ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses Indigenous North American healing from a historical and contemporary context. The author explains why Western medicine does not recognize or meet the health needs of many Indigenous peoples. Indigenous ways of knowing and resultant healing approaches are contrasted with Western medicine. The author describes some of the obstacles to the utilization of mainstream mental health services by Indigenous peoples. The chapter contains a brief discussion about what traditional healing is and why there is not much written on this topic. Some well-known examples of Indigenous healing initiatives are discussed as well as the emerging movement to reclaim traditional healing practices. Examples of Indigenous healing ceremonies are provided to illustrate some of the theories and practices used. Examples of the selection and training of traditional healers are provided as well as examples of the use of nature and land-based healing.
