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Indigenous Health

Image by Tom Gainor

Background

Image by Bernard Hermant

Indigenous Peoples have long identified the significant systemic racism that they have experienced especially within Canada's health system. 

These harms have been clearly documented within numerous inquiries and government-commissioned reports, and have included identifying negative impacts on care experience, supports, and even health outcomes such as increased mortality.

Indigenous colleagues, both working and learning, within the health system have faced this systemic racism which impact psychological safety, identity, and sense of belonging for many even through their educational and clinical activities. This domain allows us to consider how we can build relationships and trust with Indigenous colleagues by ensuring we are creating accountable spaces for critical dialogue as we seek to journey together and improve care and experience for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Key Definitions & Concepts

Equity

Attainment of fairness and justice, with imbalances addressed. (reference)

Health Equity

"Health equity is achieved when everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being." (reference)

Social Justice

Approach promoting that each person has the right to the full spectrum of economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. (reference)

Articles & Books

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Article

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Experiences of Inuit in Canada who travel from remote settings for cancer care and impacts on decision making
Janet Jull et al.

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Postoperative outcomes for Nunavut Inuit at a Canadian quaternary care centre: a retrospective cohort study
Jason McVicar et al.

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United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

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Two-Eyed Seeing: The gift of multiple perspectives
Emily Leighton

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Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory (CAUT)

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National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (final report)

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CanMEDS-Family Medicine: Indigenous Health Supplement

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= EqHS Lab members

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= Tool

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Postoperative outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in Canada: a systematic review
Jason McVicar et al.

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Land Acknowledgements: From Recitation, To Real

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"We're very much part of the team here": A culture of respect for Indigenous health workforce transforms Indigenous health care
Emma V. Taylor et al.

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Allyship in Residency: An Introductory Module on Medical Allyship for Graduate Medical Trainees
Sarah Martinez et al.

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Territory Acknowledgement
(Native Land Digital)

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Joint Commitment to Action on Indigenous Health (AFMC)

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Indigenous Ally Toolkit

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Podcasts / Films

= EqHS Lab members

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The Unforgotten
5-part film

Videos: YouTube

The Legacy of Nutritional Experiments in Residential Schools
02:02:56

The Legacy of Nutritional Experiments in Residential Schools

Webcast sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and in partnership with the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, with support from the UBC First Nations House of Learning, the UBC Department of History and Kloshe Tillicum (Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research). Shortly after WWII, when knowledge about nutrition was still sparse, scientists in Canada took advantage of already malnourished aboriginal communities by using them as research subjects to investigate the effects of different diets and dietary supplements. Evidence of these government-run experiments was brought to the forefront by food historian and UBC History alumnus Ian Mosby, and the research has gained widespread recognition. Sometimes the experiments involved decreasing food intake or withholding supplements. Hundreds of indigenous people across Canada were included in the experiments, of which they had no knowledge, and many of them were children in the Indian Residential School system. The fallout from this unethical treatment is still having an effect today. Join us for a panel discussion about this distressing era in Canadian history and find out how UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems is working to address issues such as access to healthy, traditional food; food security for all; and land stewardship. Shortly after WWII, when knowledge about nutrition was still sparse, scientists in Canada took advantage of already malnourished aboriginal communities by using them as research subjects to investigate the effects of different diets and dietary supplements. Evidence of these government-run experiments was brought to the forefront by food historian and UBC History alumnus Ian Mosby, and the research has gained widespread recognition. Sometimes the experiments involved decreasing food intake or withholding supplements. Hundreds of indigenous people across Canada were included in the experiments, of which they had no knowledge, and many of them were children in the Indian Residential School system. The fallout from this unethical treatment is still having an effect today. Moderator Jo-Ann Archibald, BEd(Elem)’72 – Associate Dean for Indigenous Education, UBC’s Faculty of Education Presenter Ian Mosby, BA’03 – Postdoctoral Fellow, L.R. Wilson Institute for Canadian History, McMaster University Panelists Chief Robert Joseph, LLD’03 – Hereditary Chief, Gwawaenuk First Nation; Ambassador for Reconciliation Canada and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society Eduardo Jovel, MSc’96, PhD’02 – Director, Indigenous Research Partnerships; Associate Professor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems Jessie Newman – UBC Dietetics student Gerry Oleman – Member, St’at’imc Nation

Websites

Whose Land

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Treaty 1 Territory

Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations

A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (Call to Action 19)

National Consortium for Indigenous Medical Education (NCIME)

Grand Council Treaty #3

Treaty 7 First Nations'

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Manitoba Métis Federation

Métis National Council

Non-Endorsement Disclaimer
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