Session 8: The Culture of Indigenous Health Session 8: The Culture of Indigenous Health

Non-Indigenous people working in Indigenous health: an anthropological study Dr Emma Kowal NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellow University of Melbourne

Key terms Postcolonial Postcolonial Liberal Liberal White White Antiracism Antiracism Subjectivity Subjectivity

The research question An ethnography of white antiracism in the context of postcolonial liberal multiculturalism An ethnography of white antiracism in the context of postcolonial liberal multiculturalismOR What are we all doing here??? What are we all doing here???

The research data Participant observation with one research team for 12 months – 18 researchers Participant observation with one research team for 12 months – 18 researchers Interviews with 17 researchers Interviews with 17 researchers Background in clinical medicine and Indigenous health research Background in clinical medicine and Indigenous health research

The argument White antiracists believe in postcolonial logic White antiracists believe in postcolonial logic Postcolonial logic is based on the concept of remediable difference Postcolonial logic is based on the concept of remediable difference Experience working with Indigenous people disrupts the idea of remediable difference Experience working with Indigenous people disrupts the idea of remediable difference Postcolonial logic unravels Postcolonial logic unravels White antiracists must cope with the loss of this belief system White antiracists must cope with the loss of this belief system

Postcolonial logic The knowledge and beliefs shared by white antiracists The knowledge and beliefs shared by white antiracists Indigenous ill-health is the result of colonisation and ongoing oppression Indigenous ill-health is the result of colonisation and ongoing oppression The role of white people is to support Indigenous people to implement their own solutions The role of white people is to support Indigenous people to implement their own solutions

Postcolonial logic = Remedialism + Orientalism Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention

Mortality trends for Indigenous 0-4 year olds, in the Northern Territory. Despite great improvements, the gap remains. (Condon et al. 2004:447) Mortality trends for Indigenous 0-4 year olds, in the Northern Territory. Despite great improvements, the gap remains. (Condon et al. 2004:447)

Postcolonial logic = Remedialism + Orientalism Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention Orientalism: The belief that Indigenous people are essentially different to white people Orientalism: The belief that Indigenous people are essentially different to white people

Postcolonial logic = Remedialism + Orientalism Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention Remedialism: The belief that Indigenous lives can be improved through intervention Orientalism: The belief that Indigenous people are essentially different to white people Orientalism: The belief that Indigenous people are essentially different to white people Remediable difference: a difference that can be brought into the norm Remediable difference: a difference that can be brought into the norm

Remediable difference The example of the “information-deficit model” The example of the “information-deficit model” Minimising white agency Minimising white agency Remedial vs. radical difference Remedial vs. radical difference

The postcolonial condition: The worries shared by white antiracists The dilemma of historical continuity: What if we are no different from our predecessors? The dilemma of historical continuity: What if we are no different from our predecessors? The dilemma of social improvement: What if, in improving Indigenous health, we are eroding their cultural distinctiveness? The dilemma of social improvement: What if, in improving Indigenous health, we are eroding their cultural distinctiveness?

Relieving the postcolonial condition Denial Denial Withdrawal Withdrawal Acceptance Acceptance Pleasure and friendship Pleasure and friendship

Questions? Comments?

This research was NOT about Showing that white researchers are racist or are not racist Showing that white researchers are racist or are not racist Showing that white researchers are not trying hard enough or are misguided Showing that white researchers are not trying hard enough or are misguided How to improve Indigenous health How to improve Indigenous health