In 2018, CBC published a news video titled, Canada's cultural genocide of Indigenous Peoples. The video recalls the history of colonialization and the legacy of the residential schools and the 60’s scoop. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded its work in 2015, and at that time, it made 94 calls to action. CBC argues that change is not happening, and that aboriginal people are overrepresented in the child welfare system, and correctional system. The article part of a greater campaign by CBC called Beyond94, to be accountable to the TRC (CBC News, 2019). The question is, has Canada lived up to its responsibility? 

Framing the Issue 

           In 1876 the Indian Act was created. The purpose of this legislation was to control and assimilate the native tribes. From the start, limits were set on how to keep status, and women would lose their status if they married a non-status man. Attempts were made early to curb education. A man who obtained a degree or became a doctor, lawyer or clergyman lost their status. As cultural dress, dance and rituals became banned outside of the reserves, limiting higher education was the only option to maintain a connection to the culture. (NWAC, 2018). To further assimilation, the government opened residential schools and children were sent off reserves for education. Children for decades were abused in these schools where they were forced to learn European culture, religion and practices, and abandon their own culture (McKenzie, Varcoe, Browne, & Day, 2016). The result of colonialism is that indigenous communities are in a crisis state, where they no longer are coping. This is evidenced by the high rates of substance abuse, violence and suicide. The legacy of colonialism is a significant gap in education, housing, socioeconomic status, and health care (TRCC, 2015). Of the 94 calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation commission in 2015, only 10 have been met (CBC News, 2019). There is a national health crisis in Canada’s indigenous population and although we know what is causing the crisis, our government has been very slow to respond. Canada has failed at Reconciliation.  

Analyzing the Issue 

          Canada has failed at Reconciliation by neglecting its duty to improve the health services for Indigenous people. In Pimicikamak, the only health center that is available to the community is a nursing outpost. Anyone who requires significant intervention is required to travel by air transport to a large hospital in the south (Katz, Enns, & Kinew, 2017). People sent by air transport often travel on their own due to cost. Separation causes cultural distress for these people who become engulfed in western medicine and have no family to advocate for traditional healing. Pregnant women of northern communities are evacuated out when they come to term. Though the idea is to provide them the safest care, family and cultural needs are ignored. These women experience a major life change alone, in a foreign land, with no ceremony or celebration (Cardinal, 2018).  There is a lack of cultural care in the current medical system. Cultural practices and healing techniques are often denied even if there is evidence of their efficacy (Matthews, 2017). At this time, three of the health-related calls to action have moved into the planning stages but not one health related call to action has been completed. 

          Canada has failed at Reconciliation by neglecting its duty to address the needs of indigenous children. The number of indigenous children in foster care is disproportionate to the population. 5 percent of the population is indigenous and yet indigenous children account for almost half children in care (CBC, 2019).  Indigenous families are over four times more likely to be investigated by children's services. Funding for on-reserve care of a child is only 60% of what is provided for children in care off the reserve. As a result, most children in foster care are not living on the reserves, and are separated from their culture (McKenzie, Varcoe, Browne, & Day, 2016). Josey Willier is a teenager in Alberta. She developed chronic pain related to the way her teeth were growing in. 2 pediatric orthodontist both agreed she needed treatment or would have chronic pain and difficulty eating. The federal government spent ~ $110,000 fighting the responsibility to pay for the $6,000 treatment (CBC, 2017).  Finally, the story of Jordan River Anderson. He was an indigenous boy born with a rare genetic disorder. Due to complications of his condition, he required home medical care. He was able to live at home so long as he could have home care and have his home adapted. Jordan never made it home. A debate between the provincial and federal government regarding who would pay for his care lasted three years; until he died in hospital, away from his community. His mother died months later (Chambers & Burnett, 2017). None of the calls to action regarding children have been completed and only two have progressed past proposal. Jordan’s Principle has been implemented, but not in all jurisdictions (CBC, 2019).  

