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Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People
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Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 83073

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Melissa Haswell

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Health, Safety and Environment Discipline Lead, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia
Interests: empowerment promotion and outcome measures; physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health; health impacts of fossil fuel developments; advocacy, physical, and psychosocial benefits of environment protection; climate change mitigation
Dr. Cristina O’Callaghan-Gordo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: environmental epidemiology; indigenous communities of the Amazon region; extractive industries and health, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and other non-communicable diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Approximately 370 million indigenous peoples live worldwide in approximately 90 countries, with vast diversities of languages, cultures, and ways of being and living, and of enormous challenges and circumstances, which often include invasion, massacres, marginalisation, and systematic disempowerment. Above these diversities, however, are consistent cultural imperatives, which accentuate the deep spiritual connection between the health of families and the health of the natural environment as fundamental to survival and resilience. This benefical relationship is reciprocal at a planetary level—as most places of the highest biodiversity today are concentrated in regions where indigenous peoples retain decision-making power and practice continual custodianship. In many parts of the world, however, indigenous land and broader environmental protection are diminishing, placing indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing, as well as the biodiversity that depends on their continued custodianship, in peril.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for indigenous voices and perspectives from around the world on the importance and ways that natural environments foster and support cultural, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, which are being strengthened or threatened. Articles that report studies using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method designs that support indigenous values, spirit, and integrity, as well as community co-design in their development, implementation, and reporting, are particularly encouraged. Papers are especially welcome from indigenous research leaders and co-leaders.

We are extremely excited about this opportunity to create something special to contribute to the vigorous efforts happening around the world to protect the health of the indigenous peoples who play an essential role in caring for our planet. We look forward to hearing from you and other potential contributors from around the world.

Yours very respectfully,

Prof. Dr. Melissa Haswell
Dr. Cristina O’Callaghan-Gordo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Indigenous peoples
  • Cultural determinants of health and wellbeing
  • Indigenous research design and translation
  • Relationship with the environment
  • Empowerment and voice
  • Environmental health
  • UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Human rights and environmental justice
  • Caring for Country
  • Healing on Country
  • Urban, rural, remote, and uncontacted
  • Fossil fuel developments and health impacts
  • Food and water quality and security

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2704 KiB  
Article
Our Relationship to Water and Experience of Water Insecurity among Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) People, Montana
by Christine Martin, Vanessa W. Simonds, Sara L. Young, John Doyle, Myra Lefthand and Margaret J. Eggers
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020582 - 12 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3546
Abstract
Affordable access to safe drinking water is essential to community health, yet there is limited understanding of water insecurity among Native Americans. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to describe Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) tribal members’ experiences with water insecurity. For Apsáalooke people, [...] Read more.
Affordable access to safe drinking water is essential to community health, yet there is limited understanding of water insecurity among Native Americans. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to describe Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) tribal members’ experiences with water insecurity. For Apsáalooke people, local rivers and springs are still vitally important for traditional cultural activities. We interviewed 30 Native American adults living on the Crow Reservation in Southeastern Montana. Participants answered six open-ended interview questions about their water access, costs of obtaining water and changes in their domestic and traditional water uses. Participants emphasized how the use of water has changed over time and described the complex challenges associated with addressing water insecurity in their community, including the importance of considering the spiritual and cultural impacts of water insecurity on health. Water insecurity is a growing global problem and more attention and efforts are needed to find appropriate and affordable solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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24 pages, 2275 KiB  
Article
Harvest Programs in First Nations of Subarctic Canada: The Benefits Go Beyond Addressing Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Issues
by Leonard J. S. Tsuji, Stephen R. J. Tsuji, Aleksandra M. Zuk, Roger Davey and Eric N. Liberda
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 8113; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218113 - 03 Nov 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8280
Abstract
By breaking down barriers that impacted the ability of subarctic First Nations people to harvest waterfowl, the Sharing-the-Harvest program provided a safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food (i.e., geese) to James Bay Cree communities while also helping to protect the environment by harvesting [...] Read more.
