implementation of such interventions is dependent on the readiness of the community to work with outside health care establishments, on the openness of providers to embrace other perspectives, on the flexibility of the funders to support interventions that may evolve within the project time frame and may not report conventional or explicit top-down success indicators (Prodan-Bhalla et al, 2015), and on having an appropriate evaluation approach. Developmental evaluation (Patton, 2010) proved to be a valuable framework as it provided flexibility to redefine indicators and methodology as the project unfolded.…”

“…This intervention has since inspired the project team and the management to incorporate elements of this project into an existing outpatient heart health program at BCWH and other outreach projects targeting indigenous women and girls. The project has also inspired the providers to rethink and transform their daily practices (Prodan-Bhalla et al, 2015).…”

“…The NPs also adjusted their teaching approach and became less didactic as the group progressed and as they became more familiar with the indigenous teaching perspectives (Prodan-Bhalla et al, 2015). For example, although the NPs wanted to initially engage in formal, personal goal setting with the women, it became evident that it was more important for the goals to unfold organically in the Talking Circle.…”