The Importance of Indigenous Languages for Community Wellness
Indigenous communities have long recognized the vital connection between their languages and overall wellbeing. However, this crucial link has only recently begun to receive widespread attention in academia, policy, and public discourse. This article aims to synthesize and assess the growing body of evidence on the relationships between linguistic vitality and the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples in the settler colonial contexts of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.
The decline of Indigenous languages worldwide is a serious concern, with the United Nations estimating that 40% of languages spoken globally today are at risk of disappearing. This is particularly true for the ancestral languages of the original inhabitants of the countries explored in this article, who have endured generations of colonial oppression, including the forced removal of children from their communities and the active suppression of their languages.
Reclaiming and revitalizing endangered Indigenous languages has therefore become a vital act of sovereignty, resistance, and cultural resurgence for many communities. As they work to maintain, revitalize, and pass on their linguistic traditions, these communities are also discovering powerful connections between language and holistic wellness.
Recent research has found that the use, fluency, and vitality of Indigenous languages is strongly associated with a wide range of positive health outcomes. From better healthcare access and mental health, to higher resiliency and cultural connectedness, the evidence suggests that linguistic vitality is a key determinant of wellness for Indigenous populations.
A realist review of the literature found that the majority of studies (over 62%) reported positive effects of language use and revitalization on the health of Indigenous communities. This is a remarkable finding, given that language maintenance and reclamation efforts often occur in the face of significant social and economic challenges.
Even more encouraging is the fact that the positive impacts of linguistic vitality were observed across a diverse range of health and wellbeing measures, from physical and mental health to education and community cohesion. The review also highlighted the ways in which Indigenous languages can serve as a protective factor, buffering communities against the negative health impacts of poverty, discrimination, and social isolation.
Of course, the story is not always straightforward. The review also identified some studies that reported neutral or even adverse links between language use and certain health indicators. However, the authors noted that these negative findings were often complicated by confounding factors like socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and systemic biases in research and assessment methods.
Importantly, the review emphasized that Indigenous definitions of health and wellness often go beyond Western biomedical models, encompassing spiritual, emotional, and community-level dimensions. When these holistic perspectives are taken into account, the benefits of linguistic vitality become even more apparent.
As the world enters the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), the time is ripe to amplify the voices and experiences of Indigenous communities, and to leverage the healing power of language in service of improved health and wellbeing. This will require sustained, community-led efforts to maintain and revitalize endangered languages, as well as a concerted push to ensure that all healthcare, education, and public services are linguistically appropriate and culturally safe.
Initiatives that support Indigenous language programs should be viewed as a cost-effective and impactful way to promote wellness across multiple domains. Rather than addressing health issues in isolation, language revitalization offers a holistic approach that can have far-reaching benefits for individuals, families, and entire communities.
By recognizing the central role of linguistic vitality in the health and flourishing of Indigenous peoples, we can honor their inherent rights, respect their cultural autonomy, and work together towards a more equitable and just future. The Stanley Park High School community is proud to be part of this critical movement.
The Benefits of Linguistic Vitality Across Health and Wellness Domains
The research synthesized in this review highlights the wide-ranging positive impacts of linguistic vitality on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities. Some of the key areas where language use and revitalization have been shown to provide significant benefits include:
Healthcare Access and Outcomes
A substantial body of evidence indicates that the availability of healthcare services and educational materials in Indigenous languages is crucial for ensuring positive health outcomes. Studies have found that the lack of linguistically appropriate care can lead to misdiagnosis, low health literacy, and feelings of alienation among Indigenous patients. Conversely, when healthcare is delivered in Indigenous languages, it promotes better understanding, trust, and engagement with medical systems.
Mental, Cognitive, and Psychological Health
The research overwhelmingly points to the mental health benefits of language maintenance and reclamation. Learning or using an Indigenous language has been linked to improved mood, self-esteem, and cognitive development, as well as reduced rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. By fostering a stronger sense of cultural identity and community connection, linguistic vitality appears to be a powerful protective factor against the mental health challenges faced by many Indigenous peoples.
Overall Health and Healing
Beyond specific health conditions, numerous studies have found that the use and revitalization of Indigenous languages is associated with better general health, wellness, and resilience. Language learning and use have been tied to healthier lifestyle behaviors, such as increased physical activity and traditional food consumption. Indigenous languages are also seen as vital conduits for cultural knowledge, practices, and worldviews that promote holistic wellbeing.
Health Protective and Risk Factors
The positive impacts of linguistic vitality extend to broader determinants of health as well. Studies have found that language use is linked to greater social connectedness, community cohesion, and cultural belonging – all of which are important protective factors against negative health outcomes. Conversely, language loss and suppression have been associated with increased substance use, food insecurity, and other risk behaviors.
Spiritual Wellbeing
A smaller but significant body of research highlights the deep spiritual and cultural significance of Indigenous languages. By serving as vessels for traditional stories, songs, and ways of knowing, languages are seen as integral to the spiritual wellness of many communities. The act of learning or reclaiming an ancestral language is thus often described as a profoundly healing experience.
Across these diverse health and wellness domains, the consistent message emerging from the literature is that the vitality of Indigenous languages plays a vital role in supporting the overall flourishing of individuals, families, and communities. As such, language revitalization efforts should be recognized and supported as crucial community-driven interventions with the potential to address a wide range of health disparities.
The Path Forward: Recommendations for Supporting Linguistic Vitality
Based on the wealth of evidence synthesized in this review, several key recommendations emerge for harnessing the healing power of Indigenous languages:
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Increase Sustainable Funding and Support for Language Programs: Indigenous communities require reliable, long-term funding and resources to maintain, revitalize, and pass on their languages. Piecemeal, short-term grants are insufficient – what is needed is a firm commitment from governments and other stakeholders to provide the stable support necessary for language initiatives to thrive.
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Ensure Linguistically Appropriate Healthcare and Service Delivery: All public services, from healthcare to education, must be made accessible and responsive to the linguistic needs of Indigenous peoples. This means not only providing professional interpretation services, but also actively recruiting and training Indigenous language speakers to work within these systems.
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Expand Community-Engaged Research and Education: Researchers, policymakers, and educators must work in close partnership with Indigenous communities to better understand the links between language and wellness, and to develop culturally relevant programs and curricula. Investing in this collaborative, community-driven approach is essential for producing meaningful, sustainable change.
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Elevate Indigenous Voices and Definitions of Health: Western biomedical models of health often fall short in capturing the holistic, relational understandings of wellbeing held by many Indigenous cultures. By centering Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing, and self-determined priorities, we can expand our collective understanding of the vital role that language plays in promoting healthy, thriving communities.
As we enter the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the time has come to heed the wisdom and experiences of Indigenous peoples themselves. By working in solidarity to maintain, revitalize, and reclaim endangered languages, we have the opportunity to unlock profound benefits for individual and community health and wellness. The Stanley Park High School community is committed to being part of this transformative movement.
