Week 8: Indigenous Health

Question 1

A nurse is working with an Indigenous woman participating in the Makoyoh’sokoi wellness program. Which of the following approaches will most support the woman’s holistic wellness?

A. Encouraging her to focus on individual fitness goals
B. Promoting physical activity only as a way to lose weight
C. Recognizing the importance of community support and cultural practices
D. Recommending isolation for mental health improvement

Answer 1

Answer: C. Recognizing the importance of community support and cultural practices
Rationale: The Makoyoh’sokoi program emphasizes a holistic approach, integrating physical activity with cultural, social, and emotional wellness. Community and cultural support are key to promoting holistic wellness in Indigenous women.

Question 2

The nurse is developing a health promotion plan for an Indigenous community based on the principles of M’Wikwedong. Which of the following interventions aligns with these principles?

A. Focusing solely on clinical interventions and treatments
B. Offering individualized, top-down health solutions
C. Creating a culturally relevant program that connects with the community’s values
D. Encouraging participants to adopt mainstream health practices

Answer 2

Answer: C. Creating a culturally relevant program that connects with the community’s values
Rationale: M’Wikwedong emphasizes health promotion that is community-driven and culturally relevant. The approach is about connecting with the community’s values and fostering relationships rather than imposing external health practices.

Question 3

A nurse is assisting an Indigenous woman in the Makoyoh’sokoi program who reports feeling disconnected from her cultural heritage. Which action is most likely to enhance her well-being?

A. Recommending modern fitness programs to replace traditional activities
B. Encouraging her to reconnect with her cultural practices through the program
C. Asking her to focus on nutrition without considering cultural food practices
D. Telling her to prioritize mental health over physical health activities

Answer 3

Answer: B. Encouraging her to reconnect with her cultural practices through the program
Rationale: The Makoyoh’sokoi program integrates cultural practices with physical activity, which is a key factor in holistic wellness. Reconnecting with cultural heritage can help address emotional, spiritual, and social well-being.

Question 4

When working with Indigenous clients in urban settings, the nurse learns about M’Wikwedong’s approach. Which statement best describes how this model supports Indigenous health promotion?

A. It offers a controlled, clinical environment for health interventions.
B. It emphasizes community connection and culturally informed care.
C. It follows a strict medical model of care for all patients.
D. It focuses exclusively on addressing physical health concerns.

Answer 4

Answer: B. It emphasizes community connection and culturally informed care.
Rationale: M’Wikwedong promotes urban Indigenous health by focusing on community connection, cultural practices, and informed care that aligns with Indigenous values, rather than following a purely clinical or medical approach.

Question 5

A nurse is incorporating traditional Indigenous knowledge into a wellness program for a local community. Which element is central to this approach?

A. Emphasis on biomedical treatments only
B. Ignoring the significance of cultural healing practices
C. Including Indigenous practices as part of a holistic approach to wellness
D. Focusing exclusively on physical health without emotional support

Answer 5

Answer: C. Including Indigenous practices as part of a holistic approach to wellness
Rationale: Indigenous wellness programs like Makoyoh’sokoi focus on holistic well-being, incorporating cultural, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects. This approach recognizes that health is deeply tied to community, culture, and tradition.

Question 6

During a health promotion workshop for Indigenous women, the nurse discusses the importance of community-led initiatives. Which is the best reason to prioritize such programs?

A. They are easier to implement than government-driven programs.
B. They are more likely to respect and integrate cultural practices.
C. They are less expensive to operate than conventional health programs.
D. They only focus on physical health concerns

Answer 6

Answer: B. They are more likely to respect and integrate cultural practices.
Rationale: Community-led initiatives are designed to be culturally relevant and sustainable. They respect local values and traditions, making them more likely to succeed in promoting wellness in Indigenous communities.

Question 7

A nurse is assessing the effectiveness of an Indigenous health promotion program. Which outcome would most likely indicate success?

A. Increased reliance on hospital-based care
B. Higher rates of self-reported wellness and community involvement
C. Decreased community engagement in cultural practices
D. A focus on individual treatments rather than collective health

Answer 7

Answer: B. Higher rates of self-reported wellness and community involvement
Rationale: Successful health promotion programs for Indigenous communities often result in improved overall wellness and increased community engagement. This aligns with the holistic approach that includes cultural and social well-being.

