Indigenous women and health care.

In Canada a woman registered in the country’s [First Nation] registry is more likely to face untimely death than rest of the Canadian women. (Akee, 2018)

According to a 2004 article from Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence, Aboriginal women in Canada experience lower life expectancy, elevated morbidity rates as well as elevated suicidal rates in comparison to non-Aboriginal women. (Carrie Bourassa) Aboriginal women in Canada on or off the reserves experience poorer health than non-aboriginal Canadian women, and experience significantly higher rates of coronary heart diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses.41% of Aboriginal women age 55-64 reported fair or poor health compared to 19% of Canadians in the same age group. (Carrie Bourassa)

Even though there are discussions from federal and provincial government levels to address the crucial health issues that Aboriginal women experience, there are not enough actions to eliminate forced acculturation, or increase the socio-economical status or to eliminate violence against Aboriginal women.

Current research identifies that Aboriginal women faces increased barriers when accessing timely and culture appropriate medical care. Further the current research identifies the health-care related injustices that Aboriginal women experience as: systemic racism, discrimination, stigmatizing, and racial stereotyping (AshleyGoodmana, 2017).

Historically aboriginal women were considered as the matriarch of the families and poor health of the mother will impact the kids and in return the society (Carrie Bourassa). Therefore addressing the Aboriginal women’s health issues will improve the health standards of the Aboriginal population as well as the Canadian society. Federal provincial and municipal governments have a tremendous task in front of them to address this issue. Using a multilevel approach with all levels of the government, should implement affordable and approachable health care centers, with incorporating traditional healers who understand the culture and in return decrease the fear and the gap Aboriginal women experience when they come to a health care setting.

In order to inform the Society, in cooperating the Aboriginal traditions to the education system and to universities will increase the public knowledge about the Aboriginal population and in return will change the perceptions in the society. Together with the health care and education empowering and promoting Aboriginal population in combining with providing economic freedom to Aboriginal communities and stopping the forced acculturation will improve the Aboriginal women’s health and prevent untimely deaths.

References

Akee, R. (2018, February Wednesday). Why are Canada's first nation women dying at such an alarming rate? https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2018/02/28/why-are-canadas-first-nations-women-dying-at-such-an-alarming-rate/.

AshleyGoodmana, K. (2017). They treated me like crap and I know it was because I was Native”: The healthcare experiences of Aboriginal peoples living in Vancouver's inner city. Social science and medicine, 87-94.

Brink, B. R. (2001). Applied Research BranchFood Insecurity in Canada, 1998-1999. Hull, Québec, Canada: HRDC Publications Centre.

Carrie Bourassa, K. m. (n.d.). Racism, sexism, and colonialism The impact on the Health of Aboriginal Women in Canada. Canadian Woman studies, 23-28.