Also called:
- Aboriginal healing, Aboriginal medicine
- traditional Native healing
First Nations healing is a holistic approach to health that integrates traditional healing practices such as special ceremonies, rituals and herbal medicines.
First Nations refers to native Indians in Canada. Aboriginal peoples are the groups of people who were the first to live in Canada. There are 2 other groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada besides First Nations.
- Inuit
- Inuit are a group of Aboriginal people living mainly in northern parts of Canada.
- They have their own background, history and culture.
- Métis
- Métis describes people with mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry.
History
First Nations traditional healing practices have been used for thousands of years. These healing practices were used in North America long before Western medicine. First Nations healers believe that the body, mind and spirit must work in harmony and balance to be healthy.
Use and claims
First Nations traditional healing promotes mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Traditional healing includes a wide range of activities to improve well-being and restore the balance of a person's mind, body and spirit, which is necessary for healing.
How it is given
First Nations, Inuit and Métis have their own views on healing and healing practices. For example, some practices used by First Nations and Métis are not used by Inuit. Although there is no single healing tradition that can be called Aboriginal medicine, many of the different traditions share common ideas about healing.
- Healing is a holistic process.
- Healing treats the mind, body and spirit, because these aspects of life are connected.
Elders hold a special place in Aboriginal cultures. They are knowledgeable about the traditions and values of their particular group and serve as guides and teachers. Elders are often the first people contacted about how to find a traditional healer (medicine person) and may be healers themselves.
Traditional healing practices include a wide range of activities to improve psychological and spiritual well-being, such as:
- ceremonies
- songs
- music
- dance
- physical cures using herbal medicines or animal remedies
- counselling
- accumulated wisdom of elders
Examples of some traditional healing practices are discussed below.
Medicine wheel
The medicine wheel is an important part of traditional healing practice. There are often 4 parts to a medicine wheel because the number 4 is very sacred to many First Nations and Métis. The medicine wheel is a symbol of life, health and the values of a person and their community. Each individual group has its own thoughts and teachings about the medicine wheel, and the 4 parts represent different ideas for different First Nations.
- 4 aspects of a person – physical, spiritual, mental and emotional
- 4 directions – north, east, south, west
- 4 seasons – spring, summer, fall, winter
- 4 elements – fire, earth, wind, water
- 4 stages of life – childhood, youth, adulthood, elderhood
The circle of the medicine wheel also symbolizes a healing circle, another important feature of many Aboriginal healing traditions. Healing circles help people speak to their community, which is often a great source of support.
Sweats
Sweats are an important ritual. The process of sweating is used for cleansing (purifying) and healing. A sweat may be done on its own or before and after other major rituals. It is often done in a sweat lodge, which is run by a person who is specially trained to conduct the sacred ceremony.
Smudging
A smudge is another traditional ceremony practised by some Aboriginal cultures to physically or spiritually cleanse (purify) negative energy, feeling or thoughts from a place or a person. During a smudging ceremony, sacred medicines such as cedar, sage, sweetgrass and tobacco are burned. The person puts their hands in the sacred smoke and carries it to their body, especially to areas that need spiritual healing. A smudge wand may also be used.
Tobacco
Tobacco (or semma) is considered a sacred medicine by many First Nations people and some Métis. It has been used in traditional ceremonies, rituals and prayers for thousands of years to:
- give thanks to the Creator and Mother Earth
- communicate with the spirits
- purify the mind and heal the body
Besides being tied up and burned in a sacred fire (smudge), traditional ways of using tobacco include:
- putting tobacco into sacred pipes for certain ceremonies – The sacred smoke that comes from the pipe is not directly inhaled.
- making an offering of tobacco while walking – The tobacco is not burned, but is placed on the ground or floor as the person prays and gives thanks to the Creator.
- placing tobacco on water
When tobacco is burned the smoke rises and provides a link to the spirits. Traditional or sacred tobacco comes from many different plants which exist in the wild in North America and is best used in its original form for traditional ceremonies. Tobacco in its original form had both honour and purpose. Elders caution that traditional use is different from recreational use of commercial tobacco products and sacred tobacco should not be used the wrong way or abused.
There is an important difference between traditional and non-traditional uses of tobacco. First Nations elders maintain that recreational use of tobacco is disrespectful to the spiritual, medicinal and traditional use of tobacco. Recreational use of tobacco is any use of tobacco in a non-traditional way.
Herbal medicine
Medicinal herbs are widely used by traditional healers to treat physical conditions. Herbal medicines may be local to a particular area and are rooted in local knowledge. Herbal medicines may be used in various forms such as teas, tinctures or ointments.
Summary of the evidence
Although First Nations traditional healing practices have been valued by their people for as long as oral tradition has been alive, there is virtually no research on the effectiveness of these methods. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (CIHR-IAPH) was developed to advance research in the area of Aboriginal health and promote research that will improve the health and wellness of Aboriginal people in Canada.
Potential side effects and risks
Traditional healing practices that a healer suggests are generally considered safe. However, some traditional medicines such as herbal remedies may interact with prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs or diet supplements, which could be dangerous. Always tell the doctor, pharmacist and traditional healer about any medications, traditional medicines and remedies being taken.
The recreational use of commercial tobacco is addictive and harmful.