My culture soothes

Area of Science:

• Decolonial studies
• Public health policy
• Indigenous health

Background:

• A 12-year-old Pijao indigenous girl's perspective on health was documented before her death from leukemia.
• Her views contrasted indigenous traditions with Western medicine, emphasizing spiritual harmony and plant-based healing.
• Her insights were part of doctoral research exploring decolonial feminist approaches to public policy analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore diverse cultural perspectives on the concept of health.
• To understand the intersection of indigenous traditions, spirituality, and well-being.
• To highlight the value of inter-cultural dialogue in health and policy.

Main Methods:

• Arts-based research and ethnography.
• Creative narrative workshops guided by the question "What is health?"
• Participant observation, sociological interviews, and discourse analysis of government documents.

Main Results:

• Health is perceived as deeply connected to cultural traditions, spiritual harmony, and natural remedies within the Pijao community.
• A significant divergence exists between indigenous and Western medical and spiritual viewpoints.
• Mutual learning and support across cultural differences represent a universal language for collective strength.

Conclusions:

• Indigenous cultural viewpoints offer profound insights into holistic health and well-being.
• Recognizing and integrating diverse beliefs enriches public health approaches.
• Fostering cultural harmony and shared human experiences is crucial for collective understanding and healing.