Indigenous Knowledge to Close Gaps in Indigenous Health | Marcia Anderson-DeCoteau | TEDxUManitoba

Summary

The transcript highlights the deep-rooted health disparities facing Indigenous communities in Canada, stemming from historical injustices like the signing of Treaty 1. It explores the systemic racism embedded in healthcare systems, including personal, institutional, and epistemic racism. The speaker emphasizes the need for a decolonized healthcare approach, one that integrates Indigenous knowledge and healing practices. Through programs like Manu eay kagi Quay, which combines cultural teachings with healthcare, Indigenous peoples are empowered to reclaim their health and self-determination. The call to action urges healthcare systems to honor both Western and Indigenous ways of knowing to close health gaps and foster healing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Acknowledgment of Treaty 1 territory, emphasizing the speaker's ancestral connection to the land and its relevance to the current generation of Indigenous peoples, particularly children like Tina Fontaine and Jordan Anderson.
• 😀 Indigenous health disparities are severe, with diabetes rates in Manitoba's First Nations population over four times higher than non-Indigenous populations, leading to disproportionate amputations and health complications.
• 😀 The healthcare system has played a role in perpetuating these disparities through multi-level racism, including interpersonal, institutional, and epistemic forms of discrimination.
• 😀 Interpersonal racism in healthcare involves conscious or unconscious bias that affects decision-making and treatment, leading to harmful outcomes for Indigenous patients.
• 😀 Institutional racism refers to unequal access to healthcare services, exemplified by under-trained nurses in remote Indigenous communities, resulting in inadequate care.
• 😀 Epistemic racism occurs when Indigenous knowledge is disregarded in favor of Western, Eurocentric medical models, leading to a lack of culturally appropriate care for Indigenous peoples.
• 😀 The healthcare system needs to integrate both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems to improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples and address systemic disparities.
• 😀 A significant case discussed is the story of Brian Sinclair, an Indigenous man who died in an emergency room after waiting for 34 hours without treatment, highlighting the deadly consequences of systemic racism in healthcare.
• 😀 The 'Manu eay kagi Quay' program, rooted in Indigenous cultural teachings, offers a more holistic approach to maternal and child healthcare, focusing on support for Indigenous women using substances during pregnancy.
• 😀 The program's success is driven by the incorporation of Indigenous teachings such as wisdom, humility, respect, love, bravery, truth, and honesty, which foster healing, self-determination, and empowerment among participants.
• 😀 Positive outcomes from the program include women regaining their sense of identity, reuniting with their children, and experiencing an inclusive, culturally-sensitive healthcare environment that respects their traditions and values.

Q & A

What is the significance of Treaty 1 in this context?

Treaty 1 is a foundational agreement between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government. The speaker highlights its historical importance, particularly through their ancestor's involvement, and connects it to current health disparities and injustices faced by Indigenous communities.

Who are Tina Fontaine and Jordan Anderson, and why are they mentioned?

Tina Fontaine and Jordan Anderson are Indigenous children whose tragic deaths underscore the gaps in Indigenous healthcare. Tina was murdered while in Child and Family Services (CFS) care, and Jordan died in a hospital without access to his home community for medical care, illustrating the systemic failures in healthcare.

What are the key health disparities highlighted in the script?

The script points out alarming health disparities among Indigenous peoples in Manitoba, such as a diabetes rate that is over four times higher than the non-Indigenous population and significantly higher rates of amputation due to diabetes, which are preventable with proper healthcare.

How does the speaker define racism in the healthcare system?

Racism in healthcare is discussed in multiple forms: interpersonal racism (bias in individual interactions), institutional racism (differential access to services and opportunities), and epistemic racism (the devaluation of Indigenous knowledge systems). These forms of racism contribute to poor healthcare outcomes for Indigenous peoples.

What is the case of Brian Sinclair, and why is it significant?

Brian Sinclair was an Indigenous man who died in an emergency room after waiting for 34 hours without receiving care for a treatable infection. His death is used to illustrate the consequences of systemic racism and inadequate healthcare for Indigenous people.

What is the role of the Manitou E Kagi Spirit Women Teachings program?

The Manitou E Kagi Spirit Women Teachings program, created as part of the Mothering Project, focuses on supporting Indigenous women who are pregnant or early in their parenting journey, especially those dealing with substance use. The program integrates Indigenous cultural practices and teachings into healthcare to promote healing and empowerment.

What is epistemic racism, and how does it affect Indigenous health?

Epistemic racism refers to the belief that one group's knowledge system is superior to another's. In healthcare, this often manifests as the marginalization of Indigenous knowledge and practices, which are excluded from formal medical frameworks, thus limiting the holistic care that Indigenous peoples receive.

What are the Seven Sacred Teachings, and how are they applied in the healthcare program?

The Seven Sacred Teachings are core Indigenous values that guide the program's approach. They include wisdom, humility, respect, love, bravery, truth, and honesty, and these values inform how women are treated in the program, fostering a supportive, non-judgmental, and culturally affirming space.

How does the program address the need for culturally competent healthcare?

The program creates a culturally safe space by hiring staff who embody kindness and respect for Indigenous knowledge. It incorporates Indigenous ways of knowing into healthcare practices, empowering Indigenous women to make decisions about their health and healing in a supportive, decolonized environment.

What outcomes have women in the program experienced?

Women in the program have experienced positive outcomes such as regaining custody of their children, developing a sense of pride and self-worth, and healing from trauma. Many women report that the program helped them overcome feelings of self-hatred and empowered them to reclaim their identities.