Health Sciences 1002A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Finding Dawn, Indian Act, Penelakut Island

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 1002A/B
• Professor: Shauna Burke

Document Summary

Health research, particularly epidemiological research has played a role in constructing colonizing images of aboriginal women and communities as sick, disorganized, and dependent, reinforcing unequal power relationships and justifying ongoing paternalism and dependency in health care. Historically, when the native peoples were colonized and started getting sick, they were often portrayed as risky dangerous people who contaminated others . Key note to express: aboriginal people are sick/ill at a disproportionate rate from that of the rest of the canadian population. Average individual incomes for women and men are very low: much higher average for non-average aboriginal popilations. Employment income is increasing for both groups, but are much lower for aboriginal populations. Unemployment is much higher overall and for men and women for aboriginal populations versus non-aboriginal. Household incomes for on-reserve first nations families are approximately half that for non-aboriginal families. More on-reserve aboriginal canadians are extremely low income compared to euro- Canadians (19% vs 2% respectively, earn 2,000 dollars annual)