In Nova Scotia, there are 24,175 Indigenous peoples that make up 2.6% of the population. The majority of Indigenous people in Nova Scotia are Mi’Kmaq and reside in 13 First Nations communities.
The way we express ourselves emotionally through grief and loss are socially based, including how we look at death and dying. To provide supportive and palliative care for First Nations it is fundamental that we understand their cultural values and practices. Understanding ones culture in turn will allow a healthcare professional to provide care that is culturally competent, to do this the person providing the care needs to spend time with the client and build a therapeutic relationship. Building a trusting relationship with the client will increase the chances the care the client is receiving is comprehensive and compassionate.
The absence of collaboration between the values contained in western medicine and indigenous people is problematic. If non-indigenous healthcare providers take the time to understand the culture of First Nations people they would realize that the biggest impact on health decisions is the need for the healthcare providers to accept their values like the connection of physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of ones self.
Community has a major impact on health of an indigenous person, the preferred process to leave the physical world for a First Nations person are in the presence of their loved ones. Family to them is more then immediate family it is their community as a whole. When an Indigenous person is in the hospital the healthcare professionals should not restrict the number of visitors they have. As healthcare professionals we should always allow sacred objects and ceremonies to occur as this is a crucial part of them traveling to the spirit world.
Indigenous people believe that “no one is born alone and no one should die alone” meaning that no one should have to go through this journey alone. They have a community of faith that connects individuals to one another as well as the greater collective (Jonston,G. et al (2012) Pg 4).
For those caring for individuals that are indigenous it is important for them to learn the values and beliefs of the one they are providing care for. The healthcare professional can affect the environment of the person who is reaching the end of their journey and it is vital that they affect it in a positive way. To do this they can ask the client about their beliefs, this shows the client that the healthcare professional wants to make a positive affect on their physical environment. Asking about ones cultural beliefs allows the client to trust the healthcare professional and shows their willingness to provide care that is compassionate and culturally competent
Johnston, G., Vukic, A., & Parker, S. (2012). Cultural understanding in the provision of supportive and palliative care: Perspectives in relation to an indigenous population. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 61-68.
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 