Indigenous peoples and communities experience a disproportionate burden of STBBIs within specific historical, socio-political and cultural contexts. To better understand these contexts and promote wellness, it is useful to apply a social determinants of health model, which derives its concepts from Indigenous worldviews, philosophies and values. This model utilizes the tree as a natural metaphor of dynamic and interretated structures and systems, to explore Indigenous peoples’ experience of STBBIs, which are influenced by stem, core and root determinants. Stem determinants are proximal conditions that directly influence the acquisition and amelioration of STBBIs, while core determinants (e.g. systems, infrastructure, cultural continuity) influence the development of stem determinants. Deeply entrenched root determinants represent socio-political, economic and cultural contexts, including racist ideologies, attempted cultural genocide, and political domination, which have the most profound influence on health because they shape core and stem determinants. In order to address the current challenge of STBBIs among Indigneous peoples, we must explore the relationship between the stem, core and root determinants of Indigenous wellness.

Disclosure No significant relationships.