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Health Issues of Canada’s Indigenous People. Glen Tong. Who are Canada’s indigenous people? -Referred to also as First nations, aboriginals and in the north of Canada, Inuit's. -In U.S.A referred to as Native Americans as well -Colloquially: Indian, Red man, Red Indian.
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Health Issues of Canada’s Indigenous People Glen Tong
Who are Canada’s indigenous people? -Referred to also as First nations, aboriginals and in the north of Canada, Inuit's. -In U.S.A referred to as Native Americans as well -Colloquially: Indian, Red man, Red Indian. -They were the people present in Canada before the arrival of Europeans.
What are some of the problems? • A report done by stats Canada for year 2000 showed that, compared to the rest of Canada • -Life expectancy of native males was 7.4 years less and for females 5.2 years less. • -Birth rate is double and one in five involve teenage mother • -Circulatory disease and injury account for half of mortality • Natives 1 – 44 injury and poising common cause of death, above 45 circulatory disease • Elevated rates of • Pertussis 2x • Rubella 7x • Tuberculosis 6x • Shigellosis 2x • Chlamydia 7x • Heart Disease 1.5x • Type 2 diabetes 3-5 x • Alcoholism
When did it all start? -Arrival of Europeans caused many health issues with First nations people -Introduction of alcohol (firewater) -Introduction of common European diseases -Forcing of aboriginals onto reserves -Some of these actions in the past have had lasting effects that are present today.
Alcohol Effects, then and now. • Historically • -The effect of alcohol historically caused break down of social structure • -As young native men were the ones most likely to partake. This was a problem as they were the main providers for the community. • -Also caused social breakdown through alcohol induced violence • Effect Now • -Alcoholism has been behaviorally carried down through many generations, exacerbated by the lack of education • -FAS (Fetal alcohol syndrome) in aboriginal communities is much higher than the national average. • Alcohol related deaths 187 per year • 4x the normal rate • 2/3 male
What they caught from the Europeans -Isolation of first nations people made them very susceptible to common European diseases -Diseases such as Chicken pox, measles and small pox were deadly to First nations -Caused epidemics that destroyed 1/3 to 3/4 of some villages -Caused social break down as well as the continued health effects.
Result of Displacing the first nations -By moving First Nations people on to fixed reserves much of their culture was taken away. -Cause continual alcoholism. -Drug abuse. -Lack of education towards health issues -Nutrition – circulatory problems -Contraception -Venereal disease -Teen pregnancy.
What has been done? -Programs and support groups for alcoholism -Incentives for higher education (no fees, allowance) -Specialized health promotion and services -Tax exemptions -Government funding
Why is this still a problem? • Much of the substance and alcohol abuse as well injury caused by lost sense of culture. • Many stay on reserves to preserve what culture is left • Problems on reserves • Educational attainment rates lower on all indicators, secondary, postsecondary and university degrees • 55.8% of homes are considered adequate for living • 15.7% require major repairs • 5.3% not-inhabitable • Behaviorally learned alcohol abuse • Violence • -Difficult to provide social programs for isolated reserves • -Continued lower socio-economic status
References http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/famil/preg-gros/intro-eng.php http://www.injuryresearch.bc.ca/documents/FNIHB%20Alcohol%20Factsheet.pdf http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/index-eng.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-eng.html http://www.naho.ca/english/index.php http://www.gov.mb.ca/ana/apm2000/1/n.html Photos from google search