scholarly journals Ethical Data Linkage with Indigenous Communities: The Manitoba Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Katz ◽  
Kathi Avery Kinew ◽  
Leona Star
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Indigenous Nations ◽  
Unethical Research ◽  
System Use ◽  
First Nations People ◽  
Interpretation Of Results

IntroductionIndigenous populations are known to have poor health and health outcomes in many countries. Indigenous peoples continue to be the subjects of unethical research. Research that is undertaken without their consent, involvement in the design, delivery and interpretation of results that perpetuates negative stereotypes ignoring the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism. Objectives and ApproachIn order to understand the health status and health system use of First Nations people in Manitoba Canada we developed a partnership between the First Nations Social Secretariat of Manitoba and researchers to link First Nations identifiers with administrative data. This partnership was based on long-standing relationships with researchers who were affiliated with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. ResultsA tripartite data sharing agreement set out the parameters of sharing data that supported the linkage of the Federal Registered First Nations database to the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository. The DSA facilitated direct First Nations input into the indicators chosen, the reporting cohorts, the interpretation of results and the language of the report. Conclusion / ImplicationsDSAs can be used as a tool to facilitate partnerships with Non-indigenous researchers and Indigenous Nations that lead to meaningful partnerships and lay the foundation for respectful and ethical research. The research presents findings the health of First Nations and shines a light on the underlying colonialism and racism that contributes to the health inequities. These findings have the potential to influence health and well-being of First Nation peoples in Manitoba. This model of collaboration can be used a model in other jurisdictions.

scholarly journals Measuring What Counts to Advance Indigenous Self-Determination: A Case Study of the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government’s Quality of Life Framework and Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bouchard ◽  
Adam Perry ◽  
Shannon West-Johnson ◽  
Thierry Rodon ◽  
Michelle Vanchu-Orosco
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Self Determination

Abstract Modern Treaties are presented as a means for improving the lives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada by providing specific rights, and negotiated benefits. However, the positive impacts of Modern Treaties on Indigenous well-being are contested (Borrows and Coyle 2017; Coulthard 2014; Guimond et al. 2013; Miller 2009; Poelzer and Coates 2015). Developing a more transparent, consistent, collaborative and contextual way of measuring well-being relevant to the cultural realities of Modern Treaty beneficiaries is an important step for generating comparative methods that could systematically demonstrate whether, and under what conditions, such agreements can effectively reduce socio-economic disparities and improve the quality of life of Indigenous communities. The authors first examine previous attempts at measuring Indigenous well-being, then reflect on well-being in relation to the Modern Treaty context. Subsequently, the authors provide an example from one Self-Governing Indigenous Government, the Nisga’a Lisims Government, to collect well-being data through the Nisga’a Nation Household Survey using a mixed quantitative-qualitative method developed through a culturally grounded and participatory approach.

scholarly journals Traditional Knowledge: Considerations for Protecting Water in Ontario

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah McGregor
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Regulatory Documents ◽  
Nations People ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
First Nations People ◽  
Ways Of Life

In Canada, the water crisis increasingly felt around the world is being experienced primarily in small, usually Indigenous, communities. At the heart of this issue lies an ongoing struggle to have Indigenous voices heard in the decision-making processes that affect their lives, lands, and waters. As part of ancient systems of Traditional Knowledge (TK), Indigenous people bear the knowledge and the responsibility to care for the waters upon which they depend for survival. A series of internationally developed documents has supported Indigenous peoples’ calls for increased recognition of the importance of TK in resolving environmental crises, including those involving water. Ontario provincial and Canadian federal governments have been developing legislative and regulatory documents to help fend off further water-related catastrophes within their jurisdictions. Despite such efforts, a number of barriers to the successful and appropriate involvement of TK in water management remain. Based on years of community-based and policy-related research with First Nations people involved in water-related undertakings, this article highlights progress made to date, and provides Indigenous viewpoints on what further steps need to be taken. Key among these steps are the need to restore and maintain Indigenous access to traditional territories and ways of life, and the requirement for mutually respectful collaboration between TK and Western science.

