In the context of the documentary Medicine Women, Lori distinguishes between doctoring and healing because she believes that the training she received in her surgical residency did not provide her with the holistic and spiritual approach to care that is inherent to traditional indigenous healing practices. She sought to learn about the spiritual, emotional, and cultural aspects of healing that were absent from her official medical training by returning to the healers of her tribe.
The limitations of the biomedical concept of healthcare, which only addresses the outward manifestations of sickness and ignores the patient’s emotional, spiritual, and cultural requirements, are highlighted by Lori’s sentiment. The biological approach does not recognize the connectivity of the body, mind, and spirit and the influence that cultural and spiritual beliefs have on an individual’s health outcomes.
This viewpoint echoes objections made by many indigenous health researchers and practitioners who contend that Western scientific healthcare methods are culturally insensitive and fail to consider the particular health requirements of indigenous communities. They stress how crucial it is for medical professionals to comprehend and respect their patients’ cultural traditions and beliefs. The authors contend that cultivating trust and encouraging good dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals requires cultural safety and humility.
The limits of the biological model of healthcare are highlighted by Lori’s contrast between “doctoring” and “healing,” and it is crucial to incorporate cultural and spiritual ideas into healthcare practices. This viewpoint is backed up by several experts on indigenous health and readings on cultural safety and humility, which stress how crucial it is to recognize and accept cultural variations in healthcare (Federici, 2023). The necessity of considering patients’ cultural and spiritual values when providing care is brought home by Lori’s experience. Lori was able to broaden her understanding of healing and include conventional healing techniques in her medical practice by realizing the limitations of Western medicine. This viewpoint is backed by the writings of indigenous scholars and healers who contend that for Western medicine to be effective and egalitarian, it must be decolonized and consider indigenous peoples’ cultural and spiritual practices.
A Navajo notion known as “hozho” denotes a state of harmony, balance, and beauty in one’s life. It is regarded as a critical component of Navajo culture and includes mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social health. Living in line with the Navajo creation narrative, as well as their cultural customs and practices, is thought to lead to hozho. Traditional healing methods, including Navajo healing ceremonies, herbal treatments, and the singing and praying of spiritual songs, are used in hozho. These techniques are used to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and bring harmony and balance back into a person’s life (Ehrenreich & English, 2010). In Navajo healing ceremonies, for instance, a healer or singer may utilize songs and prayers to identify the root of a person’s illness and to bring harmony and balance back into their life (Federici, 2023). Various medical diseases can be treated using herbal remedies, and they can also be used to improve general health and well-being.
The complexity and diversity of indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices and the significance of cultural humility and respect in healthcare are demonstrated by Susan’s capacity to embrace Christianity and identify as a Christian while supporting the peyote and the Native American Church. Due to healthcare professionals’ lack of cultural humility and comprehension of indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices, indigenous people like Susan have frequently been included in conventional healthcare methods. The institutional exclusion of indigenous people and the forced adoption of Western biological healthcare methods among indigenous populations are the causes of this isolation.
Understanding and incorporating cultural ideas and practices into care is essential for healthcare professionals because culture affects how people perceive health and illness. Additionally, considerations of the effects of colonialism on indigenous health and the necessity for decolonizing healthcare methods also reflect this sentiment. The authors contend that colonial practices and policies have significantly impacted indigenous health and that decolonizing healthcare approaches are essential to meet the health requirements of indigenous populations.
On the other hand, Susan exemplifies the strength and resiliency of indigenous civilizations in the face of such dominance through her capacity to embrace various cultural and religious traditions. Indigenous societies have unique, intricate healing systems based on their spiritual and cultural beliefs, as seen by the works of indigenous healers like Martin Prechtel and Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Susan can express her agency and find healing and meaning in the face of cultural oppression by embracing both Western and indigenous healing traditions. The intricacy of identity and people’s capacity to traverse and derive meaning from various cultural and religious traditions are both highlighted by Susan’s dualities. It also connects to our concerns about how indigenous peoples’ traditional medical methods have been marginalized and excluded from the systematization of medicine (Federici, 2023). Susan may establish her autonomy and achieve healing in the face of cultural oppression by embracing Western and indigenous healing modalities.
Reference
Federici, S. (2023). Caliban and the witch. Autonomedia.
Ehrenreich, B., & English, D. (2010). Witches, Midwives & Nurses: A History of Women Healers. Amsterdam University Press.