Native Research Articles

The cultural safety of research reports on primary healthcare use by Indigenous Peoples: a systematic review

IntroductionCommunity-driven research in primary healthcare (PHC) may reduce the chronic disease burden in Indigenous peoples. This systematic review assessed the cultural safety of reports of research on PHC use by Indigenous peoples from four countries with similar colonial histories.MethodsMedline, CINAHL and Embase were all systematically searched from 1st January 2002 to 4th April 2023. Papers were included if they were original studies, published in English and included data (quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods) on primary healthcare use for chronic disease (chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes mellitus) by Indigenous Peoples from Western colonial countries. Study screening and data extraction were undertaken independently by two authors, at least one of whom was Indigenous. The baseline characteristics of the papers were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Aspects of cultural safety of the research papers were assessed using two quality appraisal tools: the CONSIDER tool and the CREATE tool (subset analysis). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool.ResultsWe identified 35 papers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Most papers were quantitative (n = 21) and included data on 42,438 people. Cultural safety across the included papers varied significantly with gaps in adequate reporting of research partnerships, provision of clear collective consent from participants and Indigenous research governance throughout the research process, particularly in dissemination. The majority of the papers (94%, 33/35) stated that research aims emerged from communities or empirical evidence. We also found that 71.4% (25/35) of papers reported of using strengths-based approaches by considering the impacts of colonization on reduced primary healthcare access.ConclusionResearch on Indigenous PHC use should adopt more culturally safe ways of providing care and producing research outputs which are relevant to community needs by privileging Indigenous voices throughout the research process including dissemination. Indigenous stakeholders should participate more formally and explicitly throughout the process to guide research practices, inclusive of Indigenous values and community needs.

Ethnic disparities in mental health problems in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

Indigenous people experience poorer mental health compared to the general population. Socioeconomic gaps partly explain these disparities. However, there is variability between populations and French overseas territories are understudied. This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems among Indigenous people in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, describing and comparing it with that of their counterparts while considering associated factors. We used the data from the cross-sectional Mental Health in the General Population survey in the only 3 sites for which information on indigenous status was available: Noumea (2006) and the 'Bush' (2008) in New Caledonia, and French Polynesia (2015-2017). Current mental health issues were screened using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. In multivariable analyses, we considered the following factors: gender, age, education level, marital status, occupational activity and monthly income. Overall, 2294 participants were analysed. Among the 1379 indigenous participants, 52.3% had at least one mental health issue. The prevalence of depressive disorder (18.0% vs 11.7%), alcohol use disorder (16.7% vs 11.7%) and suicide risk (22.3% vs 16.7%) were higher among indigenous participants compared to non-indigenous participants. After adjustment, the association between indigenous status and these mental health issues did not persist, except for alcohol use disorder. We found higher prevalence of depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder and suicide risk among indigenous people of French Polynesia and New Caledonia compared to their counterparts. These differences seemed largely explained by socioeconomic disparities. Future studies could explore the use of and access to healthcare by indigenous populations.

Integrating science on indigenous arts, culture, and law: A sine qua non for Africa’s true independence from colonialism and eurocentrism

Africa has been fighting against colonialism and Eurocentrism for a long time in an attempt to reverse the regime of oppression and socio-economic marginalization and exploitation, and take back control of its cultural identity and right to self-determination. This adventure requires the recognition and revitalisation of indigenous arts, culture, and law—all of which have been subjugated and ignored during colonial rule. Ironically, the situation has not improved much by the dominating presence of post-independent neo-colonial structures and perpetuated Eurocentric phenomenon that have been ingrained into the socio-cultural and economic fabrics of the African state. This research explores the critical need for integrating science on African indigenous arts, culture, and legal systems, as a way of globalizing as well as revitalizing these elements, towards the ultimate emancipation of the continent from the vestiges of colonialism and Eurocentricism. Relying on the postcolonial, and indigenous knowledge systems theoretical frameworks, the study engages the ethnographic, collaborative and interdisciplinary research approaches, subjecting data obtained to thematic analysis. Underscoring the profound interconnectedness of science, indigenous arts, and cultural heritage, the study argues that combining scientific methods with indigenous African epistemology provides a powerful framework for advancing Africa’s true independence from the protracted legacies of colonialism and Eurocentrism. The research concludes that a holistic integration of these elements therefore, is indispensable for fostering a decolonized and inclusive approach to knowledge production, self-determination and sustainable development, against the background of the rich insights and sustainable practices embedded within the African cultural traditions. Ultimately, the research recommends that embracing and integrating science on indigenous epistemologies can propel Africa towards an emancipated, truly independent, and culturally affirming future, transcending the enduring legacies of colonialism and Eurocentrism.

