3. First Nations, Inuit and Métis people roughly
4% of Canada's population (Statscan, 2006
census)
Sovereign peoples under the Canadian
Constitution Act of 1982
Many groups with diverse needs and interests
Negotiate with Government for land rights,
hunting and fishing rights and governance
rights
Approximately 50% live on self-governed land
Background
4.
Marginalized from the rest of Canadians
Forcibly assimilated; physically and sexually
abused in state-run residential school for more
than 150 years
Slowly rebuilding the many cultures that were
almost destroyed
Self-governance is the ultimate goal
Accepting Government of Canada's Apology
The National Tragedy
5. Health
General health depends on place of residence
Health of non-Reserve aboriginal people better
Aboriginal peoples have higher rates of chronic
disease
Lower access to health care services
Mental health is a major issue in Aboriginal
communities
Aboriginal women are more likely to experience
sexual and physical abuse
6. General Trends
High levels of obesity (especially among
women)
High levels of type-2 diabetes and chronic heart
disease
Higher HIV/AIDS infection
Suicide or self-inflicted injury is the leading
cause of death among aboriginals under 44 yrs
Poor housing conditions lead to increase
exposure and prevelance of communicable
disease
7. Children
Aboriginal communities are generally young
Disproportionate burden of poor health
Very high proportion of injuries (13%)
Higher level of obesity and diabetes
Aboriginal youth 5 times more likely to commit
suicide then non-aboriginal youth
Inuit youth suicide rate is 11 times the national
average
8. Inuit
Northern health is a big issue
Remote communities forced to give up
traditional lifestyle
Living in inadequate housing leading to high
exposure and susceptibility
Inuit have 62 times higher TB infection rate
9. What is being done?
Aboriginal peoples continuously fighting for
more autonomy and compensation for past
wrongs
Government of Canada is working closely with
aboriginal groups to increase funding and
training
Better integration of aboriginal health programs
and provincial and territorial health systems
10. Aboriginal Health Programs
Indian Health Transfer Policy (negotiations
starting in 1969)
Community development to remove conditions
limiting attainment of well-being (1979)
Pace of transfer of responsibility varies between
groups – to help groups design programs that best
fit their needs (1988)
Right to Self-Government Policy (1995)
11. The Future
Aboriginal communities getting more autonomy
and Government support
Community health services become better and
more available
More trained staff, more funding from Government
More focus on mental health issues
General health of Inuit still a big problem
Need more access to health services
Need more adequate housing