| dc.description.abstract | When water is looked at in the context of health, it is generally in terms of access to safe drinking
water (Health Canada, 2002). When considering the health of Aboriginal peoples however, it is
necessary to look at water in a broader context because water plays a vital role in many
traditional activities and for many it is also seen as part of the spiritual world (Bartlett, 1988;
Droitsch, 2009). Currently, there is very limited research that has explored the relationship
between water and the health of Aboriginal peoples, however there are many studies which
emphasize the impacts of environmental change on the health of Inuit and First Nations. These
studies have found that environmental change such as global warming, contamination and
pollution can negatively affect physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. The purpose of
this study was to explore how Aboriginal peoples' perspectives on water contributes to overall
health and well-being. Data was collected through four semi-structured telephone interviews with
people who were over 18 years of age and self-identified as Aboriginal. The overall themes that
emerged from the data include: water as being important for a connection to Mother Earth,
identity, health and healing and reconnecting to culture. This study explored how water
contributes to the health of Aboriginal peoples in a broader sense than just physical health. The
findings suggest that water needs to be protected in order to protect and promote the health of
Aboriginal peoples and Mother Earth. | en_US |