Question 8

When promoting urban Indigenous health through M’Wikwedong, which strategy should the nurse prioritize to be most effective?

A. Offering programs only in urban health clinics
B. Building strong community partnerships and local connections
C. Implementing a one-size-fits-all approach to health care
D. Relying on Western medical practices exclusively

Answer 8

Answer: B. Building strong community partnerships and local connections
Rationale: The M’Wikwedong approach emphasizes the importance of community partnerships and local connections. It integrates cultural relevance and community involvement in health promotion, ensuring the programs are effective and accepted.

Question 9

A nurse is working with an Indigenous woman who participates in the Makoyoh’sokoi program. She expresses concerns about accessing healthcare. Which of the following actions can the nurse take to address her concerns?

A. Focus only on providing physical activity options
B. Ignore her concerns and focus solely on fitness goals
C. Recommend she visit a general healthcare provider without considering her cultural needs
D. Offer culturally safe healthcare resources and address barriers to access

Answer 9

Answer: B. Offer culturally safe healthcare resources and address barriers to access

Rationale: Addressing healthcare access barriers and ensuring culturally safe resources are available is critical to supporting Indigenous women. A holistic approach that includes both wellness and healthcare access is essential.

Question 10

A nurse is planning to educate an Indigenous community about the benefits of physical activity. Which message should the nurse emphasize based on the principles of the Makoyoh’sokoi program?

A. Physical activity is best practiced in isolation for personal growth.
B. Physical activity should be focused solely on weight loss.
C. Physical activity can improve wellness when integrated with cultural and community activities.
D. Physical activity is only beneficial if it follows a strict schedule.

Answer 10

Answer: C. Physical activity can improve wellness when integrated with cultural and community activities.
Rationale: The Makoyoh’sokoi program emphasizes integrating physical activity with cultural practices and community involvement, which is key to promoting holistic wellness among Indigenous women.

Question 11

Loppie and Wein (2022) present a tree metaphor to articulate social determinants of Indigenous Peoples’ health. The community health nurse understands that Indigenous Self-Determination is which of the following? ​
​
A.Root determinant​
B.Core determinant​
C.Stem determinant​
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 11

Answer: A. Root determinant
Loppie and Wein (2022) use the tree metaphor to describe the social determinants of Indigenous Peoples’ health, where Indigenous Self-Determination is identified as a foundational or “root determinant” that supports and influences overall health outcomes.

Question 12

Which of the following is an outcome, based on respectful engagement and strives to address power imbalances in the healthcare system?​
​
Cultural competence​
Cultural safety​
Cultural Awareness​
Cultural sensitivity

Answer 12

Cultural safety

Question 13

How can a nurse best support Indigenous self-determination in healthcare?
A. Excluding cultural considerations from treatment
B. Imposing care plans based on Western practices.
C. Allowing patients to lead decisions about their care.
D. Assuming healthcare decisions are the nurse’s responsibility.

Answer 13

Answer: C
Rationale: Indigenous self-determination involves empowering patients to lead healthcare decisions that align with their values.

Question 14

A nurse integrating TRC Call to Action #21 into practice would focus on which intervention?

A. Prioritizing funding for Indigenous-led healing centers.
B. Promoting Western medicine over traditional practices.
C. Limiting healthcare services to on-reserve populations.
D. Avoiding discussions about intergenerational trauma.

Answer 14

Answer: A
Rationale: Call to Action #21 advocates for funding healing centers to address the harms of colonial policies, including residential schools.

Question 15

Which action aligns with the Two-Eyed Seeing approach in a healthcare setting?
A. Excluding Western treatments from Indigenous care plans.
B. Combining Indigenous knowledge with Western medical practices.
C. Insisting on standardized care without cultural adaptations.
D. Focusing solely on Indigenous healing methods.

Answer 15

Answer: B
Rationale: Two-Eyed Seeing combines the strengths of both knowledge systems to provide balanced, inclusive care.

Question 16

What is the purpose of the Indian Reserve system in Canadian history?
A. To support Indigenous self-sufficiency.
B. To displace Indigenous peoples from their lands.
C. To promote Indigenous cultural preservation.
D. To provide equal access to healthcare resources.

