Aboriginal Communities Flashcards
Define: Aboriginal
Includes all first-nations peoples, including inuit and metis group, all who have a unique heritage, spiritual beliefs, practices, languages, etc.
Define: First Nation
Status and Non-status Indian’s, first to live in Canada
Define: Inuit
People of aboriginal decent who live in northern parts of Canada (ex. Yukon, NWT, Labrador, etc.)
Define: Metis
People of aboriginal decent who date back to the fur trade, where they married people of European decent, creating the unique culture of the metis nation
Define: Status First Nation
Defined as “Indian” under the Indian act; often member of first nations off or on reserve
Define: Non-status First Nations
Aboriginal ancestry that is not registered under the Indian act
Define: Reserve
Tract of land set apart by “her majesty” for use and benefit by band, but not actually owned by aboriginals
Define: Band
One or more reserves
What are examples of disease that was common during the European takeover of Aboriginals:
TB, Measles, Smallpox, Whooping Cough, and Syphilis
What is the Indian Act (1876)?
- Gov’t decided who was and was not Indian; spelled out what considered you to be Indian, as well as who could maintain or lose their status
- Only 250 individuals choose to lose their status
- Most dis-empowering act in the history of the Canadian government
What is the British North American Act (1867)?
Purpose was to create a newly formed federal government, where the government took responsibility and authority over Aboriginal people, land and resources
When was the first residential school created? When was it compulsory?
1883 first created; in 1920 it became compulsory
Define: Colonization
Extending gov’t power through the migration to settler colonies and the ruling of that colony’s existing people
When were residential schools closed? What did this mean for the children?
- 1970
- Several children ended up under federal care
When was there a “lift” on the ban of cultural ceremonies?
1951 (after 75 years of a ban)
What was the purpose of Indian Reserves?
- Assemble Aboriginal people in fixed locations
- Be less mobile
- Be subjects of the Indian Act
What was the purpose of residential schools?
- Established by the gov’t and church
- Children “rounded up” and punished for their traditional beliefs
- Deculturation: presented the belief that Aboriginal culture was not worth preserving
What was the health implication of original treaties?
- Reference to medical services were omitted
- No longer had knowledge of traditional healing, had to rely on Western medicine
- Aboriginals exposed to new diseases, but were deprived of their own native medical services
- Led to creation of outpost medical stations and “Indian hospitals” (isolate and segregate individuals with illnesses like TB)
Discuss aboriginal health today:
- Life expectancy shorter than other non-aboriginal Canadians (5-7 years less)
- Infant mortality rates 1.5 times higher
- More likely to smoke and drink heavily compared to non-Aboriginals
- Approximately half of the aboriginal community rated their overall health as good
- Less access to health care services
- Majority report having good mental health, but suicide rates are 5-7 times higher compared to other non-aboriginal Canadians
- 6/10 off-reserve First Nations report having at least one diagnosed chronic condition
- TB is 31 times higher for people living on reserves than the rest of the population
Describe the social circumstances of Aboriginals in Canada:
- 1 in 4 children live in poverty compared to the national average
- First Nations youth more likely to end up in jail than graduate high school
- Aboriginals account for over 1/4 admissions to sentenced custody
- More likely to report spousal and non-spousal violent crimes
- More likely to experience food insecurity, 3x the proportion of non-aboriginal peoples
- Children receive on average 22% less funding from welfare services
- Approx 600 unresolved cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women
What are some barriers to education for aboriginals?
- Almost 1/2 aged 25-65 report post-secondary qualification (compared to almost 2/3 of non-aboriginals same age)
- Hx of being required to give up status to achieve higher education level
- Hx of abuses through residential schools
- Lack of access to quality education d/t geographic, demographic, social and cultural barriers
- Personal barriers (cost, confidence, etc.)
Name some educational initiatives for aboriginals:
- Aboriginal educational institutions
- Aboriginal enhancement agreements
- Community initiatives (ex. seventh generation club, backpack picnic)
- Improving performance of students via commitment by educators; inclusion of aboriginal language and culture; and aboriginal communities and school districts
What are barriers to healthy living environments aboriginals face?
- Crowded living conditions on reserves
- Homes needing major repairs on reserves compared to the rest of Canada (43% vs. 7%)
- Lack of adequate housing
- Relative homelessness
- Exposure to environmental hazards
- Second hand smoke
- Mold
- Poor water quality
- Outdoor air pollution
- Lack of adequate nutrition
Name some living environment initiatives:
- Aboriginal housing management association of BC
- Sustainable community housing
- Drinking water safety programs
- Prenatal nutrition projects