First Nations Community Well-Being Research and Large Data Sets: A Respectful Caution

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra S. Drawson ◽  
Aislin R. Mushquash ◽  
Christopher J. Mushquash
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Large Data Sets ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Nations People ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Traditional Language ◽  
First Nations People

Health researchers are increasingly encouraged to use large, community-level data sets to examine factors that promote or diminish health, including social determinants. First Nations people in Canada experience disparity in a range of social determinants of health that result in relatively low community well-being scores, when compared to non-First Nations people. However, First Nations people also possess unique protective factors that enhance well-being, such as traditional language usage. Large data sets offer First Nations a new avenue for advocating for supports and services to decrease health inequity while developing culture-based evidence. However, care must be taken to ensure that these data are interpreted appropriately. In this paper, we respectfully offer a cautionary note on the importance of understanding culture and context when conducting First Nations health research with large data sets. We have framed this caution through a narrative presentation of a simple and concrete example. We then outline some approaches to research that can ensure appropriate development of research questions and interpretation of research findings.

Country Is Yarning to Me: Worldview, Health and Well-Being Amongst Australian First Nations People

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 944-960
Author(s):  
Mareese Terare ◽  
Margot Rawsthorne
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Creation Story ◽  
Nations People ◽  
First Nations People

Abstract Health inequalities experienced by Australian First Nations People are amongst the most marked in the world, with First Nations People dying some ten years earlier than non-Indigenous Australians. The failure of existing responses to health inequalities suggests new knowledges and questions that need to be explored. It is likely that these new knowledges sit outside of western research or practice paradigms. Through the Indigenous practice of yarning, the importance of worldview and Country emerged as an under-acknowledged social determinant of Australian First Nations People well-being. Yarning is a process of storytelling that involves both sound and silence. It requires embodied deep listening through which stories emerge that create new knowledge and understanding. We anchor our learning by re-telling John’s creation story, a story of healing through discovering his Aboriginal Worldview through reconnecting to Country. Country for First Nations People is more than a physical place; it is a place of belonging and a way of believing. We argue for the recognition of trauma, recognition of diversity and the use of yarning in social work practice. We conclude that reconnecting to Aboriginal Worldview provides hopeful insights into the well-being of Australia’s First Nations People and the social determinants of health.

scholarly journals Consequences and Remedies of Indigenous Language Loss in Canada

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Masud Khawaja
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Language Loss ◽  
Intergenerational Knowledge

Many Indigenous languages in Canada are facing the threat of extinction. While some languages remain in good health, others have already been lost completely. Immediate action must be taken to prevent further language loss. Throughout Canada’s unacceptable history of expunging First Nations’ ways of life, systemic methods such as residential schools attempted to eradicate Indigenous cultures and languages. These efforts were not entirely successful but Indigenous language and culture suffered greatly. For Indigenous communities, language loss impaired intergenerational knowledge transfer and compromised their personal identity. Additionally, the cumulative effects of assimilation have contributed to poor mental and physical health outcomes amongst Indigenous people. However, language reclamation has been found to improve well-being and sense of community. To this objective, this paper explores the historical context of this dilemma, the lasting effects of assimilation, and how this damage can be remediated. Additionally, we examine existing Indigenous language programs in Canada and the barriers that inhibit the programs’ widespread success. Through careful analysis, such barriers may be overcome to improve the efficacy of the programs. Institutions must quickly implement positive changes to preserve Indigenous languages as fluent populations are rapidly disappearing.

First nation policing program and policy-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Dalton Breutigam ◽  
Elisabeth Fortier
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Expert Advice ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
Police Services ◽  
Privacy Act ◽  
Effective Community

The well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada has been impacted by the historical interactions between the federal government and Indigenous communities. There is currently an over representation of Indigenous peoples in the justice system and a lack of police services meeting the cultural needs of First Nations communities. The Canadian government has instituted a program to assist in the appropriate delivery of police services to Indigenous communities through the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP). The purpose of this research is to explore how federal policing authorities make decisions about Indigenous policing, specifically the FNPP. Various methods of research were used, such as searching through publicly available federal policy documents and data. These resources were acquired by requesting information through the Access to Information and Privacy Act. The findings of this research demonstrate that the FNPP attempts to undertake consultations for the development of appropriate policies for First Nations communities. However, this consultation can be undermined by groupthink in small communities. Consultations might be improved using the Delphi principle, a method that assists in developing suitable policies for policing. The relevance of this discussion extends beyond the important issue of Indigenous over-representation in the justice system, also addressing the need for effective community policing for the unique circumstances of each community. Balancing community-focused expert advice using the Delphi method, and considering the risk of groupthink, consultation processes may allow individual communities to move towards effective policing using the FNPP.

