Brant Castellano, Marlene
Lifting up the Voices of Tyendinaga's Healthcare Professionals
For this study, I asked Tyendinaga's healthcare professionals if they had any solutions to make the healthcare system run more smoothly when working with settlers. I wanted answers to four questions: 1. what role does our culture play in implementing or delivering mental/physical/spiritual/emotional midwifery/health/social services? 2. are there any gaps in services, or more precisely, any barriers that midwifery/health/social professionals encounter in implementing or delivering our holistic health services? 3. could they identify any problems they might face in completing paperwork to justify funding for their program? 4. could they offer their opinion regarding alternative approaches where they might create space for an intercultural dialogue regarding holistic health?I trusted that this would advance answers to my major dissertation questions: What are the obstacles or gaps and possible solutions to Indigenizing healthcare implementation, services, and delivery in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (TMT), Ontario? Is there a "space" like the Two-Row Wampum where two distinct peoples can negotiate their relationship regarding health in an equally respectful and reciprocal atmosphere?
Author Keywords: holistic health, Indigenous community engagement, Indigenous methodologies, Thanksgiving Address, Two Row Wampum