Traditional knowledge and culture are key to improving mental health of Aboriginal youth – Hamilton Spectator
Sept 11, 2016
Traditional knowledge and teachings are the keys to improving the health of aboriginal youth, according to Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill.
Martin-Hill, an anthropologist, spoke to a crowd of medical students and professionals at the fourth annual Indigenous Children’s Health Symposium (ICHS). The event was put on by the Aboriginal Health Interest Group and the Pediatric Medicine Interest Group on Saturday at McMaster Innovation Park.
The focus was on the health of aboriginal children in various stages of development, understanding the complexities of their potential challenges and to consider solutions.
“It’s important to get people thinking about this aspect of Canadian history and context,” said Megan Schlorff, second-year medical student at McMaster University. “Residential schools and colonization is not emphasized enough in our curriculum, so for some students this may be the first opportunity to hear from indigenous leaders and researchers in the field.”
