Culture and Approach
The design of the Strategy contains some important features
that reflect Aboriginal culture.
How does AHWS reflect Aboriginal Culture?
The design of the Strategy contains some important features that
reflect Aboriginal culture. Community needs and types of services and
programs are expressed in an eight-phase continuum of care known as the
Healing Continuum. Designed from the Traditional Medicine Wheel, it
also addresses all age groups identified in the traditional teachings
of the Life Cycle. These concepts are intrinsically wholistic and
comprehensive and as such, constitute a culturally appropriate alternative
to the way "mainstream" services are typically designed and delivered.
The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy is governed by a Joint
Management Committee composed of representatives of 15 First Nations/Aboriginal
provincial territorial organizations and four government ministries
(Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ministry of Community and Social
Services, Ontario Women's Directorate, Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat).
It operates on a consensus basis reflecting the traditional decision-making
structure of Aboriginal culture.
Consultation with the Aboriginal community is a major strength in the
overall process of the Strategy that reflects important values in Aboriginal
Culture. Consultation is essential in terms of having a mandate from
communities to deal with service issues at a policy level. It acts as
a part of community education and development in a way that allows communities
to provide direction and take ownership of the process.
The Strategy funds community-based projects including Aboriginal Health
Access Centres, treatment centres, healing lodges, shelters, and many
different community based programs. The projects are designed by communities,
and they are delivered through Aboriginal organizations. The presence of
elders and the use of traditional practices facilitate a dynamic not only
of healing, but also of teaching and learning. Through its process of
developments, AHWS adopted a number of principles which AHWS-funded projects
attempt to incorporate into their programming:
- The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual
are addressed through various aspects of wholistic programming.
- Programming is aimed at providing services throughout the lifecycle
of the individual, from infancy through childhood, youth, adulthood,
senior and Elderhood.
- Programming is designed to address multiple needs along a continuum
of care/service using health promotion, prevention, curative and
rehabilitation approaches.
- Community development and capacity-building are encouraged and
promoted through inter-agency linkages, co-operation, community involvement,
training and other means.
- Programming is community-based and culturally-based with great
latitude to offer and support Traditional approaches to healing and wellness.
