Bridging two worlds: Indigenous healing and western medicine [Video]

“I grew up in a very traditional household,” he said. “A lot of the medicine that I learned about growing up, and learning from other sources over the years, kind of inspired me to examine how traditional medicines are viewed from a Western science standpoint.”

Despite growing recognition of Indigenous healing practices, he said Western medicine has been slow to embrace them.

“There hasn’t been much on the side of Western science to impart traditional knowledge, other than the academic aspect of how medicine works.”

Traditional practices are already part of everyday life

Dr. Janet Tootoosis, Vice Dean of Indigenous Health at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, has spent years pushing for Western medicine to be more open to Indigenous healing.

“My approach has always been building a culture in Western medicine that is receptive and respectful to alternative healing practices,” she said.

She believes many people unknowingly incorporate traditional healing into their daily lives.

“It …