GLPH 271 MIDTERM EXAM UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
What is the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health? - ANS Health is a state of
complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not simply an absence of disease or
infirmity.
What is the Holistic Framework in Healthcare? - ANS Holistic healthcare encompasses a
consideration of the whole person, including their body, mind, and spirit. For some, a further
extension of holistic health considers not just the overall health of an individual, but also the
emotional, social, and cultural status of their community.
What is the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach? - ANS The Two-Eyed Seeing Approach, from the
Mi'kmaq First Nations, blends Indigenous and Western knowledge in healthcare. It combines
data-driven, conventional scientific approaches with Indigenous values like love, honesty,
humility, and respect to foster trust, relationships and build safe spaces. This approach
addresses colonization and marganalization's impact and improves health outcomes.
What is the Indigenous Medicine Wheel? - ANS Indigenous Peoples in Canada have long used
the medicine wheel in various forms for health and healing. The medicine wheel can exist in
many different forms, such as paintings and land formations. It symbolizes balance in physical,
mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life, serving as a guide for well-being.
What is Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel? - ANS North, East, South and West
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,What is East? - ANS East represents the Spiritual dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, this may include spiritual practices such as smudging, singing, dancing, a belief in a
"Creator" higher power, and relating to nature. Colour: Yellow, Animal: Eagle,
Healing Medicine: Tobacco, Season: Spring
What is South? - ANS South represents the Emotional dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, emotional health may include positive self-image, self-esteem, self-love, and a
positive surrounding environment. Colour: Red, Animal: Coyote, Healing Medicine: Cedar,
Season: Summer
What is West? - ANS West represents the Physical dimension of health. Physical health
requires regular exercise, a balanced daily diet, and adequate sleep. Colour: Black, Animal:
Bear, Healing Medicine: Sage, Season: Autumn
What is North? - ANS North represents the Mental dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, mental health practice may include quality time with family, learning from Elders,
and listening to oral stories. Colour: White, Animal: Deer, Healing Medicine: Sweet Grass,
Season: Winter
What are the Haudenosaunee and Mi'kmaq Medicine Wheels? - ANS These two examples of
medicine wheels both comprise seven directions, as they include the center/inward to
represent the self, up to represent the sky, and down to represent Mother Earth. It is also
noted that the Mi'kmaq medicine wheel turns clockwise, to follow the motion of the sun
What are the four health-promoting conditions? - ANS The Availability of Health Services:
Complete health requires access to family doctors, emergency care, specialists, and essential
medical technologies, without undue financial strain and with timely availability.
Adequate Housing: Complete health requires access to a safe and secure home and community,
in which to live in peace and dignity.
Safe Working Conditions: Complete health requires access to
thorough training, protection against occupational hazards, and a supportive work
environment.
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, Nutritious Foods: Complete health also requires access to a variety of foods that offer essential
macro and micro-nutrients for growth, sustained energy, and well-being without imposing
significant financial burdens.
What is an example of a lack of availability of health services? - ANS Indigenous Peoples in
Canada suffer from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis eight to ten times more than non-
Indigenous-Canadians. The prevalence of mental illness is generally higher among Indigenous.
For example, the suicide rate in adults is twice as high as in non-Indigenous Canadians.
Integrating Indigenous culture and healing practices into modern mental healthcare is needed
in order to increase access and effectiveness of services for Indigenous Peoples, and to make
healthcare workers aware of the colonial basis of current mental health practices.
What is an example of a lack of adequate housing? - ANS More than 40% of homes on
Indigenous reserves are in need of immediate repair, and rates of overcrowding are six times
greater on reserve than off. This is likely due to improper funding, the environmental conditions
of the reserves, lack of access to hardware stores and building supplies, and difficulty obtaining
a bank mortgage due to reserve land being owned by the crown. Limited funding for band
councils forces a choice between repairing existing homes and addressing housing shortages.
What is an example of working conditions? - ANS There is a greater tendency for Indigenous
Peoples in Canada to work in more hazardous occupations. In addition, they have a higher risk
of hospitalizations due to unintentional workplace falls compared to non-Indigenous Canadians.
Indigenous Peoples are also more likely to work seasonal and/or part time jobs, which are more
vulnerable to economic downturns and can cause greater levels of stress. In addition,
Indigenous Peoples face many barriers to employment including racism, poverty, family
structure, geography, lower levels of education and literacy, government policy,
intergenerational trauma, and other historic and contemporary impacts of colonization.
What is an example of nutritious food? - ANS Indigenous Canadian households are more
likely than non-Indigenous households to experience the sociodemographic risk factors
associated with food insecurity (e.g. extreme poverty, single-motherhood, reliance on social
assistance, living in a rental accommodation). As a result, Indigenous Canadians are four times
more likely to experience hunger than non-Indigenous Canadians. Additionally, as a result of
living in impoverished conditions, more than 100 Indigenous communities are under boil water
advisories, with little to no access to clean drinking water.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
What is the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health? - ANS Health is a state of
complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not simply an absence of disease or
infirmity.
