Braiding knowledges: Integrating Indigenous healing into team-based primary care

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health
• Primary Care Integration
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Primary care settings often lack integration of Indigenous healing practices.
• There is a growing need for culturally safe and holistic healthcare models.
• Interprofessional teams can be leveraged to incorporate diverse healing modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the integration of Indigenous healing practices within an interprofessional primary care clinic.
• To explore patient and provider perspectives on the value of incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing and healing.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to successful integration.

Main Methods:

• Developmental evaluation using Two-Eyed Seeing and Eco-Normalization frameworks.
• Data collection through surveys, semistructured interviews, and a sharing circle.
• Analysis of quantitative data descriptively and qualitative data using deductive content analysis.

Main Results:

• Nine themes emerged, including valuing Indigenous knowledge, culturally relevant care, and collaboration.
• Patients and providers reported improved cultural safety, trust, and engagement.
• Facilitators included interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships; challenges involved systemic barriers and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Integrating Indigenous knowledge advances culturally safe, holistic, and equity-oriented health services.
• Structural transformation, sustainable funding, and Indigenous governance are crucial for scaling.
• Findings support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action.