By breaking down barriers that impacted the ability of subarctic First Nations people to harvest waterfowl, the Sharing-the-Harvest program provided a safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food (i.e., geese) to James Bay Cree communities while also helping to protect the environment by harvesting overabundant geese. However, the impacts extend beyond those described above. Thus, the objectives of the present paper are twofold: to document the food sharing networks of the Sharing-the-Harvest program; and to examine the benefits associated with the harvest program beyond food security and environmental sustainability issues, as revealed through semi-directed interviews. In the regional initiative, harvested geese were shared with all James Bay communities; sharing is an important part of Cree culture. Where detailed information was collected, the goose-sharing network reached 76% of the homes in one of the communities. Likewise, in the local initiative, the goose-sharing network had a 76% coverage rate of the homes in the community. Although decreasing food insecurity was an important focus of the harvest-sharing programs, there were other benefits, from an Indigenous perspective, of being on the land, as identified by the Cree harvesters through semi-directed interviews (e.g., the transmission of Indigenous knowledge, the strengthening of social networks, and the feeling of wellness while out on-the-land). Thus, by participating in the on-the-land harvest programs, the Cree gained benefits beyond those solely related to strengthening food security and contributing in part to environmental sustainability. The Sharing-the-Harvest protocol has the potential to be adapted and employed by other Indigenous (or marginalized) groups worldwide, to help improve health and wellness, while, also protecting the environment from overabundant and/or invasive species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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22 pages, 1946 KiB  
Article
Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years
by Jeffrey C. Standen, Geoffrey G. Morgan, Tim Sowerbutts, Katrina Blazek, Jessica Gugusheff, Otto Puntsag, Michael Wollan and Paul Torzillo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(16), 5946; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165946 - 16 Aug 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5765
Abstract
Many studies document the relationship between housing quality and health status. Poor housing in Aboriginal communities continues to be linked to the compromised health status of Aboriginal Australians. The New South Wales (NSW) Housing for Health (HfH) program has been assessing and repairing [...] Read more.
Many studies document the relationship between housing quality and health status. Poor housing in Aboriginal communities continues to be linked to the compromised health status of Aboriginal Australians. The New South Wales (NSW) Housing for Health (HfH) program has been assessing and repairing Aboriginal community housing across the state for 20 years using a standardised intervention methodology that aims to improve the health of Aboriginal people in NSW by improving their living environments. Items are tested and repairs are prioritised to maximise safety and health benefits and measured against 11 Critical Healthy Living Priorities (e.g., safety, facilities for washing people and clothes, removing waste and preparing food). Descriptive analysis of data collected pre- and post-intervention from 3670 houses was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program. Analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the ability of the houses to support safe and healthy living for all critical healthy living priorities post-interventions. Trend analysis demonstrated the magnitude of these improvements increased over 20 years. In 24 communities (n = 802 houses) where projects were repeated (5–17 years later), results indicate sustainability of improvements for 9 of 11 priorities. However, the overall condition of health-related hardware in Aboriginal community housing across NSW pre-intervention has not significantly changed during the program’s 20 years. Results suggest a systematic lack of routine maintenance and quality control continues to be the overwhelming cause for this lack of improvement pre-intervention. Our evaluation of the HfH program demonstrated that fidelity to a standardised housing testing and repair methodology to improve residents’ safety and health can have sustainable effects on housing infrastructure and associated health benefits, such as a 40% reduction in infectious disease hospital separations. Housing and health agencies should collaborate more closely on social housing programs and ensure programs are adequately resourced to address safety and health issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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14 pages, 1454 KiB  
Article
Wongee Mia: An Innovative Family-Centred Approach to Addressing Aboriginal Housing Needs and Preventing Eviction in Australia
by Shannen Vallesi, Eleanor Tighe, Herbert Bropho, Margaret Potangaroa and Leah Watkins
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155501 - 30 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4349
Abstract
Background: Aboriginal Australians are disproportionately affected by homelessness, with traditional housing models failing to recognise the importance of kinship obligations and ongoing systemic racism. The Wongee Mia project is a pilot initiative emerging out of a Housing First project tackling homelessness among Perth’s [...] Read more.
