Cultural Barriers

Culture heavily influences how patients perceive and approach health and illness, thereby shaping how they “express and manifest their symptoms, their style of coping, their family and community support, and their willingness to seek treatment” (Rockville 42). This operates in both directions, as culture also informs healthcare professionals' perspectives on health and shapes the broader healthcare system, impacting diagnosis, treatment methods, and service delivery (Rockville 42). Aboriginal peoples' beliefs, experiences, and values are diverse, however many who identify with Indigenous belief systems adopt a holistic view of health, emphasising the interconnectedness of the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of an individual along with the relational aspects of community life (Birch 28).  They embrace “the notion that diseases arise and end within a person’s spirit”, complementing this belief with healing practices that address the spiritual dimensions of health to restore physical and mental wellness (Maronne 190). 

These cultural and traditional views of health still hold great importance for Indigenous communities in Canada today. For instance, a study on two First Nation communities reported that 15% used only traditional medicines, 3% relied solely on a traditional healer, and 63% did not use either. Among those not using traditional practices, 51% expressed a desire to do so if these options were more accessible in local health centres (George et al. 234).  The Indigenous cultural perspective of health conflicts with the Canadian healthcare system, which predominantly favours Western medicine and healthcare delivery, resulting in misunderstandings of traditional Indigenous health practices and a failure to provide culturally appropriate services (Marone 193). Consequently, this cultural dissonance frequently contributes to negative experiences for Indigenous individuals with their healthcare providers (Marrone 193). 

 Indeed, “cultural and language differences can lead to miscommunication, misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments” for Indigenous communities (Foster 28). Language and cultural barriers are among the many factors that make it increasingly difficult for Indigenous communities to access adequate healthcare. However,  even when a provider and patient share the same language, cultural perspectives on health can oftentimes transcend language, because their beliefs will ultimately shape how they communicate their symptoms or how medical feedback is understood (Maronne 193). An example of this is the lack of cultural competence among healthcare professionals when effectively addressing the needs of Aboriginal women giving birth in Canadian hospitals while respecting their cultural beliefs (Birch 25). In this context, there is often a lack of understanding and respect for Aboriginal perspectives on pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. This includes differing definitions of "family" and who should be permitted to visit, discomfort with technological interventions, preferences for birthing positions, and distinct beliefs about weight gain during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Birch 27).  Hence, the absence of culturally appropriate healthcare services and experiences of disrespectful treatment fosters fear and mistrust of urban healthcare systems, often detering Indigenous communities from seeking medical services altogether.