Brittany McBeath, Brittany Wenniserí:iostha Jock, Treena Wasontí:io Delormier, Lucie Lévesque

Recentering Indigenous Knowledge: A Narrative Review of Recent Developments in Indigenous Health Promotion

Introduction

Recentering indigenous knowledge: a narrative review of recent developments in indigenous health promotion. Discover how Indigenous knowledge is recentering health promotion. This review explores developments, challenges colonial structures, and guides community-led, culturally grounded initiatives.

Abstract

Indigenous health promotion is increasingly recognized as a distinct paradigm that challenges colonial structures and reclaims approaches grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems. However, there remains a limited understanding of how Indigenous scholars and communities are actively redefining health promotion. This narrative review examines 60 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 to explore how Indigenous health promotion dismantles colonial structures, applies cultural grounding and adaptation strategies, and engages with Western theories, frameworks and methodologies. Articles were identified through a systematic search of four major health research databases, and focused on food and nutrition, and physical activity programs or research involving Indigenous populations in Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United States. Findings reveal that Indigenous health promotion programs and research initiatives are increasingly community-led, and grounded in local knowledge and practices. Many initiatives emphasize reconnection to land and culture and are situated within broader visions of planetary health and environmental justice. Intergenerational knowledge transmission and community governance are central to culturally grounded and effective health promotion efforts. While some Western frameworks are still used, they are often critically adapted or selectively integrated to align with Indigenous values and priorities. This review affirms the essential role of Indigenous knowledge systems in shaping health promotion that is effective and sustainable. It offers direction for reimagining health promotion policy and practice by placing Indigenous leadership and priorities at the center of efforts to achieve health equity and social justice for Indigenous communities.

Review

This narrative review, "Recentering Indigenous Knowledge: A Narrative Review of Recent Developments in Indigenous Health Promotion," offers a timely and crucial synthesis of how Indigenous scholars and communities are actively redefining health promotion. The paper addresses a significant gap in understanding by examining 60 peer-reviewed articles from 2015 to 2025, focusing on Indigenous populations in Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United States, specifically within food, nutrition, and physical activity contexts. By positioning Indigenous health promotion as a distinct paradigm that directly challenges colonial structures, the review provides an invaluable overview of culturally grounded approaches. The review's findings powerfully illustrate that contemporary Indigenous health promotion is increasingly community-led, deeply rooted in local knowledge, and emphasizes reconnection to land and culture. A critical insight is the situatedness of these initiatives within broader visions of planetary health and environmental justice, highlighting the holistic nature of Indigenous well-being. The authors effectively demonstrate how intergenerational knowledge transmission and community governance are central to effective efforts, while also revealing a discerning engagement with Western frameworks, which are often critically adapted or selectively integrated to align with Indigenous values. The systematic search strategy across four major health research databases underscores the rigor applied in identifying relevant literature for this comprehensive narrative synthesis. Ultimately, this review affirms the indispensable role of Indigenous knowledge systems in fostering effective and sustainable health promotion outcomes. It provides a robust evidence base for reimagining health promotion policy and practice, advocating for Indigenous leadership and priorities to be at the core of initiatives aimed at achieving health equity and social justice. The work offers clear direction for academics, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to move beyond conventional paradigms towards approaches that are genuinely resonant, respectful, and impactful for Indigenous communities globally.

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