Interview with Alexandra Almeida of Ecological Action Entrevista con Alexandra Almeida de Acción Ecológica (Ecuador)

Alexandra Almeida is in charge of oil affairs in the environmental organization Acción Ecológica, based in Quito, Ecuador. Her work of awareness and promotion of environmental resistance focuses on the Amazon basin of Ecuador. In this interview, she tells us about the activities of the organization together with indigenous peoples, her confrontations with the center-left government of Rafael Correa (2007-2017) in recent years and the expectations about extractivism and resistance against the new Government of Lenin Moreno. [Article copies available for a fee from The Transformative Studies Institute. E-mail address: journal@transformativestudies.org Website: http://www.transformativestudies.org ©2024 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.]

Cultural context and sentencing: content analysis of sentencing remarks for Indigenous defendants of domestic violence in the Northern Territory, Australia

ABSTRACT The focal concerns perspective was developed to understand differential sentencing outcomes for minority defendants in the United States. Although the focal concerns perspective dominates empirical sentencing research, its application in Australia has limitations in understanding sentencing disparities of Indigenous defendants, especially around cultural and customary contexts. In Australia, this limitation is exasperated by jurisdictional nuances and that certain sentencing – like for domestic violence – requires consideration of cultural factors. Using content analysis, we examined the extent to which cultural and customary contexts were acknowledged within the sentencing remarks of 72 Indigenous spousal domestic violence defendants sentenced in the Northern Territory Supreme Court between April 2015 to April 2016. We found limited acknowledgement of culture and customary practices for Indigenous defendants. Around a third of transcripts referred to Indigenous cultural factors. When cultural factors were identified, the impacts on sentencing were absent, superficial, or applied in a way to remove cultural meaning. Consequently, there was little evidence that sentencing courts adequately accounted for the unique experiences of Indigenous people. This can further marginalise Indigenous people, decrease the capacity for healing and rehabilitation at sentencing, and increase sentencing disparities. We consider plausible strategies for judicial decision-making processes that ensure cultural and customary contexts.

De-othering: indigenous perspectives on diversity, equity and inclusion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to share two Indigenous perspectives on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). It is grounded in aspirations for de-othering and de-colonisation. De-othering is the unpicking of the status of “other” bestowed upon us by the dominant culture, and de-colonisation involves the deconstruction of the ways the settler states in which we live have defined and oppressed us. Design/methodology/approach The methodology is a critical self-reflection, drawing on the lived experience of two Indigenous scholars in business fields outside of the international business discipline. Findings The findings explore policies, like affirmative action emerging in the 1960s, to the pantheon of DEI theory and strategies developed, as tools of the dominant culture, albeit well-meaning, that perpetuate the dependency of the “other” on the largesse of the “dominant”, which ultimately maintain relations of oppression. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the paper include, that we cannot speak for all Indigenous peoples. This paper is a personal viewpoint and is not a meta-analysis of theory and literature. The authors draw on the personal, which for Indigenous peoples is also the political, perspectives, that are steeped in their cultural histories and identities, and underpinned by their aspirations for social change and social justice for their peoples. Practical implications The authors offer practical implications for those Indigenous Peoples and allies looking to develop empowering strategies for de-othering individuals and communities defined by dominant cultures as “others”, which in turn has social implications for engagement in truly empowering work in social justice at the borderlands of power, particularly in terms of international business guided by ethics and social responsibility. Social implications In this paper, the authors use the following terms: Maori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, First Peoples and Indigenous Peoples. They use the term Peoples to denote that they are not one homogenous People but a collective society that consists of many distinct communities, peoples and nations. Originality/value The authors offer practical implications for those Indigenous Peoples and allies looking to develop empowering strategies for de-othering those defined by dominant cultures as “others”, which in turn has social implications for those engaged in truly empowering work for social justice at the borderlands of power, particularly in terms of international business guided by ethics and social responsibility. They make no apologies for this paper, as it is entirely based on personal viewpoints.

