Health - Sports and reconciliation: Inequalities between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous.

How can wellness problems between indigenous and non-indigenous people be reduced?

Mahatma Gandhi once said that the earth can satisfy human needs, but not human
greed. Inequality of resources and power still exists in every corner of the earth. The
protests and demonstrations that have swept the globe in recent years have raised anger at
the social inequities that result from the unfair treatment of indigenous and non-indigenous
peoples. Canada's indigenous people have been treated unfairly. In this article, I will identify
the problems that exist between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Canada and
examine how health problems between indigenous and non-indigenous people can be
reduced in various ways.

Inequalities between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians can cause Aboriginal people
to suffer from mental and physical wellness problems. According to Statistics Canada,
between 1979 and 1983, 31 percent of Canada's Aboriginal population aged 15 years and
older was told they had a chronic health problem. These problems stem from substance
abuse, suicide, unemployment, and domestic violence. In general, men are less likely to seek
medical attention for their mental health, a trend that can have tragic consequences: men
are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. Canada's indigenous peoples do
not have access to good health care. They are treated differently from non-indigenous
people in terms of both mental and physical health. The failure of indigenous communities
to provide adequate medical care and psychological counseling to indigenous peoples is one
of the main causes of health problems among indigenous peoples. In the 21st century, the
problem of inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples has come to the
public's attention in large numbers. In 2010, a club called DUDES Club was founded in British
Colombia. It's a club that focuses on the physical and mental health of Aboriginal men.
According to Efimoff and other authors, “DUDES clubs promote brotherhood and a sense of
community, generate tangible health benefits through accessible health information, and
address structural and systemic challenges faced by members. We think this is a strong
assessment of the positive impact of a DUDES club.” It means that the DUDES Club is making
a huge contribution to Aboriginal men's fitness issues. It works to reduce inequalities
between indigenous and non-indigenous men. Every two weeks in Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside neighborhood, a group of men gathers for a few hours in the evening to share food
and ideas, learn and have fun, and take a break from their often difficult daily display life.
The unlikely gathering began a decade ago when frontline staff saw a need for a safe and
supportive space for men to gather. Therefore, the DUDES Club was formed. According to
the research, quality of life, mental health, physical health, and self-confidence improved for
regular participants compared to infrequent participants. In addition, indigenous members
felt more trust and support and felt the club helped them connect to their cultural heritage.
The emergence of DUDES clubs has led to a significant reduction in suicide rates among
Aboriginal men, and it has helped to reduce the inequality between Aboriginal and non-
aboriginal men by allowing them to be cared for and valued.

Aboriginal women in Canada often face challenges and discrimination. As a result of

colonization, indigenous women face many socio-economic problems that can lead to many
wellness problems, such as the disappearance and murder of indigenous women and girls,
abuse and violence, and drug, alcohol, and other addictions. Indigenous women face unique
problems that stem from the stereotyping of them by non-indigenous men since contact.
The image of an Indian princess leaves indigenous women vulnerable to violence and abuse.
Indigenous women tend to have a higher incidence of time involved in the law than the
general population. A lack of resources and few options can lead to limited recourse. In
2013, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police launched an investigation into the issue of missing
and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. The report shows that from 1980 to 2012, a
total of 1181 indigenous women were murdered or considered missing. As of September
2013, 164 aboriginal women were considered missing, accounting for 11.3 percent of all
missing women in Canada. Since indigenous women make up 4 percent of the total female
population in Canada, this number is disproportionately high. Even more remarkably, in the
meantime, there were 1017 Aboriginal women murdered, 16 percent of all female
homicides in Canada. Davis-Alphonse, former chair of the Indigenous Women's Advisory
Council, after concluding a meeting of the B.C. political parties on the health, safety, and
well-being of Aboriginal women, said: “When I left the vote, I was on fire, thinking only of all
the injustices and really hoping to see a change for Aboriginal women in this province.” On
October 14, 2020, British Columbia party leaders were criticized in an open letter by
Aboriginal and women's advocacy groups for not including a plan in their platform to
implement the National Inquiry's call for Justice for missing and murdered Aboriginal women
and girls. As a young girl, Davis-Alphonse says her non-aboriginal father always told her the
importance of voting. Since then, she has never missed a vote in an election and encourages
voters to take the time to learn about inequalities for indigenous women. Although the
system at this time is skewed and has always been skewed against indigenous women, this
requires more leaders, encouraging indigenous women to go out and vote, education, and
alliances with non-indigenous women and men.

In 2010, the Saskatchewan Child Welfare Review Group outlined a series of endemic
problems within the child welfare board that remained unaddressed despite decades of
credible criticism. For example, overcrowding in foster homes, a rapid increase in the
number of out-of-home cases, and overrepresentation of indigenous children and youth in
crime. Inequities in spending between children in care and children at risk who remain at
home, and policy disregard. Aboriginal children and youth in foster care are among the most
vulnerable children in Canada. Prior to foster care, they were more likely than other
Canadian children to live in poverty, characterized by overcrowding and unsafe housing
conditions, frequent moves, and food insecurity. According to Robert Henry: “ most
indigenous children are victims of the child welfare system and are often poorly cared for
and valued in foster care outside their culture.” It means that far from being better off with
the help of the welfare system, most indigenous children will turn to crime. The current set
of guidelines, legislation, and policies comes from the Child and Family Services Act of 1989.
In Saskatchewan, in addition to the administration of Child and Family services, children's
services in Saskatchewan are administered through the First Nations and Family Services
Agency established in 1990. As a third party, it ensures that the rights and best interests of
indigenous children in Saskatchewan are protected. The enactment of laws can better
constrain welfare institutions and protect the interests of indigenous children to a certain
extent so that they can be better protected.

Overall, there are still many unequal health problems in Canada between Aboriginal
men, women and children, and non-aboriginal people. However, with the promotion of time
and society, more and more problems have been exposed in front of the public and aroused
the attention of the government and the people. With the establishment and improvement
of laws and the continuous expansion of communities, indigenous people have received
more and more attention and care. The gap in health inequalities between indigenous and
non-indigenous people is getting smaller. I believe that one day in the future, this
inequitable wellness problem can disappear completely.

Rreferences

C. reconciliation advocate encourages Indigenous women to vote in provincial election.

(2020). News (Abbotsford).

Efimoff, I., Patrick, L., Josewski, V., Gross, P., Lambert, S., & Smye, V. (2020). Power of
connections: How A novel canadian men’s wellness program is improving the health and
well-being of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous men. International Indigenous Policy
Journal, 12(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.18584/iipj.2020.12.2.10896

Henry, LaVallee, A., Van Styvendale, N., & Innes, R. A. (2019). Global indigenous health :
reconciling the past, engaging the present, animating the future (Henry, A. LaVallee, N. Van
Styvendale, & R. A. Innes, Eds.; First paperback edition.). The University of Arizona Press.