Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MSc)
Department
Health Science
Faculty/School
Faculty of Science
First Advisor
Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya
Advisor Role
Advisor
Abstract
The ways of knowing, doing, and being that have historically governed Indigenous Nations in Canada have been suppressed through processes of colonisation, limiting the ability of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves according to their own cultural values and practices. Policy development is an essential component of Indigenous self-governance, yet little research has examined how Indigenous policy makers are currently developing policy. Thus, this research uses a case study methodology to explore the policy development practices of three Indigenous organisations across Canada. The data collected included interviews, focus groups, documents, and publicly available information, which were analysed using Thematic Analysis to describe key aspects of each organisation’s policy development. Across case studies, community engagement was heavily favoured, and was often treated as ceremony. However, the extent to which cultural values and protocols were embedded into policy varied depending on the type of policy being created. A major barrier to policy development was a lack of capacity, which often stemmed from policy developers balancing dual roles as service providers and policy developers. This research provides insight into the policy development practices currently being used by Indigenous policy makers, and may support the ongoing efforts of Indigenous Nations to advance self-governance.
Recommended Citation
St. Germaine, Nicholas S., "Rooted in Traditions: How Indigenous Nations Use Culture to Shape Policy" (2025). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2840.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2840
Convocation Year
2025
Convocation Season
Fall