Indigenous Peoples In Canada Research Articles

Supplemental Material for Comparing Predictive Validity of Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Scores in Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadian Youth

Supplemental Material for Comparing Predictive Validity of Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Scores in Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadian Youth

Evolutionary isolation of Canadian terrestrial vertebrate species

Conservation prioritization has become increasingly important as a practical response to ongoing biodiversity loss and limited resources. One tool, evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) is based on a measure of evolutionary isolation and has merit for identifying taxa with few close relatives. Here we present the first ever national-level ED scores for any jurisdiction, applying the measures to all Canadian tetrapods. We updated and pruned global dated phylogenies of all terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, squamates, turtles, mammals, and birds) down to native Canadian species and calculated Canadian ED scores and rankings for each and compared them to their global ED ranks. Canada’s terrestrial ectotherm vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) include most of Canada’s most evolutionarily isolated species and many score and rank higher nationally than globally in their ED scores. These taxa are also the most imperilled in Canada and so species with populations assessed as at-risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) represent, on average, more than expected national evolutionary history. Interestingly, several exotic species also have very high national ED scores. To the extent that evolutionary isolation captures aspects of local and national biodiversity worth preserving, our lists may provide useful input to conservation agencies engaging in conservation prioritization exercises.

The Economic Benefits of a Major Canadian Forestry Contribution Program for Indigenous Peoples

This paper evaluates whether the First Nations Forestry Program (FNFP), a contribution program for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, had a statistically measurable effect on the well-being of participating reserves’ inhabitants. Funding data from 1,078 projects was paired with reserve inhabitant profiles from two Statistics Canada censuses. Multiple regression models were then used to test for the statistical significance of project-funding treatments. The results suggest that from 2006 to 2010, the FNFP significantly affected the after-tax incomes of reserve inhabitants who had worked in forestry, as well as a lesser effect on the after-tax incomes of reserve families.

The M in Multiculturalism Stands for Myth: The Performative Idealization in Canada’s Multicultural Policies

As described on the Government of Canada’s online database, the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988 is a piece of federal legislation intended to recognize multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society and to preserve diverse cultural identities (Ministry of Justice, 2014, p. 1). Despite this promise, the Canadian government has failed to adequately recognize the various cultures that have been assimilated and destroyed in the name of preserving the Canadian identity. Further, many of these communities suffer from the results of institutionally constructed hate that has been directed towards them to this day. Examining the origins of Canada as it developed through the lens of Chinese Canadian and Indigenous communities, this paper will examine how assimilation is encouraged for members of these groups and new immigrants in present-day Canada, most notably in Quebec. By looking at the past and present contexts of Indigenous and Chinese Canadian communities as well as assimilation tactics in Quebec that prevent various emerging cultural identities from developing, this paper will argue that multiculturalism is sold as a performative idealization in Canada.

Barriers to care for mental health conditions in Canada

There are growing concerns in Canada about access barriers to quality mental health care, which has worsened significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic and for some Canadians more than others. With a nationally representative sample of 1501 adults, surveyed by the Angus Reid Institute, this study examined the mental health conditions Canadians experience the most difficulties in accessing care. Among half of the respondents who sought mental health care, the majority encountered challenges in accessing help for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (34%) and depression (33%). When examining the data based only on those seeking care for specific conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) emerged as those for which it was most difficult to find treatment. Indigenous and Black Canadians had significantly more difficulty finding care across several conditions. We discuss the implications of these findings, including the critical need to increase the supply and diversity of mental health providers across Canada. This study is one of the first to provide quantitative data on the perceived barriers in accessing mental health care, while exploring the role of race and ethnicity and other social identities.

Exploring Demographic Representation and Reporting in Lung Cancer Clinical Trials with Canadian Sites from 2013 to 2023.

This review evaluates the reporting of demographic characteristics and the diversity of participants of phase III lung cancer clinical trials with Canadian research sites. A literature search was conducted using the ClinicalTrials.gov registry to identify clinical trials conducted between 1 January 2013, and 31 December 2023. The demographic reporting practices and the representation of sex/gender, racial, and ethnic groups were assessed. The location of Canadian research sites was also examined for trends in reporting and representation. Associated publications were reviewed for demographic data collection methods. Of the 25 clinical trials, 24 reported race and 18 also reported ethnicity. All clinical trials reported sex/gender, and the city and province of the participating Canadian sites. Most participants were White (66.1%), identified as not Hispanic or Latino (81.4%), and were male (57.8%). The provinces with the most clinical trial sites were Ontario (43.6%) and Quebec (34.2%). Lung cancer clinical trials lack adequate demographic reporting and representation of females, diverse patient groups, and geographical locations in Canada with high lung cancer incidence rates. Specifically, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and Nunavut require better representation in lung cancer clinical trials conducted in Canada. These findings highlight the need to improve diversity and demographic representation in clinical research.

