An exploration of the health-related values in traditional healer's practices among the Amazonian Indigenous people in Ecuador: A critical ethnography of the possibility of cross-cultural health care

The process of colonisation has laid the foundation for the encounters between indigenous and western cultures. The effects of colonisation have not only been linked to the health status of indigenous populations, but also to the way knowledge of indigenous peoples and their cultures is produced. This includes their health-related practices and beliefs, which in many cases have been misunderstood and misrepresented. Considering the socio-historic context of Ecuador and its constitutional goals, the development of the health system is conditional on a better understanding of its indigenous populations. The aim of this research was to explore the practices of traditional healers in order to develop better understandings of their health-related values and beliefs, as a way to contribute to the possibility of cross-cultural health care. This research particularly looked into the traditional medicine practice of the Kichwa Indigenous people from the Ecuadorian Amazon.

The literature on the topic of indigenous health-related practices was extensive, however it was limited in attention to the relationship between traditional healers and patients, and lacking in the context of Ecuador. My study involved an ethnographic exploration undertaken in the Kichwa community of Rukullacta over a three-month period. I used participant observation in combination with in-depth interviews and photography for the collection of data and thematic analysis to develop the analysis. The findings suggest that the health-related practices replicate the values of Kichwa culture, which were identified as: the importance of collective living, the relationship with nature, ancestors and spirits, enduring strength, and the value of experienced knowledge. I argue that understanding of Kichwa culture, health-related practices and beliefs, required the recognition of the socio-historic context – such as the effects of colonisation – that continue to affect Kichwa people’s lives. The findings suggested similarities with the themes identified in the literature review. However, this also suggested an oversimplification of descriptions of indigenous practices, which accentuated the problems in the representation of other cultures. Moreover, general representations of indigenous medicines also depicted fixed notions that differed from the generational changes within Kichwa culture that were identified throughout this study. I conclude that further considerations regarding the processes of representations of other cultures are needed in the production of knowledge related to indigenous cultures.