Indigenous Health

Question 1

What is indigeneity?

Answer 1

Decolonising the self and creating decolonised spaces.
Cultural interface,
Resisting dominant representations.

Question 2

What are the properties of the social determinants?

Answer 2

Can be causal (direct/indirect) or protective
Can be cumulative
Can exist at multiple levels
Or combination - can work both ways

Question 3

Define indigenous health?

Answer 3

Aboriginal health is not just the physical well being of an individual but is the social, emotional and cultural well being of the whole community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential thereby bringing about the total well being of their community. It is a whole-of-life view and includes the cyclical concept of life-death- life.

Question 4

What is the strengths based approach for Aboriginal health?

Answer 4

Views situations realistically and looks for opportunities to compliment and support existing strengths and capacities as opposed to a deficit-based approach which focusses on the problem or concern.

Question 5

What are the cultural determinants of health?

Answer 5

– Self-determination;
– Freedom from discrimination;
– Individual and collective rights;
– Freedom from assimilation and destruction of culture;
– Protection from removal/relocation;
– Connection to, custodianship, and utilisation of country and traditional lands;
– Reclamation, revitalisation, preservation and promotion of language and
cultural practices;
– Protection and promotion of Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous
Intellectual Property; and
– Understanding of lore, law and traditional roles and responsibilities.

Question 6

Where do the cultural determinants of health originate from and what do they promote?

Answer 6

A strength based perspective, acknowledging that stronger connections to culture and country build stronger individual and collective identities, a sense of self-esteem, resilience, and improved outcomes across the other determinants of health including education, economic stability and community safety.

Question 7

Why is resilience important?

Answer 7

– It is culturally significant – we are a resilient culture, surviving and thriving;
– Resilient people/communities are better prepared for stronger, smarter, healthier, successful futures
and have better outcomes across the social determinants of health (education, health, employment);
– Resilient individuals are more likely to provide a positive influence on those around them and are
better able to develop and maintain positive relationships with others – family, friends, peers,
colleagues;
– Resilience promotes collective benefits – social cohesion, community pride in success, economic
stability, and improved health and wellbeing.