Exploring vaccine hesitancy among citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario: a population-based data linkage study

Objective and ApproachUnderstanding vaccine hesitancy among distinct communities is crucial to ensuring equitable uptake of vaccination. The objective was to examine the influence of psychological antecedents of vaccine uptake, known as the “5Cs”, on COVID-19 vaccination among Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizens. The Métis people are one of three Indigenous peoples in Canada. A population-based online survey was implemented by the MNO, including the short version of the “5C” (confidence, complacency, constraint, calculation, collective responsibility) psychological antecedents of vaccination scale. Census sampling achieved a 39% response rate and respondents were linked to the COVID-19 vaccine database (COVAX) in Ontario (n=4,012). Analyses included logistic regression models (adjusted for sociodemographics) and exploratory latent class analyses. ResultsIn logistic regression models, MNO citizens who were less confident that COVID-19 vaccines were safe (OR=0.04; 95% CI=0.03-0.06) and did not agree vaccination was a collective action to prevent the spread of disease (OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.07-0.17) had lower odds of being vaccinated. MNO citizens who disagreed the risk of COVID-19 was small (OR=14.87, 95% CI: 9.99-22.13) had a higher odds of being vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy profiles with (i) lower confidence in availability/safety of COVID-19 vaccines, (ii) lower perceptions about severity of COVID-19 and (iii) higher everyday life constraints/stressors were associated with lower vaccination rates (males, OR: 4.69; CI: 3.18–6.92; females, OR: 4.77, CI: 3.03–7.51) in latent class analyses. Conclusions and ImplicationsMétis-specific analyses enabled a community-driven response, resulting in low vaccine hesitancy and high uptake.

“When I Spoke, I Spoke From the Heart”: Empirical Insights and Therapeutic Lessons From an Indigenous Counseling Center

Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience inequities in behavioral health outcomes stemming from colonial subjugation, including tacit cultural assimilation through health care. Indigenous communities assert that culturally commensurate health interventions improve wellbeing. This study, conducted with clients and staff at a First Nations behavioral health treatment program, sought to identify how respondents conceived of the therapeutic endeavor with respect to possibilities for remedying colonial injuries such as the abuses of the Indian Residential Schools (IRSs). Thematic analysis of 32 interviews revealed that targeted therapeutic goals as well as specific counselor qualities were important for a positive therapeutic experience for those in the program. Ultimately, assimilative practices, such as the IRSs of the past and mainstream behavioral health treatment programs in the present may collectively contribute to the continuation of inequities in health outcomes for Indigenous Canadians. Decolonizing the therapeutic endeavor offers a potential avenue for positive change.

‘Standing with Each Other’: Indigenous-Muslim Relation-Making on Turtle Island

Within the context of the northern part of Turtle Island, the space of relationships between Indigenous and Muslim communities is one intertwined within the history and geopolitical realities of settler-colonialism and immigration. This paper is an exploration of the theme of space, and relationship formation from the perspective of Muslim and Indigenous peoples in Canada who have engaged in building relations over the past two decades. This article is based on a wider qualitative semi-structured interview-based research project, supported by content analyses of existing literature and online resources produced by relevant organizations and initiatives. The research analysis has led me to thematically organize these spaces into four general types of spaces: 1) organization-led spaces of relationship building; 2) spaces of conviviality as pathways to relationship building; 3) relational spaces defined through acts of documentation; and 4) spiritually and emotionally bonded spaces that transcend a secular framework. This analysis led to identifying practices of relational meaning-making that form a preliminary understanding of what characterizes Indigenous-Muslim relations on Turtle Island.

Sacred Sharing Circles: Urban Indigenous Experience with Bariatric Surgery in Manitoba.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are growing global health concerns. A disproportionate number of Indigenous Peoples live with obesity and its complications. Bariatric surgery offers superior weight loss and comorbidity resolution when compared to medical management. There is a paucity of literature regarding the experiences of Indigenous Peoples undergoing bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to employ two-eyed seeing and a decolonizing approach to explore the experiences of urban Indigenous bariatric surgery patients. An Indigenous Advisory Committee guided the conception and design of the study. Four urban Indigenous bariatric surgery patients with T2DM participated in two sequential sharing circles and individual interviews facilitated by an Elder. Audio transcripts were analyzed for emerging themes using inductive thematic analysis. Themes generated from shared participant experiences and knowledge included the following: (1) Experiencing hardship or challenges; (2) Reflecting on the importance of supports; (3) Understanding relationships with food; and (4) Healing and recovery. Overall, the participants described a generally positive experience with the bariatric pathway. Participants also described varied connectedness to their Indigenous identity but uniformly expressed interest in more culturally diverse supports such as sharing circles, access to an elder, and Indigenous peer mentorship. Indigenous Peoples have strong motivators for pursuing bariatric surgery and desire access to culturally relevant supports. Suggestions for program improvement included offering sharing circles, providing access to an elder, and Indigenous peer mentorship. This study is the first to qualitatively explore the bariatric surgery experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Reconciled futures: An art camp for Indigenous youth