          Canada has failed at Reconciliation by neglecting its duty to update an antiquated and culturally unsafe education system for indigenous people. Residential schools inflicted serious physical and mental abuses to indigenous children. Children were stripped of their culture and forced to conform. Parallel to the abuse, was an education system that neglected the children's academic needs. Schools provided only the most basic literacy and mathematics skills. It was believed indigenous people did not have the mental capacity to understand a proper curriculum (McKenzie, Varcoe, Browne, & Day, 2016). The racist views of the past have shaped the current education system for on-reserve schools. The Indian Act (1953) had a provision for education standards which was 4 pages long whereas the Manitoba Public Schools Act of 1954 was 91 pages.  Detailed regulations for residential schools were not developed until 1968, a century after they opened (TRCC, 2015). A survey of indigenous people was conducted by the government of Canada. The findings were that on-reserve schools were viewed as inferior due to a lack of support services, school infrastructure, accessibility, and qualified educators (GOC, 2017). The school system for indigenous children has been neglected by the Canadian government since it was created in the 1800’s. Education and employment are directly related and are both social determinants of health. Skyrocketing suicide rates in northern indigenous youth have been linked to a lack of adequate education and employment opportunities (Philpott, 2018). At this time, none of the education related calls to action have been implemented, three are in progress and the remaining calls to action have not progressed (CBC, 2019). 

Conclusion 

    When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began their work, there was an understanding that the findings would bring light to the struggles of indigenous people. In the three years since the report was published, Canada has made few moves at completing the calls to action. Nurses serving indigenous communities need to understand the complex relationship between government and the people. There is a deep-rooted history of lies from the government and mistrust by the indigenous people. For many indigenous people the TRC is just another empty promise. Health care is part of the very institution that created residential schools, set policies that would discourage education,  and failed at providing health equity. This country created the reserves and used policy to ensure the people living on them would fail to succeed. To be able to truly provide culturally competent care to indigenous people, cultural education, reflection, and recognition of privilege will help a nurse find empathy and understanding.  

 

 

References 

Cardinal, M. C. (2018). “Lost births,” service delivery, and human resources to health. International Journal of Health Governance, 23(1), 70-                       80. doi:http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.1108/IJHG-12-2016-0057 

Canadian Brodcasting Corporation. (2019) Beyond 94: Truth and reconciliation in Canada. [website] Retieved                                                                           from: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-single/beyond-94?&cta=1 

Canadian Brodcasting Corporation. (2017) Ottawa spent $110K in legal fees fighting First Nations girl over $6K dental procedure. Retrieved from:              https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/health-canada-legal-fees-first-nations-girl-dental-coverage-1.4310224 

Chambers, L., & Burnett, K. (2017). Jordan’s principle: The struggle to access on-reserve health care for high-needs indigenous children                              in canada. American Indian Quarterly, 41(2), 101-124. Retrieved from http://moxy.eclibrary.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-                             com.roxy.nipissingu.ca/docview/1910280449?accountid=12792 

Government of Canada. (2017) Let’s talk on-reserve education: Survey report. [website] Retrieved from: https://www.sac-                                                        isc.gc.ca/eng/1509019844067/1531399883352 

Katz, A. Enns, J., & Kinew, K. A. (2017). Canada needs a holistic first nations health strategy. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 189(31),                        E1006-E1007. doi:http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.1503/cmaj.170261 

Matthews, R. (2017). The cultural erosion of indigenous people in health care. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 189(2), E78-                                          E79. doi:http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.1503/cmaj.160167 

McKenzie, H. A., Varcoe, C., Browne, A. J., & Day, L. (2016). Disrupting the continuities among residential schools, the sixties scoop, and child                      welfare: An analysis of colonial and neocolonial discourses. International Indigenous Policy Journal,                                                                                7(2) doi:http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.18584/iipj.2016.7.2.4 

Native Womens Association of Canada. (2018) The indian act said what?. [PDF] Retrieved from: https://www.nwac.ca/wp-                                                          content/uploads/2018/04/The-Indian-Act-Said-WHAT-pdf-1.pdf 

Philpott, J. (2018). Canada's efforts to ensure the health and wellbeing of indigenous peoples. The Lancet, 391(10131), 1650-                                                     1651. doi:http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30179-X 

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015) What we have learned: Principles of truth and reconciliation. [PDF] Retrieved                                         from:  http://nctr.ca/assets/reports/Final%20Reports/Principles_English_Web.pdf