Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective
Unquestionably there is a need for more Indigenous and traditional knowledge to understand better the link between ‘culture and food systems, diet and traditional practices’ and ‘diet-related diseases’ (e.g. diabetes), particularly from a Pacific worldview. In this study, we explored the role of Sam...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Kōtuitui |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2514832 |
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| author | Ridvan Firestone Penina Hitti Layla Latu Blakely Brown Lisa Te Morenga Nia Aitaoto |
| author_facet | Ridvan Firestone Penina Hitti Layla Latu Blakely Brown Lisa Te Morenga Nia Aitaoto |
| author_sort | Ridvan Firestone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Unquestionably there is a need for more Indigenous and traditional knowledge to understand better the link between ‘culture and food systems, diet and traditional practices’ and ‘diet-related diseases’ (e.g. diabetes), particularly from a Pacific worldview. In this study, we explored the role of Samoan traditional healers or Taulasea with the research question: ‘What insights are contained in Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems that can be used to design new ways to prevent diet-related diseases among Samoans (and Pacific peoples in general) in NZ?’ Fourteen Taulasea participated in semi-structured narrative interviews (talanoa methodology) from June 2022 to October 2023. Transcribed interviews were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes were revealed that examined the sacredness of their knowledge and practice, Taulasea specialisation, treatment methods and holistic views that impact health. These insights highlight why Samoans continue to use traditional healing as the first port of call for their health needs.Glossary of Samoan/Māori words: Fa'afaletui: a Samoan research framework used to weave different perspectives together based on the different groups of individuals interviewed; Fofo: traditional massage; Va: relational space; Vai: traditional medicines based on plants; Talanoa: Pacific methodology approach of weaving the discussion points in qualitative research using semi-structure interviews; Taulasea: traditional healer/practitioner; To'ala: a life-essence that resides in the upper torso of a healthy individual. Healers usually palpitate for the to'ala to see if it is in place or mis-aligned; Rongoā: traditional Māori medicine; mirmiri: massage; karakia: prayers, chants or incantations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa2f8bc372aa4dca91e54e0fed2db964 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1177-083X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Kōtuitui |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa2f8bc372aa4dca91e54e0fed2db9642025-08-20T03:40:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupKōtuitui1177-083X2025-10-012041192120710.1080/1177083X.2025.2514832Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspectiveRidvan Firestone0Penina Hitti1Layla Latu2Blakely Brown3Lisa Te Morenga4Nia Aitaoto5Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New ZealandCentre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New ZealandCentre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New ZealandSchool of Public and Community Health Services, College of Health, University of Montan, Missoula, MT, USACentre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New ZealandCenter for Pacific Islander Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fayetteville, AR, USAUnquestionably there is a need for more Indigenous and traditional knowledge to understand better the link between ‘culture and food systems, diet and traditional practices’ and ‘diet-related diseases’ (e.g. diabetes), particularly from a Pacific worldview. In this study, we explored the role of Samoan traditional healers or Taulasea with the research question: ‘What insights are contained in Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems that can be used to design new ways to prevent diet-related diseases among Samoans (and Pacific peoples in general) in NZ?’ Fourteen Taulasea participated in semi-structured narrative interviews (talanoa methodology) from June 2022 to October 2023. Transcribed interviews were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes were revealed that examined the sacredness of their knowledge and practice, Taulasea specialisation, treatment methods and holistic views that impact health. These insights highlight why Samoans continue to use traditional healing as the first port of call for their health needs.Glossary of Samoan/Māori words: Fa'afaletui: a Samoan research framework used to weave different perspectives together based on the different groups of individuals interviewed; Fofo: traditional massage; Va: relational space; Vai: traditional medicines based on plants; Talanoa: Pacific methodology approach of weaving the discussion points in qualitative research using semi-structure interviews; Taulasea: traditional healer/practitioner; To'ala: a life-essence that resides in the upper torso of a healthy individual. Healers usually palpitate for the to'ala to see if it is in place or mis-aligned; Rongoā: traditional Māori medicine; mirmiri: massage; karakia: prayers, chants or incantations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2514832Taulaseatraditional healerholisticdiet-related diseasefoodway systems |
| spellingShingle | Ridvan Firestone Penina Hitti Layla Latu Blakely Brown Lisa Te Morenga Nia Aitaoto Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective Kōtuitui Taulasea traditional healer holistic diet-related disease foodway systems |
| title | Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective |
| title_full | Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective |
| title_fullStr | Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective |
| title_short | Insights on wellbeing and society from a Taulasea/traditional healer perspective |
| title_sort | insights on wellbeing and society from a taulasea traditional healer perspective |
| topic | Taulasea traditional healer holistic diet-related disease foodway systems |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1177083X.2025.2514832 |
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