Introduction
Alaska Native and American Indian communities, collectively referred to as Indigenous peoples, possess a rich tapestry of traditions, cultures, and wisdom that have evolved significantly over time. They have oral histories that confirm the existence of norms, such as a relationship with nature, and hold a unique belief system regarding creation and the origin of humankind. They were the original inhabitants of North America before the European settlers arrived.
Despite withstanding many centuries of adversity and resilience, one significant reality stands out among this ethical group. These communities report a disproportionate burden of mental health disparities (O’Keefe et al., 2021). In the US, these individuals report a higher rate of substance abuse, depression, and suicide within their communities than the national average. This reflects how historical trauma and contemporary challenges are impacting them in the long term. This paper aims to unravel the complex relationship between cultural practices and mental health among the Indigenous communities in North America.
Historical Overview
For millennia, the Indigenous communities have occupied the North American Land. This was a very long time before European settlers and colonizers arrived. The presence of these people on this continent spans many generations, with each generation having significant events and challenges that characterize their historical trajectory. Before the explorers arrived in this land, the people who occupied it had the freedom to practice diverse cultural practices, including language, traditions, and customs (Smallwood et al., 2021). Most of them often had well-established economies, societies, and systems of government.
However, things took a significant turn in their history when the colonizers arrived in the late 15th century, bringing new cultures and issues to the land (Michael-Shawn et al., 2021). Their encounter led to numerous issues, including significant cultural exchange between the locals and the explorers, as well as displacement, conflict, and the introduction of new diseases (Koch et al., 2019). Throughout this early period, Indigenous nations were compelled to enter into numerous treaties and agreements with colonial powers and later with countries such as the US and Canada.
Over time, these consensuses had profound implications for the land rights and cultural preservation of these Native populations. For instance, in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Indigenous people witnessed government policies forcing them into reservations, separating families, and seeking to assimilate them into mainstream culture (Koch et al., 2019). Efforts, such as the Indian Residential School System in Canada and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in the US, are some of the ways the natives responded to the oppression and violations directed toward them (Klotz, 2021).
The same has continued up to date, with these communities trying to reoccupy their lands and restore their cultures and traditions. For example, these people have been at the forefront of political and cultural revitalization movements in recent years (Smallwood et al., 2021). They always advocate for their rights, land reclamation, and preserve their norms and languages.
Cultural Diversity
Indigenous communities in North America have a range of cultural norms and practices. This continent has more than 500 different Indigenous languages, each with its own unique history, nuances, and experiences (Wark et al., 2019). These linguistic differences are a repository of cultural knowledge, identities, and oral traditions.
Ultimately, this preserves and revitalizes them to ensure well-being and cultural continuity with time. Moreover, North America’s geography further accentuates the ethnic diversity of its population. For instance, the Inuit of the Arctic and the Navajo of the Southwest have distinct environments that have shaped their practices and led to variations. Most of these subgroups differ in how they hunt, gather, participate in agriculture, and utilize resources, which affects their overall well-being (Thiessen, 2023).
Moreover, the cultural traditions of these people encompass a range of practices, including storytelling, ceremonies, music, dances, rituals, and art. For some groups, these factors serve as a conduit for ancestral connections to the divine and natural world, and as an element that fosters community bonds and a shared identity. As globalization continues to transform the world, these communities have continued to balance the demands with their cultural practices and preservation efforts.
Mental Health Disparities among Indigenous Communities
Over the years, the Indigenous people have been suffering the consequences of opposition and oppression. This has mainly been because they are trying to stay on their ancestral lands in North America. The experiences they encountered reflect the historical trauma, socio-economic issues, and cultural disconnections that are rampant in their communities today. The context of colonization left adverse effects on the mental health of this ethnic group (Smallwood et al., 2021). As a result, most of them record high rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicide.
Depression and Anxiety
Indigenous people experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety and depression. According to an article by Beshai et al. (2023), this prevalence is due to “a history of oppression, lingering systemic racism, and intergenerational trauma caused by colonization.” Apart from their past encounters, the majority face several risk factors and various societal obstacles while navigating their daily obligations and pressures. Particularly in students, the compounded stress adversely affects their motivation and feelings of worthlessness, resulting in lower academic success and a poor quality of life (Beshai et al., 2023).
Moreover, unlike other ethnic groups, such as the Whites, the natives often lack access to culturally competent mental health care, exacerbating these problems. For example, even if students have access to reasonable mental health treatments, there is always no trust between patients and medical professionals in hospitals and clinics due to cultural insensitivity, racism, prejudice, and overt abuse (Beshai et al., 2023). This makes it crucial to address the existing disparities from a cultural perspective.
Substance Abuse
Globally, Indigenous people represent diverse groups with unique perspectives on substance abuse, both between and within nations. Through ongoing intergenerational trauma and discriminatory policies in various countries in North America, such as the US and Canada, colonization continues to affect the health of the natives. The co-occurrence of these issues has continued to increase adverse impacts on people’s mental health, influencing higher quantities of alcohol and drug abuse. For instance, reports on the natives in Canada have indicated that alcohol consumption is elevated among youths, and Cannabis is the second most used among children in elementary school (Maina et al., 2020). Although numerous efforts have been made to control this prevalence, it remains higher than the national average.
Suicide Rates
Suicide disproportionately affects people from the Indigenous community more than those in privileged places. For instance, “suicide rates among non-Hispanic AI/AN persons increased nearly 20% from 2015 (20.0 per 100,000) to 2020 (23.9), compared with a <1% increase among the overall U.S. population (13.3 and 13.5, respectively)” (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 2022). This prevalence is specifically recorded among youths from these ethnic groups.
