Measles resurgence exposes vaccine hesitancy as a systemic public health crisis rooted in misinformation and eroded trust

Indigenous knowledge systems often view health as interconnected with land, community, and spiritual well-being, making vaccine skepticism a rational response to historical trauma. For instance, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy’s Great Law of Peace emphasizes collective responsibility for health, yet colonial medical practices disrupted these traditions. Reintegrating Indigenous health practitioners into public health strategies—such as the Māori-led *Whānau Ora* model in New Zealand—could restore trust and improve vaccination rates in marginalized communities.