News
CMAJ Election 2015: closing the Aboriginal health gap
T
Tatiana Philiptchenko
children who experience he story of five-yearviolence.” old Brody Meekis’ Despite these welldeath from strep throat documented disparities, in a remote First Nations comAboriginal health issues munity in Northwestern have not gained much tracOntario hit the national news tion during the federal elecand social media less than tion campaign, says Perry three weeks after the start of Bellegarde, national chief the federal election campaign of the Assembly of First on Aug. 2. Nations (AFN). Brody, who lived in Sandy “The gap is all around Lake, a fly-in community with us, as First Nations people,” a federal nursing station, died says Bellegarde. “Half of from a common infection that our children live in poverty, family doctors routinely and which is more than double successfully treat with antibiotthe national average. There ics. The little boy never saw a are 40 000 Aboriginal childoctor, since none routinely dren and youth who live in staff the nursing station Health foster care. There are 132 Canada operates on his reserve. First Nations communities “The system failed my son,” with boil water advisories.” Brody’s father, Fraser Meekis, Bellegarde wants all told the Globe and Mail on Canadians to ask how camAug. 20. paigning politicians plan The system fails many to “close the gap.” In a Aboriginal children — and Sept. 2 document, the AFN adults. Brody’s death and the calls on the next federal death from strep throat of a litgovernment to collaborate tle girl on the Pikangikum First on a First Nations Health Nation, are just two examples Plan that includes longof the often fatal health care term investments in preveninequities experienced by tion, promotion and health indigenous Canadians. Aboriginal people are the “sickest and the poorest people in Can“They’re the sickest and the ada,” says Dr. Darlene Kitty, president of the Indigenous Physicians services, and better access to culturally appropriate poorest people in Canada, in Association of Canada. health human resources. our own backyard,” says Dr. The AFN is also asking for a First Darlene Kitty, a family physician in a benchmark Statistics Canada study Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Chiassibi, Que., and the president of the published in August. Framework. Indigenous Physicians Association of Indigenous Canadians also experiOnly public pressure will force politiCanada. ence higher rates of domestic violence cal action, says Bellegarde. He applauds Compared with non-indigenous Ca and sexual assault — as Nunavut Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s promise nadians, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Tunngavik Inc., the agency charged with if elected to invest in reserve housing and people have higher rates of chronic dissecuring Inuit economic, social and culinfrastructure, and in First Nations edueases such as diabetes, tuberculosis and tural well-being, points out in a 2014 cation and training, as well as commitrickets. They have higher infant mortalreport on the Nunavut Justice system. ments by Trudeau and National Demoity rates and shorter lifespans, by five to “Women and children are the most cratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair to hold seven years. First Nations’ adults, for vulnerable populations in the territory, an inquiry into missing and murdered example, are more than twice as likely as experiencing physical and sexual vioindigenous women. other Canadians to die from avoidable lence at rates far above the rest of the The Conservative Party has not yet causes (including diabetes, lung cancer, country,” the report states. “Compoundcommitted to holding an inquiry, which accidental injuries, drug and alcoholing this problem is the lack of resources is among the 94 recommendations of related causes and suicide), according to and support available for women and
©2015 8872147 Canada Inc. or its licensors
CMAJ, November 3, 2015, 187(16)
E469
News the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It also recommends that the federal government set measurable goals to close the gaps in health outcomes, to establish healing centres, to increase the number of Aboriginal health care providers and to recognize Aboriginal healing practices, among other healthrelated recommendations. The commission provided political parties with the chance to articulate their positions during the campaign, says Jeff Reading, the interim director of the new Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indige-
E470
nous Health at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. “Housing, water quality and education — these are the things that we know determine health, and we’ve known for a long time.” “Everything is tied to economics,” points out Claudette Dumont-Smith, the executive director of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and a registered nurse. “The burden of illness of Aboriginal people, women included, is costing the system a lot,”. Brody Meekis’s death illustrates the
CMAJ, November 3, 2015, 187(16)
most critical health issue Aboriginal Canadians face, says Bellegarde — access to comparable health care. “That’s all First Nations people are asking for.” — Laura Eggertson, Ottawa, Ont. In CMAJ’s election survey, the leaders of all five federal parties were asked what they would do to close to the gap. Look for their responses at cmaj.ca. CMAJ 2015. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-5155