Sensing Toxic Injustice: Exploring the Polluting Touch of Colonialism

Abstract The bodies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are often discovered at polluted sites in Winnipeg, Canada, including the Red River. Left at toxic sites that authorities deem environmentally dangerous, these women became untouchable in death, mired in sociocultural representations of disposability and wasting practices. We link murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls to the polluting effects of white settler colonialism especially pertaining to the degradation of Winnipeg’s waterways. As a means for enacting slow, environmental violence, current waste allocation practices remain tied to colonial systems that continue to harm Indigenous peoples. To foreground overlapping devaluations of Indigenous lands and people, we argue for a sensory criminology that is sensitized to the ongoing damage of colonial violence.

In-depth analysis of the medical supply for indigenous people in North-Eastern Colombia: a dominance of infectious diseases and only insufficient therapeutic options

BackgroundColombian indigenous Wiwas are exposed to a variety of partly complex medical conditions with a predominance of infectious diseases. The study provided here aims at verifying of falsifying previous suspicions on therapeutic shortcomings and neglect of disease categories.Material and methodsLocal diagnoses within various subpopulations of indigenous Wiwas obtained by a study physician and local health brigades and health points between 2017 and 2018 were coded following the ICD 10 classification from 2019. Proportions of diagnoses per ICD-10 sub-chapter were evaluated to find diseases and to rank the occurrence of diagnoses in the population of indigenous people. Thereafter, the available medication provided by the indigenous health care provider Dusakawi for the treatment of the indigenous patients was analyzed in regard of its sufficiency to cover the recorded diseases.ResultsThe majority of the diseases found in the communities cannot at all (32%) or only partially (56%) be treated according to available guidelines. Only few (12%), predominantly infectious diseases, were covered completely by the provided medication. Notably, there are some ICD chapters with diseases that do only rarely appear at all in the gained datasets, e.g., complications during birth, mental disorders or cancer.ConclusionsAn expansion and revision of the medical supply for the indigenous population of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is needed. An emergency kit for medical brigades and health points should be provided and in place. Awareness for neglected diseases needs to be created.

‘Life Will Be Very Different after the War’: Administrative, Political and Academic Tensions in the Development of Papua New Guinea after the Second World War

ABSTRACTAt the end of the Pacific War (1941–1945) in Papua and New Guinea and the restoration of Australian rule, the Australian Labor government anticipated a self‐governing colony. It was not an act of decolonisation per se. Rather it was a step toward a self‐governing colony under the umbrella of Australia. Independence was for the future. The change of government at the end of 1949, and the replacement of the administrator J.K. Murray in 1952 by Donald Cleland, further weakened the momentum for reform as envisaged by the previous Labor government. Percy Spender, the new Minister for External Affairs and Territories, said that the ‘indigenous inhabitants … will be unable, for many years to come, to play any part in the executive government of the country’. The abandonment of the Ward policy and what it explicitly and implicitly offered was a betrayal of the promises made during and shortly after the Pacifc War, that is, that there would be change for the better and New Guineans would be able to control their destiny.

