April 3, 2003 CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations

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Healthy Aboriginals = Healthy Canadians

The Housing Conditions of Aboriginal Canadians:The Davis Inlet-Natuashish Example By Alex Drossos

Slide 2April 3, 2003 CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations

Aboriginals in Canada

“Indian” under Indian Act, “non-status Indians”, Métis and Inuit4.4% of Canadian Population608 First Nations, 52 Cultural Groups, more than 50 Languages>50% of on-reserve are under 25 yrs oldOn average, income, unemployment, education

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Research Shows…

Aboriginal Canadians are less healthy than the rest of Canadians.Providing health care services to this population cannot in itself remove the health disparities; upstream provisions must also be used.Maintaining cultural identity of Aboriginals is key to providing programs to combat health inequalities.More research in this area is needed, and must be conducted by native people themselves. The formation of the IAHR (Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health) is a step in the right direction.The Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) is data rich and a good source for this type of research.

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Housing Determinants

Physical housing conditionsClean waterFood availabilityIncomeAdequate waste disposal

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Mandala of Health

Hancock, 1985Good fit with Aboriginal tradition and cultureHousing isn’t the centre of the “universe”

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Policies

Historically poor Aboriginal housing policiesRCAP 1996 changed thatOn-reserve housing policy of July 25, 1996– Government claims it is working

• 7% increase in adequate housing for 133 participating communities

• Over 60% of First Nations now participating

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Policies (cont’d)

Four key pillars:– First Nation control– First Nation expertise– Share responsibility– Better access to private capital

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Davis Inlet-Natuashish:History

Part of Mushuau Innu BandOriginally nomadic hunters, from Eastern QuebecAlgonkian-speakingDavis Inlet = Utshimassits (place of the boss) community of ~650Natuashish is near Little Sango Pond

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Davis Inlet-Natuashish:Geography

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Davis Inlet-Natuashish:Sociology

History of substance and alcohol abuseOne of the highest suicide rates in the worldBattle with cultural identity

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Davis Inlet-Natuashish:The Housing Project

15 km from Davis Inlet133 new homesNew school, medical facility, etc.$152 MillionHuge delays– Now June completion

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Policy Cycle Deficiencies

Problem definition

Policy formulation

Interests

Research

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Recommendations

Focus on repeating policy cycle, addressing deficienciesConcentrate the interests of AboriginalsNot only housing policy:– Education– Self-government

Population Health Template

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Pop. Health Template

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Question Period

"We know that this will not solve all our problems, but our people deserve these houses. No human being should have to live in miserable shacks like those in Davis Inlet. We are leaving behind many years of pain and suffering. Here, we'll at least have a base with decent conditions for dealing with other social problems, like alcoholism."

-- Chief Simion Tsakapesh