Exploring First Nation Elder Women’s Relationships with Food from Social, Ecological, and Historical Perspectives

Authors: Hannah Tait Neufeld, Chantelle Richmond, and The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre

Year: 2020

The ongoing negative health effects of colonization have disproportionately affected Indigenous women, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes, food insecurity, and undernutrition. Indigenous women also perceive their health less positively than men do. This article draws theoretically from the socio-ecological model to explore health inequalities experienced by Indigenous women associated with the intergenerational effects of the residential school legacy, specifically related to food practices.

Ignored to Death: Systemic Racism in the Canadian Healthcare System

Source: Brenda Gunn

Year: n.d.

Widespread health disparities continue for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Indigenous peoples experience lower health outcomes than non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, which is exacerbated by the lack of access to quality health care and lower socio-economic situation (as confirmed by the social determinates of health). Indigenous peoples also lack access to adequate health services, especially in remote communities. In 2015, the Auditor General in Canada concluded that “Health Canada did not have reasonable assurance that eligible First Nations individuals living in remote communities in Manitoba and Ontario had access to clinical and client care services and medical transportation benefits as defined for the purpose of this performance audit.” There is a failure to implement existing policies and strategies.

In Plain Sight: Summary Report

Source: Addressing Racism Review

Year: 2020

In June 2020, claims surfaced about a “Price is Right” game allegedly being played in some B.C. hospital Emergency Departments, in which health care workers were guessing blood alcohol levels of Indigenous patients. The Minister of Health commissioned an independent Review to investigate the “Price is Right” allegations and whether this game or other forms of Indigenous-specific racism are being experienced by Indigenous people using the provincial health care system, make findings of fact, and “to make any recommendations it considers necessary and advisable.”

In Plain Sight: Full Report

Source: Addressing Racism Review; Government of British Columbia

Year: 2020

In June 2020, claims surfaced about a “Price is Right” game allegedly being played in some B.C. hospital Emergency Departments, in which health care workers were guessing blood alcohol levels of Indigenous patients. The Minister of Health commissioned an independent Review to investigate the “Price is Right” allegations and whether this game or other forms of Indigenous-specific racism are being experienced by Indigenous people using the provincial health care system, make findings of fact, and “to make any recommendations it considers necessary and advisable.”

Health and Health Care Implications of Systemic Racism on Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Source: Indigenous Health Working Group of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada

Year: 2016

Family physicians know that supporting a patient’s health requires trust, compassion, and mutual respect. For Indigenous patients and their families, this is not always achieved. Systemic racism has been identified as a major barrier to positive relationships between physicians and Indigenous patients and the best care of Indigenous peoples. This brief guide for physicians helps you understand better the role that systemic racism can play in shaping an Indigenous patient’s clinical experience, and what you can do about it. As Indigenous patients, Indigenous physicians, and allies, we are appealing to you to help us address this pervasive and harmful problem.

Cultural Mindfulness

Source: George Couchie

Year: 2019

The first step toward understanding other people is learning about their past. George Couchie takes us through some of his Indigenous culture and history, educating us about the impacts of residential schools. Inspiring youth Angel Armstrong, Mckenzie Ottereyes Eagle, and Miigwan Buswa share their connection to the past and show us how they are stopping those negative cycles by embracing culture.

Relational Systems Thinking

Source: Melanie Goodchild

Year: 2021

We explore the notion of the need to decolonize systems thinking and awareness. Taking a specifically Indigenous approach to both knowledge creation and knowledge sharing, we look at awareness-based systems change via a Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) two-row visual code. The authors explore the sacred space between Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of thinking and knowing, to identify pathways for peaceful co-existence of epistemologies.

Etuaptmumk / Two-Eyed Seeing and Beyond

Source: Reconciling Ways of Knowing

Year: 2020

Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall, Drs. Jesse Popp, Andrea Reid and Deborah McGregor discussed the idea of Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing and other related frameworks for understanding across ways of knowing with moderator Jacquie Miller, MA.

Two-Eyed Seeing: A Framework for Understanding Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Approaches to Indigenous Health Research

Source: Debbie Martin

Year: 2021

This article presents two-eyed seeing as a theoretical framework that embraces the contributions of both Indigenous and Western “ways of knowing” (world-views). It presents key characteristics and principles of these different perspectives and suggests ways in which they might be used together to answer our most pressing questions about the health of Indigenous people and communities.

Why bringing traditional food into Haida Gwaii hospitals and schools matters

Source: National Observer
Date: Feb 2021

A story about her father and his hatred of beets continues to remind Elizabeth Moore why bringing traditional food and teaching to her home of Haida Gwaii is so important.

Traditional Food as Medicine at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre

Source: Nourish
Year: 2020

Nourish aims to use the power of food to build health for people and the planet. Our Transition Practice Studies highlight the work of Canadian healthcare institutions innovating food culture and practice to advance this aim.

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win provides holistic, culturally responsive and appropriate care (minoyawin) through programming and healing practices informed by Indigenous wisdom. Because “food is medicine,” a crucial part of this programming is serving Traditional foods (Miichim).

Read online the full Transition Practice Study and download the Executive Summary.

Setting the Table for a Healthy Food Conversation: Tips for care providers working within Aboriginal Communities

Source: Island Health
Year: 2014

A brief guide produced by Island Health, British Columbia on supporting culturally safe conversations about food and nutrition with Aboriginal communities.