Source: National Collaborating Center for Indigenous Health
Year: 2016
Culture is a dynamic and adaptive system of meaning that is learned, shared, and transmitted from one generation to the next and is reflected in the values, norms, practices, symbols, ways of life, and other social interactions of a given culture (Krueter & McClure, 2004). It is the foundation of both individual and collective identity, and its erosion can adversely affect mental health and well-being, leading to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide (Kirmayer, Brass, & Tait, 2000). Language is “a conveyor of culture” (Ibid., p. 613) and the means by which knowledge, skills, and cultural values are expressed and maintained.