Background: Aboriginal Australians are disproportionately affected by homelessness, with traditional housing models failing to recognise the importance of kinship obligations and ongoing systemic racism. The Wongee Mia project is a pilot initiative emerging out of a Housing First project tackling homelessness among Perth’s most vulnerable rough sleepers. The project takes a different approach to working with and providing long-term housing to Aboriginal families in Perth, Western Australia. Methods: The Wongee Mia project is centred around one person “Robby” and his family to prevent eviction. Data are collected from monthly action research meetings, yarning sessions with family Elders, and case notes. Results: The project identified 32 family members who had potential to place “Robby’s” tenancy at risk. As at December 2019, 29 members of Robby’s family have been supported by the Wongee Mia case workers, and five have been housed. Key elements of Wongee Mia are the broader links to end homelessness initiatives (the Housing First program), the cultural backgrounds of the case workers and their ability to connect in a meaningful way with the family, Elder involvement (including the co-production of this paper), and an underlying action research model enabling program delivery improvements. Conclusion: The Wongee Mia project offers an innovative way of working with families to prevent unnecessary eviction by working through the whole family’s needs rather than those of an individual in relation to housing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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14 pages, 336 KiB  
Article
Reclaiming ʻĀina Health in Waimānalo
by LeShay Keli‘iholokai, Samantha Keaulana, Mapuana C. K. Antonio, Ikaika Rogerson, Kirk Deitschman, Joseph Awa Kamai, Luana Albinio, Kilauea Wilson, Dawn Kepa, Kuaiwi Laka Makua, J. Kahaulahilahi Vegas, Jane J. Chung-Do, Kenneth Ho, Jr. and H. Ilima Ho-Lastimosa
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 5066; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145066 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2487
Abstract
Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) worldviews of health emphasize pono (righteousness) and lōkahi (balance), which extends to include relationships with other people, akua (spiritual realm), and ʻāina (land). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the role of ʻāina and ʻāina connection [...] Read more.
Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) worldviews of health emphasize pono (righteousness) and lōkahi (balance), which extends to include relationships with other people, akua (spiritual realm), and ʻāina (land). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the role of ʻāina and ʻāina connection in health and resilience based on the perspectives of 12 Kānaka Maoli adults from the Waimānalo community. Three major themes were identified: ʻĀina is everything, ʻāina is health, and community healing through community-led initiatives. A better understanding of ʻāina connection is important to improve our knowledge of Hawaiian health. A connection to ʻāina may specifically address health concerns resulting from historical trauma and environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
25 pages, 430 KiB  
Article
“Living Well” in the Constitution of Bolivia and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Reflections on Well-Being and the Right to Development
by Karen Giovanna Añaños Bedriñana, Bernardo Alfredo Hernández Umaña and José Antonio Rodríguez Martín
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082870 - 21 Apr 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3847
Abstract
The article analyzes how approaches to “Living Well” as reflected in the Constitution of the State of Bolivia, the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Organization of American States (OAS) [...] Read more.
The article analyzes how approaches to “Living Well” as reflected in the Constitution of the State of Bolivia, the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Organization of American States (OAS) contribute to understanding the Andean cosmovision of indigenous peoples of the American continent. To do so, it first studied the most immediate precedents that led to incorporation of the notion of Living Well into Bolivian law. Second, it approached the right to development from the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which has as its source the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The paper thus proposes reflections on the Bolivian State and the American Declaration that advance understanding of Living Well, a notion comparable in the West to the right to development (political, social, economic, environmental, and cultural) that enables the individual and collective realization of the individual. Fullness, understood in terms of well-being, is related to the protection of health and of the environment. Finally, the paper employs a qualitative methodology with a well-documented hermeneutic focus, as well as the tool of a semi-structured interview with a Bolivian scholar familiar on the topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
20 pages, 3501 KiB  
Article
Visual Storytelling, Intergenerational Environmental Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty: Exploring Images and Stories amid a Contested Oil Pipeline Project
by Samuel J. Spiegel, Sarah Thomas, Kevin O’Neill, Cassandra Brondgeest, Jen Thomas, Jiovanni Beltran, Terena Hunt and Annalee Yassi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072362 - 31 Mar 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9992
Abstract
Visual practices of representing fossil fuel projects are entangled in diverse values and relations that often go underexplored. In Canada, visual media campaigns to aggressively push forward the fossil fuel industry not only relegate to obscurity indigenous values but mask evidence on health [...] Read more.
