Mi'kmaq elder Albert Marshall calls it the gift of “two-eyed seeing” - the ability to see from more than one perspective. In his contributions to conferences and workshops with the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health, he has encouraged his listeners to learn from both Indigenous knowledge as well as from mainstream scientific knowledge[1].
The NCCAH is exploring the transfer of experience and ways of knowing from one knowledge system to another as it seeks a greater integration of Aboriginal approaches to health within the current public health system. The goal is to enhance the relevancy and effectiveness of heath policies and practices for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and peoples. Research has found, for instance, that until recently, programs, clinical practice guidelines and other health-related activities that link health research to practice have rarely taken into account the need to bridge cultures and ensure relevance for Aboriginal communities. Highlights of our NCCAH work in this area:
· We are conducting a research synthesis of Aboriginal health-related studies that are culturally relevant. Following the Campbell Collaborative Systematic Review protocol, this work is retrieving all studies that have considered Aboriginal and Indigenous research methods. This work will help us assess the cross-cultural validity of western research methods, inform discussion on indigenous research methods, and guide further inquiry.
· As our NCCAH experts have pointed out at conferences and workshops, sharing and exchanging knowledge with Aboriginal communities and cultures requires a holistic perspective that respects ethical concerns, takes into account reciprocal learning, and builds relationships of trust and understanding. A document setting out the “knowledge synthesis, translation and exchange” (KSTE) vision for the NCCAH will articulate concepts for consideration in the implementation of knowledge translation with Indigenous peoples, and is due for release in 2010.
· The NCCAH hosted a "Dialogue Circle" in Vancouver, B.C. in 2007 to explore what constitutes evidence in Aboriginal health. The participants included representatives of various Canadian public health and Aboriginal health agencies, as well as First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Guests from the U.S. and New Zealand offered international perspectives on the issue. The dialogue circle took place in “unmapped territory” rooted in the concept of "ethical space," and provided a meeting ground where different people and cultures holding different worldviews could work together. Please contact us (nccah@unbc.ca) for a copy of our DVD “Dialogue Circle: Ways of Knowing” and download our “Exploring Evidence in Aboriginal Health” report of the gathering.
· In 2010, the NCCAH will convene an international panel of Indigenous knowledge holders who will explore and articulate a living discussion on sharing and exchanging knowledge in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. We will, with our panel's guidance, incorporate Indigenous world views into holistic approaches to inform our work, particularly on the social determinants of health. Our literature review of health-related studies that have considered Aboriginal research frameworks will help inform this work, as we strive to ensure our initiatives are grounded in philosophies that are readily evident in all that we undertake, and rooted in the realities of community.
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