What is the Holistic Framework in Healthcare? - ANS Holistic healthcare encompasses a
consideration of the whole person, including their body, mind, and spirit. For some, a further
extension of holistic health considers not just the overall health of an individual, but also the
emotional, social, and cultural status of their community.
What is the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach? - ANS The Two-Eyed Seeing Approach, from the
Mi'kmaq First Nations, blends Indigenous and Western knowledge in healthcare. It combines
data-driven, conventional scientific approaches with Indigenous values like love, honesty,
humility, and respect to foster trust, relationships and build safe spaces. This approach
addresses colonization and marganalization's impact and improves health outcomes.
What is the Indigenous Medicine Wheel? - ANS Indigenous Peoples in Canada have long used
the medicine wheel in various forms for health and healing. The medicine wheel can exist in
many different forms, such as paintings and land formations. It symbolizes balance in physical,
mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life, serving as a guide for well-being.
What is Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel? - ANS North, East, South and West
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What is East? - ANS East represents the Spiritual dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, this may include spiritual practices such as smudging, singing, dancing, a belief in a
"Creator" higher power, and relating to nature. Colour: Yellow, Animal: Eagle,
Healing Medicine: Tobacco, Season: Spring
What is South? - ANS South represents the Emotional dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, emotional health may include positive self-image, self-esteem, self-love, and a
positive surrounding environment. Colour: Red, Animal: Coyote, Healing Medicine: Cedar,
Season: Summer
What is West? - ANS West represents the Physical dimension of health. Physical health
requires regular exercise, a balanced daily diet, and adequate sleep. Colour: Black, Animal:
Bear, Healing Medicine: Sage, Season: Autumn
What is North? - ANS North represents the Mental dimension of health. For Indigenous
Canadians, mental health practice may include quality time with family, learning from Elders,
and listening to oral stories. Colour: White, Animal: Deer, Healing Medicine: Sweet Grass,
Season: Winter
What are the Haudenosaunee and Mi'kmaq Medicine Wheels? - ANS These two examples of
medicine wheels both comprise seven directions, as they include the center/inward to
represent the self, up to represent the sky, and down to represent Mother Earth. It is also
noted that the Mi'kmaq medicine wheel turns clockwise, to follow the motion of the sun
What are the four health-promoting conditions? - ANS The Availability of Health Services:
Complete health requires access to family doctors, emergency care, specialists, and essential
medical technologies, without undue financial strain and with timely availability.
Adequate Housing: Complete health requires access to a safe and secure home and community,
in which to live in peace and dignity.
Safe Working Conditions: Complete health requires access to
thorough training, protection against occupational hazards, and a supportive work
environment.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Nutritious Foods: Complete health also requires access to a variety of foods that offer essential
macro and micro-nutrients for growth, sustained energy, and well-being without imposing
significant financial burdens.
What is an example of a lack of availability of health services? - ANS Indigenous Peoples in
Canada suffer from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis eight to ten times more than non-
Indigenous-Canadians. The prevalence of mental illness is generally higher among Indigenous.
For example, the suicide rate in adults is twice as high as in non-Indigenous Canadians.
Integrating Indigenous culture and healing practices into modern mental healthcare is needed
in order to increase access and effectiveness of services for Indigenous Peoples, and to make
healthcare workers aware of the colonial basis of current mental health practices.
What is an example of a lack of adequate housing? - ANS More than 40% of homes on
Indigenous reserves are in need of immediate repair, and rates of overcrowding are six times
greater on reserve than off. This is likely due to improper funding, the environmental conditions
of the reserves, lack of access to hardware stores and building supplies, and difficulty obtaining
a bank mortgage due to reserve land being owned by the crown. Limited funding for band
councils forces a choice between repairing existing homes and addressing housing shortages.
What is an example of working conditions? - ANS There is a greater tendency for Indigenous
Peoples in Canada to work in more hazardous occupations. In addition, they have a higher risk
of hospitalizations due to unintentional workplace falls compared to non-Indigenous Canadians.
Indigenous Peoples are also more likely to work seasonal and/or part time jobs, which are more
vulnerable to economic downturns and can cause greater levels of stress. In addition,
Indigenous Peoples face many barriers to employment including racism, poverty, family
structure, geography, lower levels of education and literacy, government policy,
intergenerational trauma, and other historic and contemporary impacts of colonization.
What is an example of nutritious food? - ANS Indigenous Canadian households are more
likely than non-Indigenous households to experience the sociodemographic risk factors
associated with food insecurity (e.g. extreme poverty, single-motherhood, reliance on social
assistance, living in a rental accommodation). As a result, Indigenous Canadians are four times
more likely to experience hunger than non-Indigenous Canadians. Additionally, as a result of
living in impoverished conditions, more than 100 Indigenous communities are under boil water
advisories, with little to no access to clean drinking water.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
