Where the Wound Began: A Social Constructivist Exploration of Culturally-Adapted Interventions for the Treatment of Substance Abuse in Indigenous Communities
Where the Wound Began: A Social Constructivist Exploration of Culturally-Adapted Interventions for the Treatment of Substance Abuse in Indigenous Communities
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Issue Date
2025-09-24
Authors
Faisal Abdi , Suhuur
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Abstract
This capstone project examines the applicability of culturally-adapted interventions in treating the presentation of substance abuse among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Grounded in a social constructivist perspective, this project brings to light the long-lived historical and social factors
that have contributed to these ongoing challenges, reframing addiction as a response to cultural loss, systemic oppression, and intergenerational trauma, and challenging interpretations strictly rooted in pathology and reductionist perspectives. It focuses on Indigenous culturally-adapted
therapies and integrated therapeutic approaches such as land-based healing, storytelling, and the Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing philosophy, highlighting their potential to support cultural wellness and identity reclamation in treatment models. This project also considers the concepts
of cultural safety and cultural competence as essential frameworks for ethically integrating Indigenous healing practices into counselling. Through this constructivist exploration, the capstone emphasizes the importance of culturally-adapted care in addressing substance-related harms and promoting long-term well-being in Indigenous communities.
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Keywords
Indigenous , cultural-adapted interventions , Etuaptmumk , medicine-wheel , cultural reclamation