Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka is the medical health officer for the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority. (Twitter/Nnamdi Ndubuka)

By Derek Cornet

Indigenous hardships in Canada

Jun 8, 2022 | 8:53 AM

Although National Indigenous Peoples Day is about celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada, it’s also important to remember the day-to-day reality for Indigenous Peoples in this country.

A history of assimilation, residentials schools and systemic racism have had enormous and tragic consequences for Indigenous communities. It has led to poor health, lower levels of education and income, higher rates of unemployment and more.

Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority medical health officer Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka explained other reasons Indigenous Peoples have lower indicators than the general population is also due to the loss of access to traditional lands, cultural identity and participating in cultural activities.

“These are all real situations that have impacted the ability of Indigenous Peoples to have good health, maintain good access and also maintain livelihoods within their communities,” he said.

Many Indigenous communities in Canada are remote and isolated meaning access to good quality health care is challenging. Compared to the general population, a higher number Indigenous Peoples are diagnosed with chronic conditions like diabetes. There are also higher rates of respiratory problems and heart disease.

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Communities in northern and remote areas in Canada pay higher food costs and have higher rates of food insecurity. Ndubuka mentioned Type 2 diabetes is perhaps the most troubling and widespread chronic illness affecting Indigenous Peoples, noting it is directly related to the historic trauma and ongoing disposition.

Poor health can also be contributed to inadequate housing and crowded living conditions. On-reserve homes are about seven times more likely to be in need of major repairs compared to off-reserve homes. That means conditions tend to be damper and moldier leading to issues like asthma.

“We do know the loss of sovereignty, along with the disposition of lands [and] customized laws have created a climate of material and spiritual oppression,” Ndubuka said.

Indigenous communities also experience higher death rates due to unintentional injuries and suicide. In northern Saskatchewan, which is predominately Indigenous, the leading cause of death between the ages of 13 to 45 is suicide.

According to Statistics Canada, more than one in five First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults that live off-reserve have experienced suicidal thoughts at one point in their lives. Suicide and self-inflicted injuries are the leading causes of death for First Nations youth and adults up to 44 years of age.

In regards to education, Statistic Canada reports in 2016 that 34 per cent of Indigenous Peoples have no high school diploma or equivalent, while 18 per cent of the general population reported the same. Indigenous Peoples also continue to lag behind when it comes to post-secondary education and attaining trade certifications and university degrees.

In Saskatchewan, 89 per cent of non-Indigenous students graduated within three years of starting Grade 10. The on-time graduation rate for Indigenous students in 2021 was 45 per cent.

Indigenous Peoples are also overrepresented in Canada’s prisons. In 2015-16, they accounted for 26 per cent of admissions, but only encompass three per cent of the population. Indigenous women are even more so overrepresented. According to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, nearly 75 per cent of adults in Saskatchewan’s prisons are Indigenous.

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