Self-Determination in Indigenous Health: A Comprehensive Perspective
Mirjam Hirch
Volume 10, Number 2 (2025) 10 (2): 1-30
Keywords Indigenous sovereignty, traditional healing, indigenous health, integrative health approach, indigenous health care systems analysis
Abstract
Indigenous health disparities are devastating. Indigenous health research has focused mainly on biomedical approaches. Prevailing evidence indicates that models that integrate concepts of biomedical care and traditional healing are better suited to improve
health outcomes among Indigenous groups. In this article the author focuses on holistic approaches to health as initiated by self-determined indigenous health movements. The paper suggests comprehensive frameworks to tackle Indigenous health issues in their full complexity. Frameworks that take into consideration a combination of social, cultural, economic, environmental and political factors to influence health status. The author also discusses traditional medicine and self-determination in the U.S. system, recommends international policy and points to future action and research that may remedy deficits in
indigenous health.
Mirjam Hirch
Published August 13, 2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ANTONOVSKY, A. (1980). Health, stress, and coping. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers.
BANNERMAN, R. (1983). Traditional Medicine and health care coverage. Geneva, World Health Organization.
CHIVAN, E. (2001). "Species loss and ecosystem disruption -the implications for human health." Canadian Medical Association Journal 164(1).
COHEN, A. (1999). The Mental Health of Indigenous Peoples; an International Overview. Geneva, World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health.
FLACK, J., H. AMARO, et al. (1995). "Panel I: Epidemiology of minority health." Health Psychology 14(7): 592-600.
https://doi.org/10.1037//0278-6133.14.7.592
HELMAN, C. (2006). Suburban Shaman: Tales from Medicine's Front Line. London, Hammersmith Press Limited.
IHS, I. H. S. (2011). Facts Sheets: Tribal Self-Governance. Retrieved from http://info.ihs.gov/TrblSlfGov.asp.
KAWACHI, I. and B. P. KENNEDY (1997). "Health and Social Cohesion: Why Care about Income Inequality?" British Medical Journal 314: 1037--1040.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7086.1037
KREMER, J. (1995). "Perspectives on Indigenous Healing." Noetic, Science Review 33.
KRIEGER, N. (2001). "Theories for social epidemiology in the 21st century: an ecosocial perspective." Int J Epidemiol 30(4): 668-677.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/30.4.668
LEIGH BROWN, P. (2009). A Doctor for Disease, a Shaman for the Soul. The New York Times.
LENGEN, C. (2010). "Geographie der mentalen Gesundheit." Geographische Rundschau 62(7-8): 32-39.
OLSON-GAREWAL, J. K. (2000). Ethical and Practical Considerations Relating to Governmental Coverage of Traditional Indigenous Medicine. a. D. N. M. M. A. Tso, October 4, 2000.
ONG, C. K., G. BODEKER, et al. (2005). WHO global atlas of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine. Kobe, Japan, World Health Organization, Centre for Health Development.
RICHARDSON, D. (2009). "Crossing Borders" Geography, GIS, and Mental Health. Arc News 40.
SCF PUBLIC RELATIONS. (2011). Traditional Healing Clinic receives special recognition from Indian Health Service. Anchorage Native News, Anchorage, October/November 2011, p.7.
SHELTON, B. L. (2004). "Legal and historical roots of health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States". Retrieved Aug. 14, 2010, from http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/upload/Legal-and-Historical-Roots-of-Health-Care-for-American-Indians-and-Alaska-Natives-in-the-United-States.pdf.
TRAHANT, M. (2010). Nuka Model of health care for all? 'This is what US health care system should look like'. Seattle PostGlobe. Seattle.
VIRCHOW, R. C. (2006). "Report on the typhus epidemic in Upper Silesia. 1848." Am J Public Health 96(12): 2102-2105.
https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.96.12.2102
WHO. (2001). WHO legal status of traditional medicine and complementary alternative medicine. Geneva, World Health Organization.
WHO, W. H. O. (2002). Traditional Medicines Strategy 2002-2005. Geneva, World Health Organization.
WHO, W. H. O. (2003). Traditional medicine Fact Sheet 134. Geneva, World Health Organization.
WOODMAN, J., S. GRIG, et al. (2007). Progress can kill. London, Survival International.
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Submissions
