Longing for evidence-based traditions
In Native North America, clinical/healing spaces are caught up in political struggles for autonomy. In Canada’s Northwest Territories, where rates of alcohol consumption are substantially higher than national averages, there are ongoing attempts to align therapeutic practice with traditional Aborigi...
Published in: | Medicine Anthropology Theory |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
University of Edinburgh Library
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.17157/mat.3.1.252 https://doaj.org/article/a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 2023-05-15T17:46:41+02:00 Longing for evidence-based traditions Lindsay Bell 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.17157/mat.3.1.252 https://doaj.org/article/a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 EN eng University of Edinburgh Library http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/4629 https://doaj.org/toc/2405-691X 2405-691X doi:10.17157/mat.3.1.252 https://doaj.org/article/a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 Medicine Anthropology Theory, Vol 3, Iss 1 (2020) addiction evidence care canada indigneity Anthropology GN1-890 Medicine (General) R5-920 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.17157/mat.3.1.252 2022-12-31T15:44:41Z In Native North America, clinical/healing spaces are caught up in political struggles for autonomy. In Canada’s Northwest Territories, where rates of alcohol consumption are substantially higher than national averages, there are ongoing attempts to align therapeutic practice with traditional Aboriginal modes of healing and well-being. This Think Piece traces the ‘therapeutic trajectory’ of alcohol treatment in and out of this subarctic region. I show how the language of ‘evidence-based practice’ affords both gains and losses with regard to the assertion of collective identity and values vis-à-vis the state. Against the backdrop of the closure of the region’s sole residential treatment program, I contrast a conversation with a clinician responsible for implementing culture-based programs with the experiences of Destiny, a young Dene woman who, in the absence of local treatment options, spends time in clinics some one thousand kilometers away from her home community. In her movements away from the place to which she is indigenous, Destiny activates different forms of Aboriginal care than those intended by state and community actors. These divergent perspectives speak to the enmeshment of addiction with the perils and politics of liberal forms of recognition. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northwest Territories Subarctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Northwest Territories Medicine Anthropology Theory 3 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
addiction evidence care canada indigneity Anthropology GN1-890 Medicine (General) R5-920 |
spellingShingle |
addiction evidence care canada indigneity Anthropology GN1-890 Medicine (General) R5-920 Lindsay Bell Longing for evidence-based traditions |
topic_facet |
addiction evidence care canada indigneity Anthropology GN1-890 Medicine (General) R5-920 |
description |
In Native North America, clinical/healing spaces are caught up in political struggles for autonomy. In Canada’s Northwest Territories, where rates of alcohol consumption are substantially higher than national averages, there are ongoing attempts to align therapeutic practice with traditional Aboriginal modes of healing and well-being. This Think Piece traces the ‘therapeutic trajectory’ of alcohol treatment in and out of this subarctic region. I show how the language of ‘evidence-based practice’ affords both gains and losses with regard to the assertion of collective identity and values vis-à-vis the state. Against the backdrop of the closure of the region’s sole residential treatment program, I contrast a conversation with a clinician responsible for implementing culture-based programs with the experiences of Destiny, a young Dene woman who, in the absence of local treatment options, spends time in clinics some one thousand kilometers away from her home community. In her movements away from the place to which she is indigenous, Destiny activates different forms of Aboriginal care than those intended by state and community actors. These divergent perspectives speak to the enmeshment of addiction with the perils and politics of liberal forms of recognition. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lindsay Bell |
author_facet |
Lindsay Bell |
author_sort |
Lindsay Bell |
title |
Longing for evidence-based traditions |
title_short |
Longing for evidence-based traditions |
title_full |
Longing for evidence-based traditions |
title_fullStr |
Longing for evidence-based traditions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Longing for evidence-based traditions |
title_sort |
longing for evidence-based traditions |
publisher |
University of Edinburgh Library |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.17157/mat.3.1.252 https://doaj.org/article/a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 |
geographic |
Canada Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
Canada Northwest Territories |
genre |
Northwest Territories Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Northwest Territories Subarctic |
op_source |
Medicine Anthropology Theory, Vol 3, Iss 1 (2020) |
op_relation |
http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/4629 https://doaj.org/toc/2405-691X 2405-691X doi:10.17157/mat.3.1.252 https://doaj.org/article/a8620f2f22cb496db3911d6f851cb334 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.17157/mat.3.1.252 |
container_title |
Medicine Anthropology Theory |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1766150483306610688 |