Visual practices of representing fossil fuel projects are entangled in diverse values and relations that often go underexplored. In Canada, visual media campaigns to aggressively push forward the fossil fuel industry not only relegate to obscurity indigenous values but mask evidence on health impacts as well as the aspirations of those most affected, including indigenous communities whose food sovereignty and stewardship relationship to the land continues to be affronted by oil pipeline expansion. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation, based at the terminal of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Canada, has been at the forefront of struggles against the pipeline expansion. Contributing to geographical, environmental studies, and public health research grappling with the performativity of images, this article explores stories conveying health, environmental, and intergenerational justice concerns on indigenous territory. Adapting photovoice techniques, elders and youth illustrated how the environment has changed over time; impacts on sovereignty—both food sovereignty and more broadly; concepts of health, well-being and deep cultural connection with water; and visions for future relationships. We explore the importance of an intergenerational lens of connectedness to nature and sustainability, discussing visual storytelling not just as visual counter-narrative (to neocolonial extractivism) but also as an invitation into fundamentally different ways of seeing and interacting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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10 pages, 645 KiB  
Article
Empowering Voice through the Creation of a Safe Space: An Experience of Aboriginal Women in Regional Queensland
by Christina M Bernardes, Patricia C Valery, Brian Arley, Gregory Pratt, Linda Medlin and Judith A Meiklejohn
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051476 - 25 Feb 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2906
Abstract
Background: Sharing stories creates a space for respectful conversation and contributes to both knowledge and a sense of fellowship. This paper reflects on the experience of the research team in supporting a group of Aboriginal women to create safe spaces and to share [...] Read more.
Background: Sharing stories creates a space for respectful conversation and contributes to both knowledge and a sense of fellowship. This paper reflects on the experience of the research team in supporting a group of Aboriginal women to create safe spaces and to share their stories of healing, social and emotional wellbeing. Methods: Secondary data of a study exploring community perceptions about cancer were analysed using the holistic model of Indigenous Wellbeing developed by the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative (2008). Qualitative data were collected during yarning sessions with a group of Aboriginal women while creating a quilt. Results: Four elements of the Indigenous Wellbeing model were identified: connectedness, sense of control, threats and relationship with the mainstream. The yarning sessions promoted dialogue, identified needs and supported the voices of the participants. A duality of forces (positive and negative) influencing community wellbeing was identified. Conclusion: This project highlights the need for spaces that support people and the community to express concerns, identify needs, propose solutions and begin a dialogue that encourages empowerment. Community-driven conversation and the identification of safe and empowering spaces can serve to empower social and emotional wellbeing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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21 pages, 348 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Roles of Remoteness and Indigenous Status in Rural and Remote Road Trauma in North Queensland: Using a Mixed-Methods Approach
by Colin Edmonston, Victor Siskind and Mary Sheehan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051467 - 25 Feb 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
Road trauma is a significant health problem in rural and remote regions of Australia, particularly for Indigenous communities. This study aims to identify and compare the circumstances leading to (proximal causation) and social determinants of (distal causation) crashes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people [...] Read more.