The rationale for developing a programme of services by and for Indigenous men in a First Nations community

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie George ◽  
Melody Morton Ninomiya ◽  
Kathryn Graham ◽  
Sharon Bernards ◽  
Samantha Wells
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Nations Community

While mental well-being is recognized as a significant public health priority in numerous Indigenous communities, little work has focused on the mental health needs of Indigenous men. In this article, we describe results from the mixed-methods research used to inform the development of mental wellness programming for boys and men. Quantitative and qualitative data from two studies conducted in Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, an Indigenous community in southern Ontario, Canada, were used to (a) understand factors that contributed to issues of mental health, substance use and violence for men, (b) understand men’s experiences accessing and seeking supports and services, and (c) identify ways to address mental health, substance use and violence among boys and men in the community. We show how results from two studies ignited a group of men to develop a culturally strong and strengths-based programme of services as well as a wellness strategy for boys and men in the community.

scholarly journals Student Health and Well-Being in Indigenous Communities: “No One Is Healed Until Everyone Is Healed”

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Maggie MacDonnell
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Drop Out Rate ◽  
School Drop Out ◽  
Mcgill University

In this interview, Maggie MacDonnell, recipient of the 2017 Global Teacher Prize, discusses how growing up near a First Nations reserve in Nova Scotia opened her eyes to inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. She talks about the influence of Moses Coady, who instilled in her an appreciation for co-operative development, and T’hohahoken Michael Doxtater, an Indigenous scholar at McGill University, whose message, “No one is healed until everyone is healed,” she did not fully appreciate until she began working in the Inuit village of Salluit. She describes the life situation of the youth living in this kind of closed community where addiction and violence often become part of their everyday experience. Her interventions with this group of at-risk youth have helped decrease the school drop-out rate, improve students’ work and social skills, and raise awareness about suicide prevention. She concludes by giving advice to teachers who may be interested in working with students in remote communities.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Vibrio cholerae in Herring Eggs: The Role of Indigenous Communities in Public Health Outbreak Responses

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paivi Abernethy ◽  
Shannon Waters ◽  
Tim Kulchyski ◽  
Dave Rolston ◽  
Helena Swinkels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Food Sources

Climate change brings about novel types of public health emergencies. Unforeseen challenges put additional pressure on health systems and require innovative approaches to address emerging needs. The health of Indigenous Peoples is particularly impacted by the changing climate, because of their close connection to the land. For instance, the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of coastal First Nations in British Columbia (BC), Canada, is interconnected with the abundance of healthy marine food sources that form the base of local traditional diets. The 2018 discovery of Vibrio cholerae illness in those who had eaten contaminated herring eggs not only had a clinical health impact but also created concerns for the safety of local food systems. The limited magnitude of the outbreak demonstrates the critical importance of collaborative partnerships between coastal First Nations communities in BC and health authorities working together in outbreak investigations. Yet, the lack of procedures that address cultural and institutional differences led to unnecessary discrepancies in the approach. This paper introduces the public health intervention used during the first ever Vibrio cholerae outbreak in coastal BC. The intervention has the potential to inform best practices when developing emergency response protocols potentially affecting Indigenous people and traditional foods. In this qualitative case study of the formal institutional documents and narratives of the key partners involved in the response, we assess the intervention, highlight the challenges and enablers, share lessons learned, and identify knowledge requirements to improve confidence in the traditional food system and support early warning systems.

scholarly journals The Association Between Mode of Delivery and Later Educational Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Katz ◽  
Kathi Avery Kinew ◽  
Leona Star ◽  
Carole Taylor ◽  
Ina Koseva
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Health Care Use ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Study Results ◽  
First Nations People

IntroductionA 2002 report described the gap in health status between First Nations (FN) and all other Manitobans (AOM). That report was widely quoted in the context of other initiatives recognizing the inequities in Canadian society. Objectives and ApproachWe analyzed linked administrative data held in the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository to determine the health status and health care use of First Nations people. To provide context to the findings we compared First Nations to all other Manitobans, disaggregated by on-reserve off-reserve status, and presented our findings by Region and Tribal Council area. The 35 indicators were chosen to address First Nations priorities and providecomparisons with the previous study. Results were age and sex adjusted. ResultsThe gap between FN and AOM has grown. Premature mortality rates are 3x higher for FN compared to AOM. Rates of death by suicides and suicide attempts are 5x higher for FN compared to AOM. Rates of opioid prescribing are 2.5x higher for single prescription, and 4.5x higher for multiple prescriptions for FN compared to AOM. Colorectal cancer screening rates are 2x higher among all other Manitobans compared to FN. Continuity of care is much lower in FN than in AOM. For FN, primary care is less likely to be provided close to home than for AOM Conclusion / ImplicationsDespite initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Indian Residential School survivors pursuing healing, the gap in health outcomes has increased. Underlying causes such as ongoing systemic racism and colonialism within health governance should be addressed.

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