Oppression Of Indigenous People In Canada

The health care system in Ontario has been subjected to a lot of criticism and investigation since its introduction midway through the twentieth century. In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the demand of healthcare, due to increase in the population from immigration and also, an increase in the chronic diseases among the residents of Ontario, which in turn has affected the overall quality of the provision of healthcare. Due to its availability to wide range of people it has become evident that the health care system has been restricted by incorporation of various strict time-consuming policies, which may cause the current healthcare system to be unsustainable in the future. Therefore, healthcare industry has added resources to accommodate increase in demands and the needs of the Ontarians, but this does not eliminate the problem that Ontario lacks a system-wide and sustained approach to improve quality of primary healthcare, which will be further discussed in the paper.

Health care expenditure accounted for an estimated 11% (214.9 billion) of Canada’s GDP in 2014 (CIHI, 2014). Canada boasts a universal, cost-effective and fair health care system to its citizens (Picard, 2010). However, despite great claims and large expenses incurred Canada’s health care system has been reported inefficient in it’s delivery to the population (Davis, Schoen, & Stremikis, 2010; Picard, 2010). As inconsistencies exist in health care delivery across the country, choosing priorities for the health of the Canadian people becomes of vital importance. In Ontario, progress toward a better health care system has been stated to be moving forward by putting the needs of the “patient’s first” (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [MOHLTC], 2015). This policy brief will give a background of health care issues in Canada related to Ontario. Three evidence-based priorities will be suggested for Ontario’s health policy agenda for the next three to five years. Furthermore, through a critical analysis of these issues a recommendation of the top priority issue for the agenda will be presented.

Many factors are there which negatively affect the health of aboriginal people in Canada. It includes poverty, several generational effects of colonization and residential schools. One obstacle to good health lies squarely in the lap of health care system itself. Many aboriginal people are not accepting health care system because they don’t have trust on them. They do not feel safe from racism and stereotyping. Main reason is that the Western approach to health care can feel isolated and scary. Cultural competency has a beneficial effect on health care. It creates safe environment for aboriginal people, which is free from racism and stereotype. It treats aboriginal people with respect, dignity and empathy. Culturally effective

For a non-indigenous person health means the condition of the body and the degree to which it is free from illness, or the state of being well (Cambridge University Press, 2017). However, for First People the definition of health and wellbeing is much more than a physical form. Kinship, Descent, Connection to land and Country as well as tradition are all factors which combine towards a balanced life (REF). With disruption of these factors the balance is tilted and subsequently there is a decline in health. Therefore, with destruction of land, communities and tradition colonisation dismantled the meaning of health for the First People leading to increased illness and deceased. This disruption is still affecting First Peoples’ health today as the disconnection to the above factors are ongoing. This disconnection has lead to First peoples’ having 1O year life gap to their non-indigenous counterparts (Australian Bureau Statistics, 2013).

The Canadian health system aims to provide equal health for all and although in recent years, general healthcare services to Aboriginal peoples have improved, Aboriginal peoples still experience poorer health outcomes than non-Aboriginal Canadians (Kowpak & Gillis, 2015). The health challenges faced by Canadian Aboriginal peoples are unique and complex (Richardson, Driedger, Pizzi, Wu, & Moghadas, 2012), especially as an outsider therefore the need to understand Aboriginal health from their perspective. Hence, in community and population health profession, knowledge of Aboriginal health increases the understanding of the underlying causes of health disparity and poor health among Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal health knowledge is beneficial

The health of Aboriginal people in Canada is both a tragedy and a crisis (Aboriginal Affairs and North Development Canada, 2010). Aboriginals have a higher rate of death among aboriginal babies, twice the national average, higher rate of Infectious diseases example gastrointestinal infections to tuberculosis, and chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease are affecting more aboriginal people than they once did (AANDC, 2010). Availability of important medical facility is not enough to accommodate the growing medical needs of Aboriginals. A socioeconomic and cultural issue also hinders the access of aboriginals to access health care in the community.

Aboriginal Indigenous people are the true owner of this country before the British colonisation, but they also experienced large scale of death and different kinds of sickness like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers in contrast to non-Indigenous people. As according to (Stewart, J. M et. al, 2012) these disease are generally from smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, high blood pressure, over weight and cholesterol. Because of this they created an exclusive health centre that focuses on their concerns about their cultural rights and practices.

The aboriginal population in Canada is growing, and it is known that 56% of Aboriginals live on an rural reserve or community (Government of Canada, 2014; NCCAH, 2011). It is important to note that those Aboriginals living on reserves and in communities have a significantly higher rate of health issues than those living in cities (NCCAH, 2011). This stems from the limited access to healthcare that Aboriginal rural areas receive (NCCAH, 2011). The lack of healthcare causes higher numbers in diseases, conditions, and disorders among the Aboriginal people of Canada (NCCAH, 2011).

Thesis: Although their were contributions in improving the lifestyles for the native Canadians by the Canadian government the prejudice they faced does not nearly way out of how they were treated through deficient access to health care, poor living conditions, and lack of education.

Outcome The Health Transfer policy will allow First Nations people to gain more self-determination and reintegrate their culture into healing processes. Since this policy is so new and will take many years to completely take effect, there are no relative statistics to show. Ng et al (2012) concluded in their study that autonomy supportive health care correlated to better health outcomes. From this study, we can conclude that since Aboriginals will have more control of their health care, they will inevitable have improved health.

Patients that want to receive a drug exemption that is not listed on the Non-Insured health benefit (NIHB) Programs drug benefit list must complete a long lengthy paperwork process that can take weeks or even months to complete. This procedure can be complicated when the aboriginal patient must depend on visiting specialist that are only available for appointments once a month. In the north the effects of lack of access to the health services have caused patients to leave their communities to get more specialized care , they are usually send to the south for medical emergencies, hospitalization, appointments with medical specialists , diagnosis and treatments . In 2005, 5% of Inuit’s had been away from their homes for one of more months due to illness effects (Access to health services as a social determinant of first nations, in unit and metis health). Many children are suffering because of their health. Some families don’t have enough money to get their children medicine or a cure for their disease. Some families are struggling to reach for help and also many families struggle financially, so they may not have the money to get a cure or medicine. Non- aboriginal people can just easily go out and get medication and simply cure themselves from the sickness but aboriginals have difficulties accessing the health systems that we have and that can be a hard task. If aboriginals have a

Finally, Indigenous communities play a significant role in health promotion and adapting health services to the needs of their community. (Health Canada,

Around the globe in countries from Australia and New Zealand to South American and North America there is a disparity in the quality of healthcare and life that indigenous people receive compared to their non-indigenous counterparts (Ring & Brown, 2003). Life expectancy for Aboriginals, the indigenous people of Australia is 19-21 years less than non-indigenous life expectancy; 5-7 years for the Maori population in New Zealand; and 5-7 years less for Native Americans in Canada (Ring and Brown, 2003). In the United States American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) live, on average, 4.2 years less than the rest of the population (Indian Health Disparities, 2015).

Furthermore, measures need to be taken to increase both the quality and delivery of health care to the indigenous population, including culturally appropriate health services. Each Aboriginal sub-group has their own unique needs that must be taken in account for. Thus, health care

While many may argue that the Canadian health care system provides equal treatment to every Canadian, evidence shows that this is not the case. There are major discrepancies within the system regarding Indigenous people that need to be addressed including several factors such as: housing issues, stereotypes Aboriginals face and the lack of Aboriginal doctors.