“Like a Tree Without Roots”: Why Cultural Wisdom Matters in Nursing
by Rupinder Sandhu RN, BN, cNephC
June 25th, 2025
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
-Marcus Garvey
This quote from Marcus Garvey resonates with me both as a nurse and a person. It reminds me that our understanding of health is not just about science–it’s also about story, memory, and identity. In nursing, we often talk about holistic care, but how often do we reflect on whose knowledge counts, or whose stories are silenced?
CULTURAL CARE STARTS FROM THE GROUND UP
These questions have become especially present for me during my graduate studies. In conversation with a classmate, we shared reflections on colonial legacies in healthcare—on how moral distress often arises when systemic practices fail to honour cultural identities. What kept surfacing was this: When a patient’s cultural roots are ignored, something vital is lost—not just for them, but for us as providers.
Scholars like Anderson et al. (2021) describe this as epistemic violence—when systems dismiss, ignore, or devalue other ways of knowing, especially Indigenous or non-Western ones. In healthcare, this often happens subtly— through which voices are cited, which practices are prioritized, and whose knowledge is questioned. Working with Indigenous patients in Manitoba, I have seen firsthand how cultural identity and healing practices can be unintentionally dismissed. I have even been advised to “veer off” conversations about Indigenous health—even when patients initiated them.
In my work with Indigenous patients in Manitoba, I have witnessed how cultural identity and healing practices can be unintentionally dismissed. I remember being told to “veer off” discussions around Indigenous health, even when the conversation was initiated by patients.
One moment i’ll never forget was when I corrected a patient’s chart to reflect a patient’s traditional name rather than a colonized version of his name. It was a small act, but it felt powerful—an acknowledgment of their identity, history, and humanity.
This simple act brought to mind the Indigenous Medicine Wheel—a model of health that includes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions (Greer & Lemarcks, 2024). It challenges us to remember that healing is never just clinical—it is always cultural. Honouring the Indigenous Medicine Wheel isn’t just about being inclusive—it is about recognizing that health has always been defined differently across cultures. For many indigenous peoples, healing is a sacred, interconnected process. Respecting the Medicine Wheel as nurses invites us to meet people where they are not just clinically, but culturally. It is a step toward restoring trust, rebuilding relationships, and acknowledging that colonial health frameworks are not the only truths.
REMEMBERING MY OWN ROOTS
Garvey’s poignant quote also pulls me back to my own roots. My mother, born in India, raised me in England with the wisdom of Ayurveda flowing through our home. She taught me about plants like Tulsi (holy basil) for immunity and calming, Haldi (turmeric) for inflammation and skin health, and Ashwaghanda for resilience and energy. These were not just “alternative” remedies in my household—they were medicine, backed by generations of lived experience. Today, science is catching up to what our elders already knew (Cohen, 2014; Mikulska et al., 2023). I will add a gentle reminder that while plants have played an continue to play a vital role in cultural healing for generations, it is important to recognize that not all herbal remedies are universally safe. A common plant example is that of St Johns’ Wort which may be taken for mood regulation. St John’s Wort can interact with oral contraceptives, blood thinners, and antidepressants (Ng et al., 2017). As nurses, we must do our due diligence by checking for potential contraindications and consulting pharmacists where needed, and being evidence-informed and dilligent about safety profiles (Izzo & Ernst, 2009). At the same time, we must hold space for the cultural wisdom that surrounds plants and not discredit traditional healing. We must ensure to practice safely, ethically, and in partnership with the patient’s full health picture.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR NURSING
To offer ethical care, we need to do more than just “treat illness”—we must examine the systems we work within. Scholars Browne et al. (2016) argue that nursing must confront how institutional practices often recolonize care—reinforcing power imbalances that worsen health disparities rather than dismantle them.
We must:
- Make space for cultural healing practices
- Listen without defensiveness
- Reflect on how nursing itself has been shaped by colonial assumptions
WHEN WE NURSE FROM THE ROOT, THE WHOLE SYSTEM HEALS
When we ignore cultural knowledge, or treat it as an option, we risk falling into the same patterns of harm that Garvey warned against. As nurses we have a responsibility not just to relieve suffering or to treat illness, but to recognize knowledge, especially when it comes from voices that have historically been marginalized. That means making space for cultural practices, listening to stories, and sometimes, unlearning what we thought we knew.
I implore you to build on your knowledge and nursing practice by deepening your understanding of how colonialism has shaped healthcare in Canada—and the real harm it continues to cause Indigenous communities. If you reside in Manitoba, I have linked the Manitoba Indigenouos Cultural Safety Training (MICST) under the links & resources tab on my ePortfolio for you to explore. This training helps healthcare providers reflect on the historical roots of health inequities and challenges us to take action toward cultural safety in our practice. It is a powerful step toward unlearning colonial assumptions and moving us towards a system that heals rather than harms.
Garvey’s words remind us that without cultural memory, there is no true health equity. Whether we are supporting Indigenous patients, newcomers, or anyone whose care journey is shaped by a different worldview, we must offer more than treatment—we must offer recognition.
Cultural wisdom isn’t just tradition—it’s truth passed down. When we root ourselves in that truth, we not only become better nurses—we become better people.
Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican activist and writer who dedicated his life to promoting Black pride, cultural identity, and resistance to colonialism. Garvey believed that knowing where you come from—your roots, your history, your culture—is essential to moving forward with strength. His message was not just for the Black diaspora; it resonates across all communities that have been displaced, silenced, or made to feel that their knowledge does not count. For me, his words are a reminder that healing—whether personal or collective— begins with remembering who we are and where we come from.
References
Anderson, M., Rodney, P., Reimer-Kirkham, S., & Browne, A. J. (2021). Epistemic justice: A critical component of cultural safety in nursing practice and education. Nursing Inquiry, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12378
Browne, A. J., Varcoe, C., Ford-Gilboe, M., & Wathen, C. N. (2016). Equity-oriented health care for Indigenous populations: A framework for addressing structural racism in health care. Canadian Journal of Nursing Reearch, 48(4), 36-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562116686306
Cohen, M. M. (2014). Tulsi-Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 5(4), 251-259
Greer, T., & Lemacks, J. L. (2024). The medicine wheel as a public health approach to lifestyle management interventions for Indigenous populations in North America. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, Article 1392517. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh2024.1392517
Izzo, A. A., & Ernst, E. (2009). Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: An updated systematic review. Drugs, 69(3), 1777-1798. https://doi.org/10.2165/11317010-000000000-00000
Mikulska, P., et al. (2023). Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera)—Current research on the health-promoting activities: A narrative review. Pharmaceutics, 15(4), 1057. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041057
Ng, Q. X., Venkatanarayanan, N., & Ho, C. Y. X. (2017). Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort) in depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 210, 211-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.048