What is a First Nation person's wellness journey?

To address the health disparities for First Nation people it is important to understand what their wellness journey encompasses and how primary care services can support their individual journeys. Current health care structures focus on illness and what is wrong with an individual. It is coming to light more that the four aspects of a human being are important to promote wellness throughout an individual’s life journey. Historically, First Nation wellness encompassed spiritual, emotional, mental and physical components of each individual. The analysis of information, gathered through observation and interview methods in this research project, utilized the First Nation Health Authority’s First Nation Perspective of Wellness as a framework to ensure all components of an individual were honoured. Honouring the information shared by each of the research participants, their voices are heard through direct participant quotes. Participants related their mental wellness journeys, what worked and what didn’t, who they considered important in their journeys and times in their lives where they identified a change occurring. Instrumental to this was the support provided by their community. This research project was supported by the community of Seabird Island and portrays how their current health and cultural programs and services are supporting their client’s wellness journeys. Key priorities identified from observations of community cultural workshops and semi-structured interviews include health services considering each individual’s needs, access to culturally safe services, the importance of belonging and purpose in life, as well as how spirituality and gratitude support an individual’s wellness journeys.