Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Causes of disease
Disease in Indigenous communities is often perceived as stemming, in part, from exposure to metaphysical forces, alienation from the homeland (perhaps the result of forced displacement) or some personal deficiency (eg, a ceremonial duty neglected, or a failure to follow a customary rule of behaviour). An attribution of blame may follow, and the saying of “sorry” by persons thought responsible will be regarded as very important; failing that response, a “payback penalty” might be sought, possibly involving physical punishment.

After a death in an Indigenous community, a careful assessment and review of the circumstances and associations of the death — equivalent to the holding of a “coronial inquiry” — may be part of the funeral rituals; some payback may be considered necessary and may be the cause of major clan clashes if another community is involved.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Implications for palliative care
Different interpretations of diagnosis and cause may create distrust between staff and patients. Treatments directed at mitigating symptoms, even severe pain, may be perceived as interfering in a necessary process resulting from a culturally-determined sickness. A culturally “safe” approach to pain management is called for.10,11
In seeking to uncover the circumstances and cause of a death, it may be concluded that a carer has been implicated. He or she may face Indigenous justice, which could mean anything from a short banishment from the community to a spearing. The use of injections by a carer or health worker may raise suspicion of poisoning.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay
There is a widely held desire to return to the homeland area to die or to be buried. “Bringing them home” was the powerful phrase coined as a response to the revelations of hurt and alienation inflicted on the “stolen generation” (those children forcibly removed from their parents). “Bringing them home” is also an appropriate term for the strong imperative to return the dead to their place of birth.12
Decision-making processes
The decision-making processes in Indigenous communities are collective and often protracted. Particular people in the patient’s “skin” group will make decisions with or on behalf of an individual.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Many factors may be seen as requiring consideration, including the cause of the illness, the patient’s role in the community, the possibility of blame, and even who has the right to know the story. An uncle may have more authority with a child than either mother or father. There are proscribed relationships within communities (eg, mother-in-law avoiding son-in-law) that must be respected and not invoked. A family meeting may involve up to 30 people, some of whom may need to be brought in from a considerable distance. To achieve an agreed decision within such large groups may take many days. A patient facing surgery may wish to return to the community to discuss options with relatives and receive their permission.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

There are “right persons” for the patient to confide in and to advise in decision making. Having such individuals available is important when urgent decisions are required. Sometimes the carer or escort sent with a patient is a nephew or niece chosen because they have a good command of English or experience with city life. Such an individual may, however, be quite inappropriate in cultural terms: if, in reaching a decision, the patient’s “story” needs to be told (clinical history, examination and investigations), the nephew or niece may simply disappear, because they know they do not have the right to such information.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Death and dying
The ceremonies around death are extremely important to Indigenous people and take precedence over all other activities. Correct ceremonies should be held, with the correct people present, and the whole person must be buried or disposed of (depending on individual communities). If a body is to be removed from hospital to a homeland site there are likely to be both funding issues (no authorisation of funding for air transport) and cultural issues (an initiated ceremony person should accompany the body). The frequency of deaths in Indigenous communities can constitute a significant drain on community financial resources, as many individuals contribute to such costs.Traditions and Beliefs of Indigenous People on Death Essay

Dying in a house may mean that the family cannot re-occupy it for a period of time. In some communities the patient will be taken outside to lie on the ea