Two-Eyed Seeing: Drawing form the Strengths of Traditional Knowledge and Western Practices to Provide More Culturally Appropriate Services for Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples

Canadian Aboriginal communities experience a disproportionate amount of social, physical, and mental health problems relative to the dominate population. These issues may be attributed to historical trauma, cultural oppression, and forced assimilation stemming from the shared experience of colonization. Despite these discrepancies in mental health, mental health services are underutilized by Aboriginal populations due to specific cultural factors. Western-based approaches may undermine Indigenous ways of knowing which often leads to the application of culturally inappropriate services. To foster appropriate services, non-Aboriginal mental health workers must demonstrate understanding and respect towards Aboriginal worldviews as they relate to healing. Two-eyed seeing follows the belief that examining our understanding of both Traditional and Western approaches to wellness promotion may further enhance mental health services for Aboriginal peoples. While Traditional healing and Western approaches enjoy relative success, research indicates that the blending of these perspectives may further enhance their effectiveness.