7 : indigenous peoples and health Flashcards
Indigenous Peoples
a term used to describe First Peoples from anywhere in the world. The use of Peoples plural is intentional to indicate while there are some commonalities in experiences and across cultures, there are many diverse “peoples”
indigena
- sprung from the land; native
Aboriginal or First Peoples
refers to all original peoples in what is currently known as “ north america” and their descendants
-defined in canadian constitution act of 1982
-encompassing term that includes first nations, metis and inuit
first nations
term came into usage in the 1970s and replaced the term “indian”
-600 recognized nations, 11 in metro van
-ubc -> musqueam people
inuit
specific groups of indiginous people who live in the north (replaced eskimo)
metis
refers to people of indigenous and mixed european ancestry dating back to particular place/time - metis nations
indian
no go
refers to the legal identity of a first nations person who is registered under the indian act
-an outdated and offensive term that references colonialism
-still used in some official ways
-used by “insiders” -within communities or in reference to self
indigenous canadian
no go
indigenous peoples and their ancestors did not consent to becoming canadian
historical population
-indigenous peoples have inhabited this land “since time began” (12000 years)
-at point of contact w europeans, its estimated there were 100 million indigenous peoples in north and south america
-b/w 75 and 95% were wiped out by european diseases
historical context
-1500s
Europeans began to colonize what would come to be called North America starting with eastern shores ; moved across the continent over the next 200 years
historical context
1736 royal proclamation
aboriginal nations recognized by british crown as “autonomous political entities with a right to have their own land and govern their own affairs”
colonialism
a process by which one nation imposes itself economically, politically and socially over another
historical context
1800s
-growing influx of settler immigrants (as well as growing populations/births)
-rise in racism, loss of power among indigenous peoples
-european settlers and policies become increasing concerned with cultural assimilation and domination
cultural assimilation
the assumption that aboriginal peoples and immigrant will give up their culture and become indistinguishable from the dominant canadian majority
1867 british north america act
-act passed by british parliament that created the canadian confederation and set out its constitution
-rather than being full partners in confederation, aboriginal peoples were classified as “wards of the state”
-federal government “responsible for indians and lands reserved for indians”
confederation - legacy of exclusion
when the fathers of confederation came together in 1864 in charlottetown, and then again a year later in quebec, to lay the foundation for canada, indigenous people were not present. they were left out, despite the early treaty making. this exclusion has had far-reaching implications for canada. the work of reconciliation today is, in many ways, at its core about rectifying this exclusion. after confederation, crown policy became one of assimilation, and not patnership
john a macdonald
” the great aim of our legislation has been to do away with the tribal system and assimilate the indian people in all respects with the other inhabitants of the dominion as speedily as they are fit to change”
indian act (1st passed in 1876)
amended many times but still exists today
in past included prohibitions on
-voting
-sitting on juries
-holding religious or spiritual ceremonies
-gathering in groups of 3+
-possessing alcohol
-owning property
four key provisions of the indian act
- definition of who is/is not “indian”
- imposed a limited system of governance
- creation of reserve system and management of reserve lands
- establishment of residential schools (existed prior to act but now formalized)
language in the indian act
indian : legal term used to describe FN people in the indian act
status indian : a person who has status and is a registered “Indian” under the indian act and in most cases is a “band member”. has certain entitlements from the fed government, tax exemption on-reserve, non insured health benefits, post secondary education support. not all status indians are band members
non status indian : person who was never registered or is no longer registered as an indian due to the discriminatory nature of the indian act
residential schools were established to
-remove and isolate children from influences of their homes, families, traditions and cultures
-prepare indigenous children for life in white society (aggressive assimilation -> solve the “indian problem”
about the residential schools
-schools were funded by federal government and largely run by various religious organizations
-between 1884 and 1950s indigenous parents were legally required to send their children
-over 150 000 children were forcibly removed from their families (6-15 years)
more about res schools
-children lived at the schools for 10-12 months of the year (travel distances and/or costs prevented them from going home)
-siblings were often seperated (often as a strategy to minimize familys ability to retain and passed along cultural heritage)
-children forbidden to speak own language or practice their traditions and beliefs
cont
-overcrowding, poor sanitation , lack of medical care, tuberculosis, small pox, insufficient food
-estimated 6000 children died in the schools but many others discharged ill from the school and died soon after
-1800 confirmed or suspected graves found since 2021
cont
residential schools have been called a form of “cultural genocide” and : the single most harmful, disgraceful and racist act in our history
-extended families destroyed
-loss of language and culture - even in cases of return to community
residential school system based on assumption
that european civilization and christian reglions were superior to aboriginal culture, which was seen as being savage and brutal
impacts of schools on health
sexual assault
loss of identity
chronic bronchitis from pneumonia
also intergenerational impacts
provision of health care services to indigenous peoples
-indigenous peoples are included in the calculation of “transfers” from federal to P/T governments
-funding is also provided through indigenous services canada
-subject to discretionary increases/ decreases by government
-provinces and territories differ in “how” they provide health care to indigenous peoples
FNHA first nations health authority
first and only provincial first nations health authority in canada
-2013 took over health care and health governance in bc
-partnerships and collaborations with over 200 first nations communities
“first nations perspective on wellness”
-hollistic and interrelated approach to health
holism
an approach to health that considers all aspects of an individual - physical, emotional, social , spiritual , and liftestyle - as interrelated and must be treated as such
