The Medicine Wheel: informing the management of tuberculosis outbreaks in Indigenous communities

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Pamela H. Orr, Kathleen McMullin, Linda Larcombe
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Tuberculosis; health; culture; First Nations; traditional knowledge; knowledge translation; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Canada; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2269678; https://doaj.org/article/d44bb3649cd84f79a6758d8170f22036

ABSTRACTMany Indigenous communities in Canada experience endemic tuberculosis with superimposed periodic epidemic outbreaks. Failures in outbreak management have resulted in the “seeding” of future infection and disease. In this paper we present a model that may be used in planning, implementation and review of tuberculosis outbreak management in Cree Indigenous communities in Canada, based on the Medicine Wheel, a paradigm for holistic living. In the context of tuberculosis management, the Medicine Wheel provides a path for the establishment of respectful cross-cultural relationships, the expression of values through action, true community engagement and partnership, and the establishment of culture-based processes of transparency, accountability and change.