Wholistic versus Holistic: Words Matter for Indigenous Peoples
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v16i3.830Keywords:
Indigenous, Wholistic, Holistic, Health, WellnessAbstract
Background: The term holistic is commonly used in Canadian academia and healthcare settings to address the whole of something rather than its individual parts. We argue that the term wholistic should be seen to hold a distinctive meaning and be used in place of the term holistic, especially when relating to Indigenous pedagogies, cultures, practices, traditions, health, and wellness. We contend that the term wholistic is more inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing, understanding, being, and doing. This includes being more reflective of the coming together of the four elements in life encompassing the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental elements of wellbeing as reflected in the Medicine Wheel. Conclusions: The term wholistic is also consistent with the Indigenous tenets of wholeness and wholism. Therefore, we recommend that the term wholistic be incorporated into academic literature and healthcare settings, serving as a more culturally respectful, relevant, and safe term that reflects Indigenous perspectives, traditions, cultures, and practices.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Rosalin M. Miles, Maddison I. Chow, Gemma Tomasky, Shannon S. D. Bredin, Kai L. Kaufman, Darren E. R. Warburton
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