This editorial is dedicated to all the indigenous peoples and nurse researchers in our midst. I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Indigenous Nurse Researcher Summit in Austin, Texas from November 3–5, 2022. The 1st Summit was held in Florida in 2017 and the 2nd in Australia in 2019. Due to Covid-19, this Summit was delayed by one year. The fourth Summit is scheduled to be in New Zealand in 2024. The 3rd Summit was titled, Honoring our Past, Present and Future and included two full days of presentations and a Saturday community immersion trip. Dr. John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN and Joseph Blades Centennial Memorial Professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, was one of the organizers of the conference. The country organizers are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
The World Bank describes indigenous peoples as, “distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been displaced (
World Bank, 2022
).” There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples world-wide who make up 6 % of the world population but who unfortunately are 20 % of the most extremely poor globally with a lower life expectancy rate. They are more susceptible to diseases and mental and behavioral health challenges due to historical trauma, poverty, social isolation, lack of resources, poor education (including poor access), lack of good paying jobs and a general disregard for the rich cultural traditions and practices of indigenous peoples.World Bank. (2022). Indigenous Peoples Overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples.
In 2016, the
Organization of American States, 2016
, which include Canada, the United States and Latin America developed the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is a well written and thorough document that presents a comprehensive perspective set of principles and behaviors supporting human dignity, respect for and full recognition of how all indigenous peoples should be treated. It includes issues of self-identification, respect for multicultural and multilingual choices and preservation, self-determination, gender equality, prevention of genocide, support for cultural identity and rejection of assimilation in favor of the right to maintain, express and develop one's cultural identity. It speaks to the right to having access to a good education, resources that support health, the importance of maintaining healthy environments and the individual's right to spiritual, religious and political practices, among other full human right. Given the strength and comprehensiveness of this document, the short-fall lies in actual implementation. Countries, including the United States, have not fully embraced and implemented the recommendations found within the document. The plight of indigenous peoples remains perilous.Organization of American States (2016). American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. https://www.oas.org/en/sare/documents/DecAmIND.pdf.
Nurses across the full range of our practice groups need to become aware of the ongoing plight, needs, and strengths of indigenous peoples. The indigenous nurse researchers who presented at the Summit did a masterful job of educating the attendees on their long-standing work and passion for sharing research on the specific population they are working with and when viewed collectively, their united effort to bring the voices, experiences and needs of indigenous peoples to the forefront. The presenters were from, or presenting their work with indigenous peoples from Canada, Australia (Torres Strait), the United States (Montana, Alaska, Texas), New Zealand (Māori), Panama, Norway, Guam, Taiwan, among others. Presenters discussed issues of historical and contemporary trauma, cultural determinants of health, safety, suicide and substance use rates, indigenous science, the value of the land and family/community.
I would encourage all readers of Archives to read the following in order to deepen their understanding of these populations. The
Brockie et al., 2021
paper issued a call for action asking nurses to become allies in the support of policies and resources to promote equitable health outcomes for indigenous peoples. Brockie, T., Clark, TC., Best, O., Power, T., Bearskin, LB., Kurtz, D., Lowe, J., & Wilson, D. (2021). Indigenous social exclusion to inclusion: Case studies on indigenous nursing leadership in four high income countries. Journal of Clinical Nursing. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15801.
Van Bewer, Woodgate, Martin and Deer, 2020
talked about the importance of including the perspectives, experiences and health data of indigenous peoples (an often- forgotten group) in nursing curricula. Lastly, Lowe et al., 2019
developed a theoretical framework, Native-Reliance, as a cultural fit for research conducted with Native American populations. Attending this Summit increased my awareness, knowledge, and determination to become an intentional ally of these frequently forgotten peoples.References
Brockie, T., Clark, TC., Best, O., Power, T., Bearskin, LB., Kurtz, D., Lowe, J., & Wilson, D. (2021). Indigenous social exclusion to inclusion: Case studies on indigenous nursing leadership in four high income countries. Journal of Clinical Nursing. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15801.
- Utility of the native-reliance theoretical framework, model and questionnaire.Journal of Cultural Diversity. 2019; 26: 61-68
Organization of American States (2016). American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. https://www.oas.org/en/sare/documents/DecAmIND.pdf.
- The importance and promise of integrating indigenous perspectives in nursing education. Witness: The Canadian journal of critical nursing.Discourse. 2020; 2: 11-24https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.46
World Bank. (2022). Indigenous Peoples Overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples.
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Published online: December 22, 2022
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