Case Report: A First Nation Man’s Journey with Severe Insulin Resistance Syndrome

Abstract

James (a pseudonym) was born in the 1940s near Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to a Coast Salish family. His schooling was the imposed residential school system whereby Indigenous children were removed from their homes and communities and sent to schools in communities far away. His siblings attended various residential schools, so during his three years at such schools he saw them only in the summer time. His treatment during his schooling fostered a deep distrust of physicians and nurses. In addition he lost much of his native language and culture during this time. He graduated from Queen Elizabeth (High) School in North Surrey, British Columbia, where he was the only Indigenous student. James attended Vancouver Vocational School before returning to Vancouver Island to work as a band manager for his First Nation community. He married Mary (a pseudonym) and together they raised four children. Today he works as an Elder in Residence with post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island.