Potential application of batang garing cultural values of Dayak tribe in orangutan conservation

Background: This is intended to describe the Batang Garing symbol of the Dayak Ngaju tribe in Central Kalimantan as a container for preservation. From the previous study mentioned about Batang garing arise environmental consciousness, and this study attempts to identify the cultural values of the Batang Garing tribe in the life of the Dayak tribe and to seek opportunities to apply the cultural values of the Batang Garing Dayak tribe in orangutan conservation. Methods: This study using qualitative techniques is used to measure rehabilitation and assess the contribution of rehabilitation to conservation. Findings: It can be concluded that the Batang Garing concept is in harmony with the idea of orangutan conservation. The construction of meaning that is carried out provides space for collaboration between local values and modern values in the conservation agenda, it is hoped that this alignment will facilitate the involvement of indigenous peoples in harmony with orangutan conservation so that they play an active role in conservation because there are several overlapping values. Conclusion: The constructs provided are expected to be useful in forming universal knowledge/which can be understood by the wider community, including policy makers, namely the Government, as well as policy observers, both academics and practitioners regarding the agenda of forest conservation. Novelty/Originality of this Study: The novelty of this study lies in its exploration of the potential application of the Dayak Tribe's Batang Garing cultural values in orangutan conservation. This research uniquely combines indigenous wisdom with modern conservation efforts, aiming to foster community involvement and promote sustainable natural resource management.

Investigation of Phytochemicals, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Taxus wallichiana Found in Different Altitudes of Nepal

Indigenous people of hilly region have been using Taxus as a medicinal source for various diseases including cancer. Taxol, one of its main constituents, has been recognized and backed by scientific research; it has been used as a cancer cell suppressing biomolecule in chemo therapies. This study was carried out to collect data that would provide information on the influence of altitude on the production of metabolites and to investigate the phytochemicals, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties present in Taxus wallichiana Zucc. found in Nepal. Needles were used for phytochemical extraction by Soxhlet method where methanol was used as a solvent. Some of the primary metabolites including carbohydrate and secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, coumarin & steroid were present. Quantitative estimation of the total flavonoid and phenol content of plant extracts were determined. TPC of the plant extract from Dolakha and Jajarkot were 68.745 ± 0.70 and 21.323 ± 1.15GAE/g in 100% concentration respectively. Similarly, TFC from Dolakha and Jajarkot were found to be 5.904 ± 0.024 and 6.275 ± 0.54 Quercetin equivalent per gram. Furthermore, their antioxidant (DPPH) and antimicrobial property was studied. The IC50 value for extract of T. wallichiana from Dolakha was 94.72 µg/mL and Jajarkot was 129 µg/mL, which was comparatively higher than the IC50 (14.54 µg/mL) of Quercetin. Additionally, the plant extract of concentrations of 700 and 950 mg/mL exhibited promising antibacterial properties in E. coli and S. aureus, except K. pneumonia. This study indicates that there is no significant role of altitude in metabolite production of T. wallichiana zucc. Nevertheless, it could be the potential drug due to considerable amounts of phenol and flavonoid contents including natural oxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Kurusu Kuatia. Written Culture and Indigenous Memory in the Reductions of Paraguay (Eighteenth Century)

In the history of the Guaraní reductions, one of the themes that has attracted attention is the indigenous opposition to accepting orders to move after the Treaty of Madrid was signed by the Iberian monarchies in 1750. At this time, there was intense use of writing by the Guaraní, prompting a ‘written reaction’. They wrote several texts, using arguments against the implementation of the exchange of eastern missions with the Colônia do Sacramento. The refusal of the indigenous people to abandon their reductions triggered a conflict known in historiography as the Guaranitic War. At the beginning of March 1756, about a month after the Battle of Caiboaté, in the place where the indigenous militia was defeated by the Iberian armies, some leaders of the Reduction of São Miguel erected a large cross with an inscription written in Guaraní (Kurusu Kuatia). It is an epitaph, in the Guaraní language, reporting episodes from that battle. The text, signed by Miguel Mayra, was only located three years after the events. This type of exposed writing is an indigenous memory of past events, episodes assessed by the rebel population as worthy of collective remembrance.

