“Type 2 diabetes affects First Nations and Métis people three to five times more than the general Canadian population. Although, there is less type 2 diabetes among the Inuit, they are beginning to acquire the disease in greater numbers.”  Health Canada

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Aboriginal people are now the fastest growing demographic in Canada, while rating the lowest in statistics of well-being as compared to the non-aboriginal population. The Lack of access to resources, such as nutritional food, adequate housing, and sustainable economies on many reserves ensure that that mortality rate due to Diabetes and other serious illnesses is also highest among Indigenous people. The current status of Indigenous communities is a result of Canada’s history of colonial pursuits. The Canadian Government’s policy towards settlement, displaced a variety of cultures, and forced them into land claims with limited access to resources and freedom. The Government sought to eradicate the traditional practices and potentially the people. Despite many years of legislation determined to assimilate Aboriginal peoples into the European culture of monopoly Aboriginal communities are continuing to grow, and are demanding the freedom of traditional practices that they once had.  The current structure of Canada is still based upon and focused on the practices of colonialism. This system of disempowerment that is currently based around issues of healthcare and poverty in Aboriginal communities is a redundant strategy at progressive change. The current state of health care in Canada needs to be readdressed and redefined in order to create access to services that actually benefit the needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people.
 

In the search for answers to the current state of health among the Aboriginal populations we see that many factors are involved such as jurisdiction of responsibility and funding;  treaty agreements, Provincial versus federal  in the issues of ‘status’, and who identifies as ‘status’ makes for a large grey area in access, legislation, and accountability.

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Services Such as the the National Non-Insured Health Benefits NIHB Program

“provides coverage to registered First Nations and recognized Inuit to support them in reaching an overall health status that is comparable with other Canadians. Benefits under NIHB include eye and vision care, dental, medical transportation, drugs, medical supplies and equipment, crisis mental health counseling, and approved health services outside of Canada. While this program has a strong foundation in Health Canada, the services it provides are chronically underfunded. There is a demonstrated need for expanded services, holistic approaches to healing and greater access, all of which can only be met through the consistent and adequate provision of funding to the program…

With the stressors on dental, pharmacy, transportation, medical supplies, equipment, mental health services, and no additional funding to respond to the population increase, First Nations children, adults, and elders will face an uphill battle and possible crisis for accessing basic health care needs and benefits.” (AFN)

As this report describes the population of aboriginals are growing as well as their needs.  The demand for adequate funding is not being responded to which is widening the gap between healthcare and access to it.

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​Human Development Index Report

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To give an impression to the degree of living standards faced on reserves a study of the Human Development Index for Canada compared to Aboriginal communities within, showed that Canada ranked 4th in the world while the HDI index for ‘status Indians’ living on reserves ranked 79th. (Beavon and Cooke, 2003). These standards have been comparative to some of the third world countries.

(The United Nations Human Development Index is a study that focuses on the status of countries that maintain the most ideal conditions to live in according to factors including health, education, and income.)

The fact that Canada is ranked so high as one of the best places to live while the conditions of life on reserves fall so far behind just show the measures in which many of Canada’s citizens are unaware to how pressing an issue this is and how political agendas of the people in power are allowing these conditions to persist.

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Initiatives and Reports over the Years
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​Over the years actions have been taken in the community involvement in the health care system with the release of the Lalonde Report, The Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion, and The Royal Commission on Aboriginal People’s (RCAP) report on Health and Wellness. These documents all focused on redefining the view on healthcare and led to the involvement of Indigenous values and the bridging of a divide between two perspectives.

However, with the increase of illness and disease in Indigenous communities, it is clear that not enough consideration has been paid.  A couple of statements from The Assembly of First Nations (2001) ten year report card on the strategy proposed by the RCAP shows the general outcome.

“RCAP’s comprehensive strategy was based on a rebuilding process as the best and proper way for the revival of the economic, social, cultural and health status of communities and individuals. The strategy was premised on the restoration of relations of mutual respect and fair dealing between First Nations and other Canadians.”
 

The Reality is that there have been  “No sustained investment in meeting the basic needs of First Nations communities, or in addressing key determinants of health/well-being” (AFN, 2001)

 

Aboriginal people addressing the issues and searching for real solutions to issues relating to Aboriginal communities is the same perspective that many researcher in Canada are attempting to focus on when it comes to integrating traditional methods as a result to the health status.

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Researchers involved in creating A Framework for Aboriginal-guided decolonizing research involving Métis and First Nations persons with diabetes stated,  “Continuing colonial suppression...occurs when majority society (new colony) assumptions about health and disease are applied to develop programs to alleviate poor health of Indigenous peoples caused by colonization…"

In the context of rising diabetes incidence in Aboriginal communities worldwide, Rock (2003) states, “When it comes to planning and implementing interventions targeting diabetes, lived experience is a key consideration and one that remains underdeveloped.  In order to explain and understand these phenomena it is necessary to take into account culture”’ (Bartlett J G et al., 2007)

The theory behind this research is Participation Action Research (PAR).  PAR was an element in the Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion that directly focused on community involvement. In the framework in this study, however, the process is out into practice in the study of Diabetes among the First Nations and Metis people of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  In the outline on this procedure it is discussed how a number of Aboriginal peoples and non-aboriginal allies focus on doing investigative research on Diabetes while practicing traditional methods; including post research feasts.

The introduction of practices like these is becoming desired among many people.  In an AFN held National Health Forum in 2011 “Over 780 representatives, including over 300 sponsored health directors and designates from every region in Canada came together to share new and innovative First Nation-driven approaches to health and wellness. The overall theme of the forum, Taking Action to Move Forward, provided the framework for discussions and presentations on five key issues within national health policy: sustainability, governance, jurisdiction, research, and knowledge translation.”

How Government Policies Have Factored into Aboriginal Health Issues