Answer 16

Answer: B
Rationale: The Indian Reserve system was intended to displace Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, contributing to systemic marginalization.

Question 17

A nurse is addressing systemic racism in healthcare. Which intervention is most effective?
A. Implementing anti-racism training for all healthcare staff.
B. Limiting discussions about racism to avoid conflict.
C. Assuming racism does not exist in healthcare settings.
D. Treating all patients identically without regard to culture.

Answer 17

Answer: A
Rationale: Anti-racism training helps staff recognize and address systemic barriers, fostering equitable care environments.

Question 18

A nurse is working with Indigenous patients in a community clinic. Which action reflects a strength-based approach?
A. Avoiding discussions about the patient’s strengths.
B. Focusing on historical challenges without solutions.
C. Assuming Indigenous patients require only Western healthcare.
D. Highlighting the community’s resilience and cultural strengths.

Answer 18

Answer: D
Rationale: A strength-based approach builds on community resilience and cultural practices to promote positive health outcomes.

Question 19

The nurse is providing care to an Indigenous patient following the wholistic health model. Which intervention aligns with this model?
A. Addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental needs simultaneously.
B. Focusing exclusively on the patient’s medical condition.
C. Prioritizing treatment over cultural practices.
D. Ignoring emotional and spiritual concerns during treatment.

Answer 19

Answer: A
Rationale: The wholistic health model views all aspects of well-being as interconnected, requiring comprehensive care.

Question 20

Which action reflects the nurse’s role in supporting TRC Call to Action #23?
A. Avoiding recruitment of Indigenous healthcare providers.
B. Ensuring cultural competency training for all healthcare staff.
C. Limiting discussions about intercultural competency.
D. Excluding Indigenous patients from healthcare planning.

Answer 20

Answer: B
Rationale: Call to Action #23 emphasizes cultural competency training to equip healthcare staff with skills for inclusive, respectful care.

Question 21

A nurse is helping implement the Two-Eyed Seeing approach in a healthcare setting. Which strategy aligns with this approach?

A. Relying solely on Western medical practices.
B. Prioritizing physical health over spiritual wellness.
C. Excluding traditional healing methods from care plans.
D. Integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge systems for patient care.

Answer 21

Answer: D
Rationale: Two-Eyed Seeing encourages using both Indigenous and Western perspectives to deliver holistic, culturally sensitive care.

Question 22

When providing culturally safe care, which action by the nurse best demonstrates cultural humility?
A. Assuming patients want to integrate Western treatments.
B. Encouraging self-reflection on the nurse’s own biases.
C. Standardizing care without cultural considerations.
D. Avoiding discussions about cultural practices altogether.

Answer 22

Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural humility involves continuous self-reflection to identify and address personal biases, ensuring culturally respectful care.

Question 23

A nurse is educating a community group about TRC Call to Action #18. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate?
A. “It acknowledges the impact of colonial policies on Indigenous health.”
B. “It emphasizes training only non-Indigenous healthcare providers.”
C. “It suggests avoiding recognition of health-related treaties.”
D. “It focuses solely on urban Indigenous populations.”

Answer 23

Call to Action #18 highlights the need to recognize how colonial policies, such as residential schools, have affected Indigenous health.

Question 24

How can a nurse best embody the principle of Indigenous self-determination in a community health setting?
A. Allowing Indigenous patients to lead decisions about their health.
B. Dictating the healthcare plan based on the nurse’s expertise.
C. Avoiding discussions about traditional practices.
D. Enforcing standardized care without patient input.

Answer 24

Answer: A
Rationale: Indigenous self-determination ensures patients lead their healthcare decisions, respecting their autonomy and cultural preferences.

Question 25

A nurse is caring for an Indigenous patient who requests traditional healing practices in their treatment plan. How should the nurse respond?
A. Collaborate with Indigenous healers to integrate traditional practices.
B. Explain that traditional healing practices are not supported in healthcare settings.
C. Insist that only Western medicine be included in the care plan.
D. Avoid discussing traditional practices and focus solely on medical treatment.

Answer 25

Answer: A
Rationale: Collaborating with Indigenous healers respects the patient’s cultural needs and aligns with TRC Call to Action #22, promoting holistic and inclusive care.

