The perceived superiority of western worldviews in occupational therapy education: the experiences of Indigenous occupational therapists

A percebida superioridade das visões de mundo ocidentais na formação em terapia ocupacional: as experiências de terapeutas ocupacionais indígenas

Abstract

Introduction  As a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canadas Calls to Action, Indigenous students are increasingly being recruited into occupational therapy programs. However, the occupational therapy profession relies almost exclusively on western worldviews and does not sufficiently consider the value of multiple ways of knowing and doing. How Indigenous students fare in these western educational systems is largely unexplored and undocumented. This work is part of a larger study exploring the experiences of Indigenous occupational therapists in Canada.

Objective  This manuscript explores the retrospective educational experiences of Indigenous occupational therapists.

Methods  This study was collaborative in nature with Indigenous occupational therapists across the country, using both Indigenous and western methods of inquiry. Stage 1 used individual storytelling sessions (n=13) to hear about participants everyday experiences. Stage 2 consisted of an in-person sharing circle gathering (n=8) to build relationships and community, and to refine data from Stage 1.

Results  Indigenous occupational therapists experienced imposed isolation, lack of support, exclusion, a devaluing of merit and skill, and ‘jagged worldviews colliding’ in their programs. These experiences are underpinned by the cultural imperialism perpetuated by the profession.

Conclusion  To truly fulfill our commitment to reconciliation, the occupational therapy profession must move beyond Indigenous inclusion in programs towards decolonial Indigenization, which asks for a divesting of colonial privilege and ideologies towards something dynamic and new. Deeply considering the value of, and need for, multiple perspectives (Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk)) and drawing on the expertise and experiences of Indigenous students, occupational therapists, researchers, and educators for this work is urgently needed.

Keywords:
Occupational Therapy; Health of Indigenous Peoples; Universities; Colonialism; Indigenous Epistemologies; Teaching and Learning