Abstract:Current global health frameworks increasingly recognize the interconnected nature of health, yet often overlook the relational, spiritual, and ethical dimensions emphasized in Indigenous worldviews. This study draws on interviews with 18 Indigenous participants from diverse Nations and geographic regions to explore five core values respect, balance, reciprocity, care and responsibility, and interconnectedness that form the foundation of wholistic health from an Indigenous perspective. In this context, health is framed not as an individual state, but as a dynamic, relational balance across physical, mental, spiritual, and community dimensions, extending to both natural and spiritual realms. These values are not treated as isolated concepts, but as interrelated principles that guide relationships, responsibilities, and collective wellbeing over time. Using narrative inquiry and grounded theory, the research contrasts Indigenous perspectives with dominant Western models such as One Health, EcoHealth, and Planetary Health. While these frameworks acknowledge ecological interdependence, they often remain focused on human-centred outcomes and rarely engage with Indigenous ethical systems or expanded definitions of community. The study proposes a conceptual model grounded in Indigenous values that redefines community to include human, other-than-human, and spiritual relationships. This relational framing addresses systemic health inequities by centering Indigenous knowledge systems and ethics; it responds to environmental degradation by emphasizing reciprocal responsibilities toward land, water, and other-than-human beings; and it contributes to global health by offering a more integrative and sustained approach to personal, ecological, and spiritual wellbeing. Ultimately, the findings call for policies and partnerships that move beyond symbolic inclusion toward meaningful collaboration, power-sharing, and shared ethical foundations. Such a shift is necessary to build global health systems that are more accountable, relational, and ethically grounded.
Keywords: Indigenous Health, Indigenous health, Wholistic health, Relationality, Global health, Indigenous knowledge systems, Reciprocity, Health equity