Question 26

The nurse is working with a community of Indigenous peoples and is tasked with addressing the social determinants of health. The nurse understands that access to culturally relevant healthcare services for Indigenous populations is considered which of the following in the tree metaphor presented by Loppie and Wein (2022)?

A. Root determinant
B. Core determinant
C. Stem determinant
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 26

Answer:
B. Core determinant

Rationale:
In the tree metaphor, core determinants represent central aspects of health that influence the overall wellbeing of Indigenous populations. Access to culturally relevant healthcare is considered a core determinant as it directly impacts the health outcomes of the community and relates to the community’s ability to maintain and improve health in a meaningful way. Root determinants, on the other hand, are more foundational and represent underlying factors like historical and political influences. Stem determinants relate to social systems, and leaf determinants are more peripheral, reflecting outcomes or manifestations of health.

Question 27

The nurse is working in a community with a high proportion of Indigenous people. According to the tree metaphor by Loppie and Wein (2022), which of the following factors is considered a leaf determinant of health?

A. Income
B. Education
C. Physical environment
D. Access to healthcare

Answer 27

Answer:
C. Physical environment

Rationale:
Leaf determinants are the most visible and immediate outcomes of health, often related to environmental factors that affect daily life. The physical environment, such as housing conditions and access to clean water, is a leaf determinant because it directly impacts the health of individuals. Income and education, while important, are core determinants, and access to healthcare is a stem determinant in the tree metaphor.

Question 28

In addressing Indigenous health, the nurse recognizes that historical trauma plays a significant role. In the tree metaphor presented by Loppie and Wein (2022), historical trauma would be classified as which of the following?

A. Root determinant
B. Core determinant
C. Stem determinant
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 28

Answer:
A. Root determinant

Rationale:
Historical trauma represents deep-rooted, foundational factors that have long-lasting effects on Indigenous health and wellbeing. These factors, such as colonization and displacement, are considered root determinants because they are the underlying causes that influence other social and health determinants, shaping the overall health outcomes of the community.

Question 29

A community health nurse is working to empower Indigenous families to improve health outcomes. According to Loppie and Wein (2022), Indigenous self-determination is most directly associated with which determinant of health?

A. Root determinant
B. Core determinant
C. Stem determinant
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 29

Answer:
B. Core determinant

Rationale:
Indigenous self-determination is a core determinant because it reflects the central importance of control over one’s health decisions, governance, and community development. This factor has a direct impact on health outcomes, as self-determination allows Indigenous people to prioritize and manage their own health based on their cultural values and needs.

Question 30

When planning healthcare services for Indigenous populations, the nurse acknowledges that poverty is a significant barrier to health. In the tree metaphor, which determinant category best represents poverty?

A. Root determinant
B. Core determinant
C. Stem determinant
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 30

Answer:
A. Root determinant

Rationale:
Poverty is considered a root determinant because it is a fundamental factor that affects other determinants of health, such as access to healthcare, education, and healthy living conditions. It influences a wide range of social and economic factors that can limit the overall wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Question 31

A community health nurse is discussing the concept of cultural safety with Indigenous community members. According to the tree metaphor by Loppie and Wein (2022), cultural safety would be considered a stem determinant because it influences which of the following?

A. Political engagement
B. Historical legacies
C. Individual health behaviors
D. Healthcare system accessibility

Answer 31

Answer:
D. Healthcare system accessibility

Rationale:
Cultural safety is a stem determinant because it refers to the social systems that impact the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare services. When healthcare services are culturally safe, Indigenous populations are more likely to access them, leading to better health outcomes. It influences the healthcare environment and its ability to meet the needs of diverse communities.

Question 32

The nurse is assessing the health of an Indigenous community and recognizes that social support networks, such as extended family structures, play a crucial role in health. According to Loppie and Wein (2022), these social support systems would be categorized as which type of determinant?

A. Root determinant
B. Core determinant
C. Stem determinant
D. Leaf determinant

Answer 32

Answer:
B. Core determinant

Rationale:
Social support networks, including family and community structures, are core determinants because they are integral to the health and wellbeing of individuals. These networks provide emotional, social, and sometimes economic support, which directly influences mental and physical health, especially in Indigenous communities where community ties are often stronger and more central to identity.