Social Determinants and the Impacts of Poverty

     The age demographic of an elder on our reserve is of 55 and older (Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, 2009).   The Federal Government defines a senior at age 65 (Hick, S. 2007).  I believe this difference is based on the life expectancy rates of Aboriginal people.  The majority of our band members who are defined as an elder have a chronic disease. (Mnaamadzawin, 2011)

    Our detrimental living conditions based on our economic situation has had long lasting health impacts. [For Generations to Come, The Time is Now a strategy for Aboriginal Healing A Final Report, 1993]  Community members also experience high levels of chronic stress. (Mnaamadzawin Health Services Annual Report, 2011) Stressful experiences result from coping with conditions of low income, poor quality housing, food insecurity, disability and the lack of supportive relationships, and social isolation. (Mikkonen J. &Raphael D., 2010)

    Poverty in First Nation communities has reached epidemic proportions.  The disparity between Canadian society and Aboriginal people in Canada has been profiled numerous times by the media, specifically Canada A.M.  and the Globe and Mail.  They have also highlighted abject poverty (3^rd world conditions) in fly in northern communities. 

    The international community is also well aware of Canada’s treatment of Aboriginal people as our First Nation leaders have been proactive of taking our issues and presenting them to the United Nations based on articles read with the editorial section of the Anishnawbek News ("n.d.").

    The Liberal Party leader, Bob Rae delivered a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto recently and advised the following: “we need the federal government to act as a catalyst to bring provincial, territorial, municipal and Aboriginal governments to the table, and lead essential discussions on clean technology, foreign ownership, carbon-pricing and sustainable development of the oil sands. In addition, we need to engage in a full partnership with Aboriginal peoples if we are to break down the marginalization and poverty that has unfortunately become a persistent problem” (htpp:/www.liberal.ca/newsroom/bobrae/canadianclubspeech).

    The above statement reflects a social democratic ideology but how far can the Liberal Party actually impact our present government in recognizing our social conditions?  Harpers plans to implement changes to the Indian Act with Bill 45 may well be another attempt to hinder our communities.

Miigwetch,

Janet

REFERENCES

Aboriginal Healing Foundation Steering Committee - For Generations to Come - 1993
York University (Tornot, Ont.) Scholl of Health Policy and Management, Gibson Library Connections Inc.

Anishnawbek News

Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation - Band Policy, Band Council Resolution - January 2009

Canada A.M.

"Liberal Party Leader, Bob Rae delivers speech Retrieved from:
htpp://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/bobrae/canadianclubspeech

Hick S. (2007). Social Welfare in Canada: Understanding Income Security (2nd ed.) Thompson Educational Publishing, INC.: Toronto Canada

Mikkonen J., Raphael D. (2010) The Canadian Facts: Social Determinants of Health York University (Toronto, Ont.) School of Health Policy and Management, Gibson Library Connections INC.