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Culturally Competent Care

This resource is meant to be used as a guide. Every religion and culture has differing practices, beliefs, ceremonies, and languages dependent on origin location, community, family, and the individual. If you are unsure about how to best provide support,

Brief Overview

  • Over 50 cultural language groups, with varying traditions, customs, and beliefs¹,²
  • Some common elements include²
    • 7 Sacred Laws/Teaching of love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth
  • Consensus or family/community decision making is common, with respect to guidance from Elders²

Common Rituals

  • Prayer with the burning of cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or tobacco¹

Common Health Beliefs

  • Illness may be from failure to live in harmony with natural, societal, spiritual environments¹
  • Holistic view in interconnectedness, interdependent, and cycle nature of life¹,²
    • e.g. Medicine Wheel or Circle of Life
    • Health represented by balance in all aspects of life (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual)
  • Burning of sacred herbs (sweetgrass, sage, cedar, tobacco, etc.) used in traditional approaches to health²
  • Healing journey includes support from traditional healers/medicine people, and elders²
  • Western medicine and traditional healing are complementary²

Clinical Considerations

  • Women should not go near sacred objects during menstruation¹
  • Include Elder or Healer in healing¹
  • Medicine bag worn around neck and should not be touched¹
  • Most medical treatments accepted²
  • Organ donation and transplantation from person who is alive is typically accepted²
    • Organ donation of deceased may not be an option

Diet

  • Generally no dietary restrictions¹,²

Pregnancy

  • Abortion generally not accepted unless life of mother at risk²
  • Birth control is a personal choice²

Informed Consent

  • With importance of community/family/elders, include family in medical treatment and decisions when possible¹

End of Life/Death

  • Death part of cycle of life and starts journey to Land of Souls or to reunification with family in afterlife²
  • After death, some may not touch clothes or belongings of individual¹
  • Body typically prepared for burial by family/community, which may include washing¹,²
  • Ceremonial prayers before and after death conducted by Elders²
    • Includes ceremonial smudging to purify/cleanse soul
  • 1 to 2 day wake which typically includes story-telling and reminiscing² 
  • Traditional burials are common²
    • Babies/fetus' who die may be traditionally buried on the same day before sundown
  • Mourning lasts for 1 year with memorial following²
  • Mourning traditions vary between groups²

References

  1. Swihart, D. L., Yarrarapu, S. N. S., & Martin, R. L. (2024). Cultural Religious Competence in Clinical Practice. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216

  2. Spiritual Care Advisory Committee. (2015). Health Care and Religious Beliefs. Alberta Health Services. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/programs/ps-1026227-health-care-religious-beliefs.pdf

Local Indigenous Communities

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

"We are the territory of the Deshkaan Ziibing Anishinaabeg, also known as Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. We are a forward thinking nation with a strong grasp of our traditional values. Through culture, heritage and continued education we are working towards a better future – towards a self-governing First Nation that thrives socially, culturally, spiritually and economically." Learn about the history here!

Oneida Nation of the Thames

"The Oneida people are known within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy as Onyota’á:ka, “People of the Standing Stone.” We maintain a deeply rooted connection to the land and to our Haudenosaunee culture and traditions." Learn about the history here!

Munsee-Delaware Nation 

"Munsee-Delaware also call themselves Lenni Lenape and are one of several subgroups of Delaware, the Unalachtigo, the Unami, and the Minisink; later known as the Munsee.  The Munsee-Delaware settled along the Thames River in the late 1700's at the close of the American Revolution.  Today they are creating employment for their youth by tapping into the emerging green energy industry within the region." Connect here!

Mississauga's of the Credit First Nation 

"This community has survived hundreds of years of change, fought through near extinction, battled in many wars, suffered a complete loss of culture, faced the trials and tribulations that have come with facing our Canadian government and those now occupying our traditional territory. However, despite every inch of transformation the MCFN  have endured, they have continued to adapt and grow into the resilient First Nation community that stands today." Learn about the history here!

Six Nations of the Grand River

"The Six Nations of the Grand River unifies all Haudenosaunee peoples under the Great Tree of Peace. We are currently the only First Nation community that includes all six Haudenosaunee nations. Located along the banks of the Grand River, the Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populous First Nation in Canada." Learn about the history here!

Ontario Coalition of Indigenous Peoples 

"Representing The Rights Of Metis, Non-Status, Status And Inuit Living Off Reserve In Ontario." Learn more about the history here!