While it is always preventable, this issue is often viewed as a tragic outcome of the intersection of historical trauma, cultural disconnections, and disparities in addressing mental health problems. During a long period of colonizing the natives, the US introduced policies and practices to forcibly eject them from their land and started assimilating them. This was the main stressor for them, pushing them to consume drugs. Moreover, it is less likely for these individuals to disclose intent before death than other individuals from other backgrounds. This makes it challenging to address the issue they are coming across and ascertain their well-being.
Cultural Practices and Mental Health
Healing Ceremonies
Over the years, people from indigenous communities have been recording higher rates of mental illnesses. However, their resilience in the face of colonization and ongoing policy changes suggests that they have developed effective strategies to cope with these challenges. Most of these individuals utilize traditional ceremonies, storytelling, rituals, and other customs to promote emotional and psychological well-being.
For instance, many of these communities have sacred events to heal their members from different conditions (O’Keefe et al., 2021). It often involves rituals, such as song, dance, and spiritual guidance, offering a better platform for addressing mental and emotional distress. These ceremonies connect these individuals with their cultural roots and spirituality. This offers them solace, hope, and the opportunity for emotional release.
Storytelling and Oral Traditions
Apart from the traditional ceremonies, these indigenous people often utilize storytelling to help those dealing with mental health issues to cope effectively. This practice holds a sacred place in many Indigenous communities and can help people feel more connected (O’Keefe et al., 2021). Elders and community members pass down stories that convey wisdom, history, and cultural values. It becomes a therapeutic approach by narrating personal experiences and community narratives to people. Ultimately, this provides a platform for understanding and coping with trauma.
Connection to Nature
As mentioned earlier, the natives have always had a strong connection to their ancestral lands and feel more connected when they have the right to restore what was taken from them by European explorers and settlers. Therefore, to deal with the high prevalence of mental health issues, these people have often emphasized a profound link to the natural world (Josewski et al., 2023).
Many conduct ceremonies and practices, such as prayers, songs, and dances, in natural settings to cultivate a spiritual connection with their surroundings. They believe this connection to nature has a soothing effect on mental health, grounding individuals in a broader perspective and reducing stress. Therefore, they can use it to help restore the normal state of people with anxiety and depression, and engage in alcohol and substance abuse.
Spirituality and Religion
In many Indigenous communities, religion has always been a significant component. This explains why they have creation stories among their narratives to explain the origins of the world and its elements, like the sun, Earth, stars, moon, human beings, and other creatures (Tu’itahi et al., 2021). When things become complicated in society, or some people face life’s challenges, these communities often turn to their religions for guidance on understanding what is happening and responding effectively.
Religion is always a source of hope for most of them and can help encourage people to overcome mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and drug abuse (Gonzalez et al., 2021). They often include vision quests, sermons, prayer, and shamanic rituals. These traditional practices play a significant role in helping heal and maintain the well-being of people with mental health issues.
Community Support
Indigenous people often value community support, especially when it comes to helping members get through different issues like mental illnesses and other conditions. One way they have consistently maintained this is through an emphasis on the idea of collective responsibility and shared experiences (Barker and Pickerill, 2023). This can also extend to matters related to mental health conditions, where people are forced to come together to support others who are facing some emotional and psychological challenges. It gives them a sense of belonging that fosters resilience and the belief that members are never alone when struggling (Liebenberg et al., 2019).
Moreover, when they hold ceremonial gatherings, community members often come together, have time to bond, and support one another. During this time, they participate in events such as feasts, powwows, and healing circles (Liebenberg et al., 2019). They allow themselves to discuss their mental health issues and share stories, experiences, and the mechanisms they use to cope. Additionally, these people often have access to elders and knowledge keepers of society who play a part in revealing wisdom and experiences related to what some people are going through, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Members in communities often view this group as mentors and sources of appropriate guidance (Chantal et al, 2020).
Community support also stems from the well-defined traditional roles and responsibilities of different individuals. This delegation process usually involves creating help system networks with individuals having specific duties related to the mental well-being of society. It helps bolster self-esteem and mental well-being. It can also include cross-generational relationships and peer network support to foster a deeper understanding, contributing to improved mental health.
Creation of Arts and Rights of Passage
Youths and elders in this ethnic group also often emphasize traditional art and traditional passage as a way of addressing the high prevalence of mental health issues among them. For instance, indigenous creative expressions, such as music, visual art, and literature, have always been utilized as a means of connecting with one’s people, cultural heritage, and presenting emotions (Barker and Pickerill, 2023). This has offered many people an outlet to process their trauma and feelings.
Moreover, life ceremonies like coming-of-age ceremonies and others that mark significant life transitions have always helped create a sense of purpose and identity among youths from Indigenous communities (Barker and Pickerill, 2023). When they acknowledge and celebrate these rights, they find a better platform to address the issues they experience and cope more effectively.
Modern and Traditional Approaches
There is a dynamic landscape of the intersection of modern mental health services and traditional Indigenous approaches to addressing mental health issues. For instance, current mental health services are often rooted in Western clinical models, whereas those used by Natives depend on cultural practices, such as prayer and holding various events, including rites of passage (Barker and Pickerill, 2023). This interplay presents both challenges and advantages, limiting and enhancing care, respectively. However, better recognition of the two increases the opportunity of handling this issue.
Conclusion
Indigenous people in North America experience a disproportionate burden of mental health conditions. This study suggests that this state is a result of the various adverse experiences these people have endured since the arrival of European settlers, reflecting a history marked by displacement, colonization, and systematic inequalities. To address these issues, a comprehensive understanding of how globalization and civilization have contributed to the situation is necessary. Moreover, key stakeholders should advocate for collaboration between traditional and modern practices and address the systemic disparities that have hindered improvement. This study calls for action to advocate for these ethnic groups and ensure they continue being resilient.
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