CMAJ Election 2015: closing the Aboriginal health gap
T
Tatiana Philiptchenko
children who experience he story of five-yearviolence.” old Brody Meekis’ Despite these welldeath from strep throat documented disparities, in a remote First Nations comAboriginal health issues munity in Northwestern have not gained much tracOntario hit the national news tion during the federal elecand social media less than tion campaign, says Perry three weeks after the start of Bellegarde, national chief the federal election campaign of the Assembly of First on Aug. 2. Nations (AFN). Brody, who lived in Sandy “The gap is all around Lake, a fly-in community with us, as First Nations people,” a federal nursing station, died says Bellegarde. “Half of from a common infection that our children live in poverty, family doctors routinely and which is more than double successfully treat with antibiotthe national average. There ics. The little boy never saw a are 40 000 Aboriginal childoctor, since none routinely dren and youth who live in staff the nursing station Health foster care. There are 132 Canada operates on his reserve. First Nations communities “The system failed my son,” with boil water advisories.” Brody’s father, Fraser Meekis, Bellegarde wants all told the Globe and Mail on Canadians to ask how camAug. 20. paigning politicians plan The system fails many to “close the gap.” In a Aboriginal children — and Sept. 2 document, the AFN adults. Brody’s death and the calls on the next federal death from strep throat of a litgovernment to collaborate tle girl on the Pikangikum First on a First Nations Health Nation, are just two examples Plan that includes longof the often fatal health care term investments in preveninequities experienced by tion, promotion and health indigenous Canadians. Aboriginal people are the “sickest and the poorest people in Can“They’re the sickest and the ada,” says Dr. Darlene Kitty, president of the Indigenous Physicians services, and better access to culturally appropriate poorest people in Canada, in Association of Canada. health human resources. our own backyard,” says Dr. The AFN is also asking for a First Darlene Kitty, a family physician in a benchmark Statistics Canada study Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Chiassibi, Que., and the president of the published in August. Framework. Indigenous Physicians Association of Indigenous Canadians also experiOnly public pressure will force politiCanada. ence higher rates of domestic violence cal action, says Bellegarde. He applauds Compared with non-indigenous Ca and sexual assault — as Nunavut Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s promise nadians, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Tunngavik Inc., the agency charged with if elected to invest in reserve housing and people have higher rates of chronic dissecuring Inuit economic, social and culinfrastructure, and in First Nations edueases such as diabetes, tuberculosis and tural well-being, points out in a 2014 cation and training, as well as commitrickets. They have higher infant mortalreport on the Nunavut Justice system. ments by Trudeau and National Demoity rates and shorter lifespans, by five to “Women and children are the most cratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair to hold seven years. First Nations’ adults, for vulnerable populations in the territory, an inquiry into missing and murdered example, are more than twice as likely as experiencing physical and sexual vioindigenous women. other Canadians to die from avoidable lence at rates far above the rest of the The Conservative Party has not yet causes (including diabetes, lung cancer, country,” the report states. “Compoundcommitted to holding an inquiry, which accidental injuries, drug and alcoholing this problem is the lack of resources is among the 94 recommendations of related causes and suicide), according to and support available for women and
©2015 8872147 Canada Inc. or its licensors
CMAJ, November 3, 2015, 187(16)
E469
News the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It also recommends that the federal government set measurable goals to close the gaps in health outcomes, to establish healing centres, to increase the number of Aboriginal health care providers and to recognize Aboriginal healing practices, among other healthrelated recommendations. The commission provided political parties with the chance to articulate their positions during the campaign, says Jeff Reading, the interim director of the new Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indige-
E470
nous Health at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. “Housing, water quality and education — these are the things that we know determine health, and we’ve known for a long time.” “Everything is tied to economics,” points out Claudette Dumont-Smith, the executive director of the Native Women’s Association of Canada and a registered nurse. “The burden of illness of Aboriginal people, women included, is costing the system a lot,”. Brody Meekis’s death illustrates the
CMAJ, November 3, 2015, 187(16)
most critical health issue Aboriginal Canadians face, says Bellegarde — access to comparable health care. “That’s all First Nations people are asking for.” — Laura Eggertson, Ottawa, Ont. In CMAJ’s election survey, the leaders of all five federal parties were asked what they would do to close to the gap. Look for their responses at cmaj.ca. CMAJ 2015. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-5155