Braiding frameworks for collaborative stewardship scholarship

Human-environment relationships are most frequently viewed from evolutionary perspectives, despite the vast body of literature which highlights how many Indigenous peoples engage with and understand place, plants, and animals as kinship relations. My goals in this essay are twofold: first, to suggest we adopt the phrase stewardship to recognize and uphold notions of respect, reciprocity, and relationships that are common within many Indigenous worldviews, and secondly, to advocate for the use of pluralistic approaches to our collaborative scholarship. I offer examples from my own experiences in reconstructing stewardship histories across people, plants, and places in the Pacific Northwest.

Huma BetHuma Betang-Based Resolution of Mining Land Conflictsang Based Mining Land Conflict Resolution

This study aimed to explore local wisdom treasures related to the study of legal culture which was not widely known by the public. This study used a mix of anthropological and juridical philosophical methods. It used the socio-legal study approach conducted through direct exploration and structured interviews. Results showed that Dayak Bakumpai indigenous people highly uphold the inclusive cultural principles contained in the Huma Betang philosophies. One of the philosophies was the resolution of mining land conflicts, influenced by the culture’s positive values. This value was adopted from an inclusive culture in the Belom Bahadat values that are upheld by the Bakumpai Dayak community. Meanwhile, conflict resolution was carried out through "Bahandep Bahapakat Rakat", which is a practice of helping each other in deliberations. This is so that the headman or local traditional leader can help people return to harmony.

Using electronic health record data for chronic disease surveillance in low- and middle-income countries: the example of hypertension in rural Guatemala

Hypertension is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Two-thirds of people with hypertension live in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). However, epidemiological data necessary to address the growing burden of hypertension and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in LMICs are severely lacking. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are an emerging source of epidemiological data for LMICs, but have been underutilized for NCD monitoring. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in a rural Indigenous community in Guatemala using EHR data, describe hypertension risk factors and current treatment in this population, and demonstrate the feasibility of using EHR data for epidemiological surveillance of NCDs in LMIC. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3646 adult clinic visits. We calculated hypertension prevalence using physician diagnosis, antihypertensive treatment, or Blood Pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mmHg. We noted antihypertensives prescribed and BP control (defined as BP<140/90 mmHg) for a total of 2496 unique patients (21% of whom were men). We constructed mixed-effects models to investigate the relationship between BP and hypertension risk factors. The estimated hypertension prevalence was 16.7%. Two-thirds of these patients had elevated BP, but were not diagnosed with or treated for hypertension. Most patients receiving treatment were prescribed monotherapy and only 31.0% of those with recognized hypertension had controlled BP. Male sex, older age, increasing weight, and history of hypertension were associated with increasing systolic BP, while history of hypertension, history of diabetes, and increasing weight were associated with increasing diastolic BP. Using EHR data, we estimated comparable hypertension prevalence and similar risk factor associations to prior studies conducted in Guatemala, which used traditional epidemiological methods. Hypertension was underrecognized and undertreated in our study population, and our study was more efficient than traditional methods and provided additional data on treatment and outcomes; insights gleaned from this analysis were essential in developing a sustainable intervention. Our experience demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of using EHR-derived data for NCD surveillance and program planning in LMICs.

VALUING INDIGENOUS RIGHTS OVER FOREST GOVERNANCE IN SIX ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES

Indigenous forests and indigenous communities have always shared a deep emotional, spiritual, and practical bond. This paper aims to methodically examine the relationship between the level of rights held by indigenous people concerning indigenous forest governance and the ability of the indigenous community in ensuring the long-term viability of its ecosystems. Concurrently, in examining and discussing these issues it is hoped that it can also contribute to the survival of the indigenous people in the future. The elucidation of indigenous people’s rights in the context of indigenous forest governance is based on the empirical scrutiny of the study hypotheses, utilizing the Sikor et al. type of rights. A quantitative analysis through Somer analysis was also carried out on the comprehensive secondary data sets obtained from six selected ASEAN member countries. The findings show that the six selected ASEAN member countries have not yet been granted the third level of rights for indigenous peoples with regard to indigenous forest governance. The statistical evidence strongly suggests the urgent need in these countries to grant indigenous people rights over indigenous forest governance, both within a legal framework and in practical implementation, particularly at the definitional and allocative level of rights. The absence of such rights at the highest levels raises significant concerns about the sustainability of indigenous forests and the welfare of indigenous people across the observed ASEAN member countries.

