A brief review of Aboriginal health issues in Canada. This presentation was meant to give a basic information for non-canadians.

1. Aboriginal Canadian
Health

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