The Connection Between Health and Education. Adult Education Series. Discussion Paper Five.

This paper promotes discussion by native community groups of the meaning of physical and mental health, the differences between treatment and prevention, and how education contributes to disease and health of children. Education's role in disease prevention is defined as helping the learner respond appropriately to stress arising from the environment or emotional development. Such education does not seem to be available to natives. The "great learning enterprise" called for by Canada Native elders is summarized by four points: (1) the heart of the problem lies with the native community and solutions must come from those communities, (2) the future is inseparably linked to the past, (3) educating native peoples to direct their own healing and development must be a lifelong undertaking; and (4) the wellbeing of the individual is inseparable from the health of the social and cultural context from which the individual comes. A wholistic educational plan centering on the children is seen as the solution to diseases such as alcoholism and drug abuse. Activities and questions to aid in applying the information to local conditions are included. (LFL)