The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) identifies reconciliation as one of the four pillars that guide its work. Reconciliation has become a matter of national significance in Canada since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Report in 2008, which highlights the harmful legacies of residential schools on the daily lives of Indigenous Canadians. It also demonstrated that social inequalities continue to persist across the nation because of this, and other assimilationist policies previously adopted under Canada’s Indian Act. Recommendations of the report were aimed at improving Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations and removing barriers, both intentional and unconscious, that prevent Indigenous Canadians from accessing the same opportunities and services as other Canadians. It can take many years to implement institutional change, but public programming offers an opportunity to demonstrate intentions for change with more immediacy. This paper provides an overview of an art program created for Indigenous youth in the Greater Vancouver area by Indigenous professionals working in a museum setting. The initiative was funded through a creative partnership between the MOV and the City of Vancouver’s Green Infrastructure team and resulted in the creation of public art that was installed in a Green Infrastructure demonstration project within the city.

Housing and respiratory health among Indigenous peoples in Canada

Indigenous (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) peoples bear a disproportionate burden of infectious and noninfectious respiratory disease in rural and urban communities in Canada. Biologic and behavioral determinants exist and have relevance, but the primary determinants are socioeconomic, environmental and political. Although Canada has recently declared a national housing crisis, crowded and poor-quality housing, or no housing at all, has been experienced by generations of Indigenous peoples. Crowding in homes or shelters increases risk of exposure and dose to infectious agents. Indoor air pollutants are due to housing defects, sources of heat and smoke, and include mold, endotoxin, mite allergens, gases and particulate matter, which in turn are associated with respiratory irritation and disease. Environmental radon is a noted risk factor for lung cancer in communities located in high risk regions. Studies have demonstrated that interventions in Indigenous communities on both the social and biomedical fronts, to improve housing and health care, result in improved well-being, of which respiratory health is only one component.

The influence of Survivor stories and a virtual reality representation of a residential school on reconciliation in Canada

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have endured many genocidal efforts, such as residential schools. Across the country, initiatives to promote critical historical education about residential schools are underway, ranging in duration, content, and immersion. In this study, we tested whether a promising high-immersion approach, a virtual reality residential school, could improve non-Indigenous participants' attitudes and feelings toward Indigenous people. We compared the effects of the virtual residential school to a transcript condition, in which participants read the transcripts of the narration that accompanied the virtual residential school, and an empty control condition. The study had three time points: Baseline (N = 241), intervention (N = 241), and follow-up (N = 132). Immediately following the intervention, what participants learned about the residential school, both through virtual reality and reading the transcripts, increased non-Indigenous participants' empathy, political solidarity, and outgroup warmth for Indigenous people, relative to the control. The virtual reality school, but not transcripts, also increased privity relative to the control. These effects decreased over time. In summary, though both written and virtual reality forms of critical historical education were effective in the short term, to maintain the long-term effects of critical historical education, ongoing or recurring education is likely necessary. These results extend the virtual reality literature to unstudied concepts (political solidarity, privity) and critical historical education literature to a new form of media (virtual reality). We discuss the findings in relation to literature on critical historical education and virtual reality as well as outline future directions.

A comprehensive exploration of chronic kidney disease and dialysis in Canada's Indigenous population: from epidemiology to genetic influences.

This study aims to review the escalating prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among Canada's Indigenous population, focusing on risk factors, hospitalization and mortality rates, and disparities in kidney transplantation. The study explores how these factors contribute to the health outcomes of this population and examines the influence of genetic variations on CKD progression. The review synthesizes data on prevalence rates, hospitalization and mortality statistics, and transplantation disparities among Indigenous individuals. It also delves into the complexities of healthcare access, including geographical, socioeconomic, and psychological barriers. Additionally, the manuscript investigates the impact of racial factors on blood characteristics relevant to dialysis treatment and the genetic predispositions influencing disease progression in Indigenous populations. Indigenous individuals exhibit a higher prevalence of CKD and ESRD risk factors such as diabetes and obesity, particularly in regions like Saskatchewan. These patients face a 77% higher risk of death compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts and are less likely to receive kidney transplants. Genetic analyses reveal significant associations between CKD and specific genomic variations. Through analyses, we found that healthy Indigenous individuals may have higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers, which could become further elevated for those with CKD. In particular, they may have higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) fibrinogen, as well as genomic variations that affect IL-6 production and the function of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) which has critical potential influence on the compatibility with dialysis membranes contributing to complications in dialysis. Indigenous people in Canada are disproportionately burdened by CKD and ESRD due to socioeconomic factors and potential genetic predispositions. While significant efforts have been made to assess the socioeconomic conditions of the Indigenous population, the genetic factors and their potential critical influence on compatibility with dialysis membranes, contributing to treatment complications, remain understudied. Further investigation into these genetic predispositions is essential.

