7 : indigenous peoples and health

Question 1

Indigenous Peoples

Answer 1

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”

Question 2

indigena

Answer 2

• sprung from the land; native

Question 3

Aboriginal or First Peoples

Answer 3

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

Question 4

first nations

Answer 4

term came into usage in the 1970s and replaced the term “indian”

-600 recognized nations, 11 in metro van

-ubc -> musqueam people

Question 5

inuit

Answer 5

specific groups of indiginous people who live in the north (replaced eskimo)

Question 6

metis

Answer 6

refers to people of indigenous and mixed european ancestry dating back to particular place/time - metis nations

Question 7

indian

Answer 7

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-an outdated and offensive term that references colonialism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

Question 8

indigenous canadian

Answer 8

no go

indigenous peoples and their ancestors did not consent to becoming canadian

Question 9

historical population

Answer 9

-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

Question 10

historical context
-1500s

Answer 10

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

Question 11

historical context
1736 royal proclamation

Answer 11

aboriginal nations recognized by british crown as “autonomous political entities with a right to have their own land and govern their own affairs”

Question 12

colonialism

Answer 12

a process by which one nation imposes itself economically, politically and socially over another

Question 13

historical context
1800s

Answer 13

-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

Question 14

cultural assimilation

Answer 14

the assumption that aboriginal peoples and immigrant will give up their culture and become indistinguishable from the dominant canadian majority

Question 15

1867 british north america act

Answer 15

-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”

Question 16

confederation - legacy of exclusion

Answer 16

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

Question 17

john a macdonald

Answer 17

” 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”

Question 18

indian act (1st passed in 1876)

Answer 18

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

Question 19

four key provisions of the indian act

Answer 19

1. definition of who is/is not “indian”
2. imposed a limited system of governance
3. creation of reserve system and management of reserve lands
4. establishment of residential schools (existed prior to act but now formalized)

Question 20

language in the indian act

Answer 20

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

Question 21

residential schools were established to

Answer 21

-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”

Question 22

about the residential schools

Answer 22

-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)

Question 23

more about res schools

Answer 23

-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

Question 24

cont

Answer 24

-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

Question 25

cont

Answer 25

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

Question 26

residential school system based on assumption

Answer 26

that european civilization and christian reglions were superior to aboriginal culture, which was seen as being savage and brutal

Question 27

impacts of schools on health

Answer 27

sexual assault
loss of identity
chronic bronchitis from pneumonia

also intergenerational impacts

Question 28

provision of health care services to indigenous peoples

Answer 28

-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

Question 29

FNHA first nations health authority

Answer 29

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

Question 30

holism

Answer 30

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