It is well recognized that resolving the health issues faced by Indigenous peoples requires concerted action by health researchers, health workers, external agencies and communities themselves. Community participation in developing and utilizing health knowledge needs to involve both the uptake of “western” health knowledge as well as community knowledge i.e. Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional knowledge. And yet, the science supporting the application of Indigenous traditional knowledge requires better definition and validation. Innovative research is needed to support the methodological underpinnings of Indigenous traditional knowledge and ways of knowing, and to create new knowledge relevant to advancing Aboriginal Peoples’ health, wellbeing and resilience.
Indigenous traditional knowledge forms the foundation for Indigenous health. It is complex and contextual, and includes knowledge of and experience with healing practices both ceremonial and physical, such as herbal treatments. Some practices are made known externally, while others are closely held within a small circle of knowledge holders. Indigenous ways of knowing include the concepts of health, wholeness and resilience, and approaches to wellness and healing. For example, the attainment and maintenance of wellness, including mental, emotional and spiritual health, is often based on traditional teachings and ceremony, which provide a basis for positive self-image and healthy identity. Is this approach to healing effective? Traditional herbal treatments, including the ceremony of their application, are valued in dealing with many chronic conditions including diabetes and arthritis. Traditional knowledge of the land and its ecology helps sustain health for many Indigenous peoples. How strong is the evidence base supporting these above mentioned approaches? What is the evidence base for application of such knowledge? Could Indigenous traditional knowledge and ways of knowing be adapted for non-indigenous populations?