Reconcili-Action Begins With Education: Graduate Nursing Students’ Perspectives of an Experiential Exercise About the History of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Reconcili-Action Begins With Education: Graduate Nursing Students’ Perspectives of an Experiential Exercise About the History of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Funding the pandemic response for Indigenous Peoples: an equity-based analysis of COVID-19 using a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) Indigenous lens tool

ABSTRACT This study examines the allocation of COVID-19 funding for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States during the pandemic’s first wave. Indigenous communities, already facing health disparities, systemic discrimination, and historical forces of colonisation, found themselves further vulnerable to the virus. Analysing the funding policies of these countries, we employed a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool and an Indigenous Lens Tool supplement to evaluate potential impacts. Our results identify three major funding equity issues: unique health and service needs, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to community and culturally safe health services. Despite efforts for equitable funding, a lack of meaningful consultation led to shortcomings, as seen in Canada’s state of emergency declaration and legal disputes in the United States. New Zealand stood out for integrating Māori perspectives, showcasing the importance of consultation. The study calls for a reconciliation-minded path, aligning with Truth and Reconciliation principles, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and evolving government support. The paper concludes that co-creating equitable funding policies grounded in Indigenous knowledge requires partnership, meaningful consultation, and organisational cultural humility. Even in emergencies, these measures ensure responsiveness and respect for Indigenous self-determination.

To Carry Pain, to Heal through Ceremony: Indigenous Women’s Standpoint in Indigenous Australian and Canadian Literatures

To Carry Pain, to Heal through Ceremony: Indigenous Women’s Standpoint in Indigenous Australian and Canadian Literatures

Exploring Economic Development Strategies for Canadian Indigenous Communities Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly impacted the Indigenous Canadian economy. Indigenous enterprises exist in every industry, from small proprietorships to major organizations employing thousands of people. The research concerning the effects of such peculiarities on Indigenous corporations is sparse. This research aimed to examine how the pandemic affected development companies by comparing pre-epidemic forecasts to the trajectory of Indigenous-owned firms after two years of the pandemic and analyzing its singularities. The study was conducted by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and supported by mixed methods techniques such as surveys, interviews, and non-participatory observations obtained from ten distinct Canadian Indigenous Economic Development Corporations, revealing a reality in which Indigenous businesses confront significant challenges in terms of access to public finance, human resources, community well-being, company diversification, and innovation. The result compared pre-pandemic forecasts and analyses that found Indigenous enterprises failing to recover and move ahead on company diversification and innovations, public finance, human resources, and sustainable development.

Miyo wîcêhtowin “good relations”: reckoning with the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and soil science in Canada

I offer this perspective as hope that miyo wîcêhtowin (translated as “good relations” in Plains Cree) can be established between the discipline of soil science and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This perspective reflects on the difficult truths of why the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and soil science is primarily one of exploitation and neglect, but also on how fostering a relationship built on reciprocity poses opportunities for Indigenous knowledge systems and soil science to improve land and soil stewardship. Soil science was borne in this country as an instrument of colonization of the plains, marginalizing First Nations from their lands and livelihoods through agricultural settlement. It is necessary to illuminate this fraught history to understand the contemporary realities of First Nations in the prairies, including the hopeful efforts First Nations are making towards conservation and restoration of prairie landscapes—and revitalization of Indigenous knowledge systems—especially though buffalo rematriation. This sharing is done in the hope that we can collectively work towards reciprocity in the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and soil science as a discipline for improved caretaking of the land.

Towards abundant intelligences: Considerations for Indigenous perspectives in adopting artificial intelligence technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare are evolving rapidly. The integration of AI into the Canadian healthcare system has demonstrated significant potential for enhancing the efficiency of care and improving patient outcomes. However, as this transformative technology continues to advance, it is crucial to take into account the unique perspectives and requirements of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This article delves into the political, ethical, and practical considerations associated with introducing AI into Indigenous healthcare, emphasizing the paramount importance of equity and inclusion, which are rooted in the Two-Eyed AI framework. It also underscores the significance of co-creating AI technology in collaboration with Indigenous communities and multidisciplinary development teams. To illustrate these principles, this article spotlights an international AI epistemology-focused working group example. Healthcare professionals who engage with AI, whether it be through research, management, development, or leadership are implicated with this contemporary paradigm shift in decolonizing novel AI technology.