Road trauma is a significant health problem in rural and remote regions of Australia, particularly for Indigenous communities. This study aims to identify and compare the circumstances leading to (proximal causation) and social determinants of (distal causation) crashes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in these regions and their relation to remoteness. This is a topic seriously under-researched in Australia. Modelled on an earlier study, 229 persons injured in crashes were recruited from local health facilities in rural and remote North Queensland and interviewed, mainly by telephone, according to a fixed protocol which included a detailed narrative of the circumstances of the crash. A qualitative analysis of these narratives identified several core themes, further explored statistically in this sample, supplemented by participants in the earlier study with compatible questionnaire data, designed to determine which factors were more closely associated with Indigenous status and which with remoteness. Indigenous participants were less often vehicle controllers, more likely to have recently been a drink driver or passenger thereof; to be unemployed, unlicensed, distracted or fatigued before the crash, alcohol dependent and have lower perceived social, but not personal, locus of control in a traffic crash than non-Indigenous persons. Differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants are largely ascribable to hardship and transport disadvantage due to lack of access to licensing and associated limitations on employment opportunities. Based on these findings, a number of policy recommendations relating to educational, enforcement and engineering issues have been made. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
15 pages, 1222 KiB  
Article
Neonatal Mortality and Temperature in Two Northern Swedish Rural Parishes, 1860–1899—The Significance of Ethnicity and Gender
by Lena Karlsson, Erling H. Lundevaller and Barbara Schumann
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041216 - 13 Feb 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2281
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the association between season of birth and daily temperature for neonatal mortality in two Swedish rural parishes between 1860 and 1899. Further, we aimed to study whether the association varied according to ethnicity (indigenous Sami [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to analyze the association between season of birth and daily temperature for neonatal mortality in two Swedish rural parishes between 1860 and 1899. Further, we aimed to study whether the association varied according to ethnicity (indigenous Sami reindeer herders and non-Sami settlers) and gender. The source material for this study comprised digitized parish records from the Demographic Data Base, Umeå University, combined with local weather data provided by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Using a time event-history approach, we investigated the association between daily temperature (at birth and up to 28 days after birth) and the risk of neonatal death during the coldest months (November through March). The results showed that Sami neonatal mortality was highest during winter and that the Sami neonatal mortality risk decreased with higher temperatures on the day of birth. Male neonatal risk decreased with higher temperatures during the days following birth, while no effect of temperature was observed among female neonates. We conclude that weather vulnerability differed between genders and between the indigenous and non-indigenous populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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15 pages, 1810 KiB  
Article
Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs) Enhance the Wellbeing of Indigenous Australians
by Silva Larson, Natalie Stoeckl, Diane Jarvis, Jane Addison, Daniel Grainger, Felecia Watkin Lui, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation, Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010125 - 23 Dec 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6904
Abstract
Conservation and environmental management have been reported as offering opportunities to substantially improve the wellbeing of Indigenous people. Using the holistic wellbeing impact evaluation (W-IE) approach—well suited for use in Indigenous communities—we interviewed 190 Indigenous Australians across four communities. All communities were involved [...] Read more.
Conservation and environmental management have been reported as offering opportunities to substantially improve the wellbeing of Indigenous people. Using the holistic wellbeing impact evaluation (W-IE) approach—well suited for use in Indigenous communities—we interviewed 190 Indigenous Australians across four communities. All communities were involved in the Indigenous land and sea management programs (ILSMPs). Our study explored the conceptualisation of ‘wellbeing’ by participants. In particular, we were interested in the aspects of wellbeing perceived to be affected by ILSMPs. Out of the 26 wellbeing factors explored, ‘Health centres’; ‘Language’; ‘Schools’; and ‘Safe community’ emerged as being of highest importance to the largest percentage of the respondents. When grouped using principle components analysis (PCA), the ‘Community and society’ domain emerged as the most important; accounting for 52% of the overall importance of all wellbeing factors. The second most important domain was the ‘Country and culture’, contributing 31%. Lastly, ‘Economic aspects’ contributed only 17%. Respondents believed that ILSMPs have played a considerable causal role in improving wellbeing, by positively changing factors most important to them. Specifically, 73% of perceived causal links were related to improvements in the ‘Country and Culture’ and 23% to ‘Community and Society’ domain. We thus conclude that land management for Indigenous people is much more than ecological or environmental management with ILSMPs, perceived to cause a wide range of cultural and social benefits. We also propose ways in which the future design of such programs could be improved to further increase benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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17 pages, 8004 KiB  
Article
“Language Breathes Life”—Barngarla Community Perspectives on the Wellbeing Impacts of Reclaiming a Dormant Australian Aboriginal Language
by Leda Sivak, Seth Westhead, Emmalene Richards, Stephen Atkinson, Jenna Richards, Harold Dare, Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Graham Gee, Michael Wright, Alan Rosen, Michael Walsh, Ngiare Brown and Alex Brown
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(20), 3918; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16203918 - 15 Oct 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 14013
Abstract
Traditional languages are a key element of Indigenous peoples’ identity, cultural expression, autonomy, spiritual and intellectual sovereignty, and wellbeing. While the links between Indigenous language loss and poor mental health have been demonstrated in several settings, little research has sought to identify the [...] Read more.
