End-of-life and palliative care for Indigenous peoples are influenced by deep structural inequities and cultural disconnects, reflecting the lasting impacts of colonization and systematic racism. Among First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Australian Aboriginal communities, there is a strong preference for community-centered, spiritually integrated end-of-life care.
The medicalization of childbirth has widely dismantled traditional healing systems and ceremonial birthing practices. Although Indigenous childbirth has historically been grounded in holistic models of care, contemporary healthcare policies in the Americas have contributed to poor healthcare outcomes for Indigenous women and perpetuated the marginalization of Indigenous midwives and community-based healing systems.
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