8 research outputs found
Crisis on Tap: Seeking Solutions for Safe Water for Indigenous Peoples
Water which is safe to drink straight from the tap is taken for granted by many Canadians, despite the fact that access to safe drinking water is far from universal. Across the country, many communities endure conditions unimaginable to most Canadians: water accessed through pipe systems causes gastrointestinal illness, must be boiled prior to consumption or not used at all, and these drinking water advisories can last anywhere from a few days to several years. First Nations are over-represented in both the number and severity of drinking water advisories, and face considerable barriers in (re-)establishing clean drinking water in their communities. These challenges have been increasingly recognized by all levels of government ā this recognition led to the development of the First Nations Drinking Water Safety Programme and to new legislation creating enforceable drinking water standards on First Nations reserves.
Last yearās World Water Day also marked the midpoint of the United Nations Decade for Indigenous Peoples, and honouring the importance of water to the health of Indigenous communities, the Centre for Aboriginal Health Research and partners held the Consensus Conference on Small Water Systems Management for the Promotion of Indigenous Health, March 21-23, 2010. This three day event brought together community members, researchers, policy makers, and health and water services professionals to discuss pathways to achieving universal safe drinking water in Canada and abroad. Two themes emerged from the discussions as important to addressing safe drinking water in Canada: collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and greater self-determination among First Nations.
In the months following the conference, the Centre for Aboriginal Health Research initiated a workshop series exploring economic and social barriers to safe drinking water experienced by First Nations in British Columbia. Working in partnership with six communities, CAHR delivered workshops on topics specific to local needs.
The book that follows shares the proceedings of the conference and a report summarizing the process and findings of the workshop series. On the Centreās website (www.cahr.uvic.ca) you can also access the video recordings of the conference presentations, as well as a trailer video and a full documentary produced as a result of the conference. It is my hope that these materials open a door to interdisciplinary exploration of the issue and support ātwo-eyed seeingā where water is concerned
"Honouring and caring for Aboriginal people and communities in the fight against HiV/AIDS"
This paper provides an organizational overview of Healing Our Spirit BC First Nations AIDS Society (Healing Our Spirit) and introduces the holistic healing and Aboriginal specific service delivery model that Healing Our Spirit uses to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The HIV/AIDS epidemic compels many Aboriginal communities to deal with the complex issues associated with HIV/AIDS
Gum yan asing Kaangas giidaay han hll guudang gas ga. I Will Never Again Feel That I Am Less Than: Indigenous Health Care Providersā Perspectives on Ending Racism in Health Care
Racism toward Indigenous Peoples continues to permeate throughout the health care system, a reality the authors know all too well in their shared and yet unique personal and professional experiences. Although acknowledging and speaking up against racial injustice is daunting, and is often met with disregard or inaction, the authors contend that this is a necessary undertaking to redress the ongoing harms of colonialism. Correspondingly, those who do not speak up must not have their voices silenced. Instead, the perspectives that Indigenous Peoples have regarding their own experiences of racism must be heeded seriously and produce real and tangible solutions. In narrating their own encounters of confronting and challenging racism, the authors juxtapose activism and resistance with the preservation of Indigenous Knowledge as a catalyst for propelling the necessary changes forward within health care to end racism. To be truly impactful, all efforts taken to address racism must occur alongside advancing equity of care and human rights for and by Indigenous Peoples at individual, community, and systemic levels. Changes are not needed after more evidence. The time to act is now
Letsemot, āTogethernessā: Exploring How Connection to Land, Water, and Territory Influences Health and Wellness with First Nations Knowledge Keepers and Youth in the Fraser Salish Region of British Columbia
Connection to land has been identified as a central determinant of the health and well-being of First Nations in Canada. The wholistic, interconnected, spiritual, and sacred relationship that many Indigenous Peoples have with the land is an integral part of strengthening physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health and well-being. However, there has been little empirical evidence on how to assess, measure, and report on connection to land for First Nations Peoples. Using a Two- Eyed Seeing approach, this study explores what connection to land, water, and territory means for health and wellness for First Nations in the Fraser Salish region in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Data were collected through a sharing circle with five First Nations Knowledge Keepers and five youth from StoĢ:loĢ communities as part of a land-based gathering in StoĢ:loĢ territory. Three themes were identified: (a) āthe spirits of the land, water, and territory are within usā: the intersection of cultural identity, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and health and well-being; (b) letsemot, ātogethernessā: relationality; and (c) disruptions and new ways of living. For StoĢ:loĢ Peoples, connection to the land is an integral component of health and well-being. Connection to land was found to strongly influence physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of health while also intersecting with StoĢ:loĢ cultural identity, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and ways of living. The findings can be used to inform the development of an indicator for connection to land, water, and territory as a measurement of ecological wellness for the First Nations Population Health and Wellness Agenda in BC