Sovereignty and Human Rights: Examining Sustainable Plantation Enterprises in Indonesia

The Sovereignty Principle in the Plantations Law legalizes dynamics that disproportionately empower plantation companies while disenfranchising indigenous peoples. Under this principle, plantation permits are granted to companies, not indigenous communities, limiting the latter's involvement in mandatory deliberations set by the law. Consequently, indigenous peoples are coerced into relinquishing their lands in exchange for compensation, leading to the erosion of their collective land rights. This practice is at odds with the protections intended under Article 28D Paragraph (1) and Article 28H Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia, which safeguard collective rights to property. The lack of political will to recognize and protect these rights suggests a troubling disregard for the existence and sovereignty of indigenous peoples.

Model Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Kelautan dan Kemaritiman

Introduction: Indigenous people who live on small islands are quite large in number compared to the available natural resources. So it can be said that it is not enough to meet the basic needs of indigenous peoples, for a certain period of time. Therefore, the idea was born to create legal regulations that could regulate and organize all the potential of marine and maritime resources so that they could be used wisely.Purposes of the Research: to formulate the formulation of a Marine and Maritime Resources Management Model in Central Maluku Regency.Methods of the Research: This research was conducted using an empirical juridical approach which is a descriptive qualitative analysis study. The research seeks to describe the Marine and Maritime Resource Management Model in Central Maluku Regency. The way the empirical juridical or sociological juridical method works in this research proposal is from the results of collecting and finding data and information through literature study of the basic assumptions or presumptions used in answering the problems in this research, then inductive-verification testing is carried out on the latest facts available. exists in society, thus the truth in a study has been declared reliable without having to go through a rationalization process.Results of the Research: To minimize conflicts and disputes that occur in the marine and maritime customary rights community, there must be a formulation of a model for regulating marine and maritime management in Central Maluku Regency involving all cuttings holders.

Pull Factors for Event Delegates Moderating Effect Of Cultural Tourism Attraction

This study seeks to explore the pull factors that influence delegates' decision to attend an event. This research also involves the factor of cultural tourism attraction as a moderating variable. It is well known that Yogyakarta as the research location is a city rich in culture, there are many cultural attractions that are favored such as heritage sites, indigenous people's lives, handicraft products, traditional culinary, and a number of other local cultural products. By using Structural Equation Model analysis and involving 190 respondents, namely delegates who attended various events in Yogyakarta, from the results of the study it was found that the pull factors namely accessibility, event organizer (OC), accommodation, venue, price and cultural tourism attraction jointly influenced the decision of delegates to attend the event. Cultural tourism attraction is able to moderate the overall pull factor. The strength of culture that is able to moderate the overall attraction factor indicates that culture is very strong as a novelty event and is a key variable for destinations so that it is attractive to host events.

Medicinal plants and their importance for the conservation of biocultural knowledge in primary school students of the Paniquita Indigenous Community (Rivera, Huila, Colombia)

Ethnobotany approached through ethnoeducation allows for the preservation of the cultural heritage of indigenous communities. In this way, the ethnobotanical knowledge of primary school students from the Paniquita Indigenous Community was recognized, regarding the cultural knowledge of medicinal plants and their significance in the conservation of the biocultural heritage. This research had a qualitative, ethnographic approach. The sample consisted of ten students who were part of a focus group, ethnobotanical walks, and participatory workshops with drawings since they stimulate students' creative and dynamic thinking and strengthen interculturality. Twenty-one plants were reported, which are used to relieve sore throats, headaches, and stomach aches, as well as to treat diarrhea and fever, to prevent flu, and as a purgative. All the medicinal plants mentioned grow in the community and are either cultivated or wild, which also shows the students' knowledge of their territory. These findings reflect the importance of ethno-education and ethnobotany at school and how historical reconstruction processes are generated from these settings, where indigenous ancestral knowledge is made visible.