About - History
Why do Indigenous Peoples in Canada have high rates of chronic diseases?
The long history of colonization in Canada continues to significantly impact the quality of life and health status of Indigenous Peoples. With colonialism as the foundation for resourcing and governing Canada’s health care system, First Nation, Inuit and Métis health are under the authority and design of a system that does not consider Indigenous models of well-being.
Disparities rooted in socioeconomic inequities such as poverty, crowded and inadequate housing, food insecurity, unsanitary water and inequitable health care access continue to accelerate chronic illnesses among Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. For example, prior to 1940, diabetes was rare among Indigenous Peoples in North America but has now reached epidemic levels in some communities. Today, 80 percent of Indigenous Peoples in Canada will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.
With diabetes, I had a really, really hard, rough time. I remember that one time I couldn't do my artwork or do any work anymore.
Our vision is to be able to reach out to all Nuu-chah-nulth people living with diabetes and seeing what their needs are and what kind of support they would like to move forward in their health journey.
For diabetes, it was a really, really big challenge for me. Had a really hard time when I become a diabetic. Well, when I was a young fellow in my teens, had operations on my pancreas and my stomach, and doctors told my parents and me that I might be coming a diabetic, because I wouldn't be able to produce enough my own insulin. So they told me to just be careful. I wasn't being careful. I became a Type 2 diabetic.
I find that empowering community members with the knowledge on how to adjust their own insulin has made such a big difference in their overall blood sugar management. Just by having that little bit of knowledge, their overall management of their diabetes has changed drastically.
I'm really happy I got involved. I'm hoping to beat this Type 2 diabetes.
Health impacts