Traditional languages are a key element of Indigenous peoples’ identity, cultural expression, autonomy, spiritual and intellectual sovereignty, and wellbeing. While the links between Indigenous language loss and poor mental health have been demonstrated in several settings, little research has sought to identify the potential psychological benefits that may derive from language reclamation. The revival of the Barngarla language on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, offers a unique opportunity to examine whether improvements in mental health and social and emotional wellbeing can occur during and following the language reclamation process. This paper presents findings from 16 semi-structured interviews conducted with Barngarla community members describing their own experienced or observed mental health and wellbeing impacts of language reclamation activities. Aligning with a social and emotional wellbeing framework from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, key themes included connection to spirituality and ancestors; connection to Country; connection to culture; connection to community; connection to family and kinship; connection to mind and emotions; and impacts upon identity and cultural pride at an individual level. These themes will form the foundation of assessment of the impacts of language reclamation in future stages of the project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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12 pages, 1390 KiB  
Article
The Contribution of Geogenic Particulate Matter to Lung Disease in Indigenous Children
by Carrington C. J. Shepherd, Holly D. Clifford, Francis Mitrou, Shannon M. Melody, Ellen J. Bennett, Fay H. Johnston, Luke D. Knibbs, Gavin Pereira, Janessa L. Pickering, Teck H. Teo, Lea-Ann S. Kirkham, Ruth B. Thornton, Anthony Kicic, Kak-Ming Ling, Zachary Alach, Matthew Lester, Peter Franklin, David Reid and Graeme R. Zosky
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(15), 2636; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152636 - 24 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3569
Abstract
Indigenous children have much higher rates of ear and lung disease than non-Indigenous children, which may be related to exposure to high levels of geogenic (earth-derived) particulate matter (PM). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dust levels and [...] Read more.
Indigenous children have much higher rates of ear and lung disease than non-Indigenous children, which may be related to exposure to high levels of geogenic (earth-derived) particulate matter (PM). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dust levels and health in Indigenous children in Western Australia (W.A.). Data were from a population-based sample of 1077 Indigenous children living in 66 remote communities of W.A. (>2,000,000 km2), with information on health outcomes derived from carer reports and hospitalisation records. Associations between dust levels and health outcomes were assessed by multivariate logistic regression in a multi-level framework. We assessed the effect of exposure to community sampled PM on epithelial cell (NuLi-1) responses to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in vitro. High dust levels were associated with increased odds of hospitalisation for upper (OR 1.77 95% CI [1.02–3.06]) and lower (OR 1.99 95% CI [1.08–3.68]) respiratory tract infections and ear disease (OR 3.06 95% CI [1.20–7.80]). Exposure to PM enhanced NTHi adhesion and invasion of epithelial cells and impaired IL-8 production. Exposure to geogenic PM may be contributing to the poor respiratory health of disadvantaged communities in arid environments where geogenic PM levels are high. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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Review

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18 pages, 759 KiB  
Review
Climate Change Mitigation Policies and Co-Impacts on Indigenous Health: A Scoping Review
by Rhys Jones, Alexandra Macmillan and Papaarangi Reid
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 9063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239063 - 04 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3981
Abstract
Climate change mitigation policies can either facilitate or hinder progress towards health equity, and can have particular implications for Indigenous health. We sought to summarize current knowledge about the potential impacts (co-benefits and co-harms) of climate mitigation policies and interventions on Indigenous health. [...] Read more.
Climate change mitigation policies can either facilitate or hinder progress towards health equity, and can have particular implications for Indigenous health. We sought to summarize current knowledge about the potential impacts (co-benefits and co-harms) of climate mitigation policies and interventions on Indigenous health. Using a Kaupapa Māori theoretical positioning, we adapted a validated search strategy to identify studies for this scoping review. Our review included empirical and modeling studies that examined a range of climate change mitigation measures, with health-related outcomes analyzed by ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Data were extracted from published reports and summarized. We identified 36 studies that examined a diverse set of policy instruments, with the majority located in high-income countries. Most studies employed conventional Western research methodologies, and few examined potential impacts of particular relevance to Indigenous peoples. The existing body of knowledge is limited in the extent to which it can provide definitive evidence about co-benefits and co-harms for Indigenous health, with impacts highly dependent on individual policy characteristics and contextual factors. Improving the quality of evidence will require research partnerships with Indigenous communities and study designs that centralize Indigenous knowledges, values, realities and priorities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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24 pages, 2693 KiB  
Perspective
Gardening in Ashes: The Possibilities and Limitations of Gardening to Support Indigenous Health and Well-Being in the Context of Wildfires and Colonialism
by Kelsey Timler and Dancing Water Sandy
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(9), 3273; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093273 - 08 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4050
Abstract
In this paper, we will discuss gardening as a relationship with nature and an ongoing process to support Indigenous health and well-being in the context of the climate crisis and increasingly widespread forest fires. We will explore the concept of gardening as both [...] Read more.
In this paper, we will discuss gardening as a relationship with nature and an ongoing process to support Indigenous health and well-being in the context of the climate crisis and increasingly widespread forest fires. We will explore the concept of gardening as both a Euro-Western agriculture practice and as a longstanding Indigenous practice—wherein naturally occurring gardens are tended in relationship and related to a wider engagement with the natural world — and the influences of colonialism and climate change on both. Drawing on our experiences as an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper (Dancing Water) and a non-Indigenous community-based researcher (Kelsey), our dialogue will outline ways to support health and well-being through land-based activities that connect with Indigenous traditions in ways that draw on relationships to confront colonialism and the influences of climate change. This dialogue is founded on our experiences in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada, one of the areas hit hardest by the 2017 wildfires. We will explore the possibilities and limitations of gardening and the wider concept of reciprocity and relationship as a means to support food security, food sovereignty, and health for Indigenous Peoples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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16 pages, 701 KiB  
Project Report
The Submissive Relationship of Public Health to Government, Politics, and Economics: How Global Health Diplomacy and Engaged Followership Compromise Humanitarian Relief
by Daniel Peplow and Sarah Augustine
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041420 - 22 Feb 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2825
Abstract
This paper describes efforts by public health practitioners to address a health crisis caused by economic development policies that are unrestrained by either environmental, public health, or human rights mandates. Economic development projects funded by international funding institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank [...] Read more.
This paper describes efforts by public health practitioners to address a health crisis caused by economic development policies that are unrestrained by either environmental, public health, or human rights mandates. Economic development projects funded by international funding institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank that reduce poverty when measured in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the transborder region between Suriname and French Guiana harm minority populations where commercial activities destroy, alter, and remove the resources upon which local communities depend. In this study, the structural causes of a community health crisis affecting Indigenous people in the transborder region between Suriname and French Guiana was addressed by seeking gatekeepers in government who have access to policy-making processes. We found that deeply rooted economic development policies structured social, economic, and political alliances and made them resistant to feedback and reform. We concluded that work must be focused beyond the simple exchange of public health information. Public health practitioners must become politically active to create new policy commitments and new patterns of governance that advance development as well as improve health outcomes. Failure to do so may result in public health practitioners becoming ‘engaged followers’ that are complicit in the inhumanity that springs from their acquiescence to the authority of government officials when their policies are the cause of preventable death, disease, and disability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous People)
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