Resource Tag: ABORIGINALS

Generations of historical trauma and colonisation continue to oppress Native families and communities today leaving many Native youth in despair.  While issues and problems involving Native youth are a priority.  It is important to look at those Native youth who try to cultivate hope through agency and activism in promoting awareness and healing of these […]

This paper aimed to highlight the systemic and theoretical barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been bereaved by suicide. Incorporating the lived experiences of two advocates, Leilani Darwin and Julie Turner, and professional experiences of Matthew Trindall and Laura Ross, the paper explores the importance of including Aboriginal lived experiences in […]

From 1863 to 1996, many Aboriginal children in Canada were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools (IRSs), where many experienced neglect, abuse, and the trauma of separation from their families and culture. The present study examined the intergenerational impact of IRS exposure on depressive symptomatology in a convenience sample of 143 First Nations adults. IRS […]

With a phenomenal expected growth in the Canadian Aboriginal population and the fact that less than 1% of Canadian health professionals are of Aboriginal ancestry, there is an increased need for culturally competent health professionals. This article explains diverse healing traditions and links those traditions to holistic nursing practice. Respect for culturally sensitive care is […]

This graphic novel follows one Plains Cree family from the early nineteenth century to the present day. For Edwin, the story of his ancestors from both the distant and recent past must guide him through an uncertain present and to the dawn of a new future. 7 Generations explores the life of Stone, a young Cree warrior, […]

For decades, researchers have reported high suicide rates among Aboriginal youth, which are several times higher than rates among non-Aboriginal youth. Based on the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, this article presents estimates of prevalence of suicidal thoughts among off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults aged 18 to 25. It examines associations between past-year suicidal thoughts […]

This paper was commissioned by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNHIB) in order to review the current evidence base regarding efforts to promote mental health in Aboriginal youth in Canada. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature, the grey literature, internet search and key expert opinion was conducted. In total, 28 studies most closely […]

Personalized (precision) medicine approaches to deal with many mental and physical illnesses have often focused on biomarkers along with recognition of the importance of a constellation of developmental, psychosocial and contextual factors in relation to the development of illnesses as well as treatment efficacy. Acknowledgement of the breadth of  health determinants has further enabled the application […]

In this article, we discuss findings from a study on indigenous youth’s perspectives on and engagement in health care. We carried out an Internet environmental scan, focus groups, and key informant interviews with urban indigenous youth leaders and front-line indigenous practitioners. We found that youth and practitioners regard the formal health care system as ineffective […]

This paper introduces aspects of indigenous-based resilience as well as a nuanced understanding(s) of knowledge and healing. It is exploratory as it investigates these areas of inquiry. Focus is on the experience and ways of knowing of Aboriginal peoples in Canada, specifically, the Anishinaabe of Lake Nipigon in northern Ontario. This exploration will assist research […]

Background Suicide is a serious public health challenge in circumpolar regions, especially among Indigenous youth. Indigenous communities, government agencies and health care providers are making concerted efforts to reduce the burden of suicide and strengthen protective factors for individuals, families and communities. The persistence of suicide has made it clear that more needs to be […]

We begin with an overview of the historical and contemporary contexts of racism, and the ways in which racism is fundamentally responsible for the alarming disparities in health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. We examine Indigenous responses to racism including individual, family and community level strategies and resiliencies; health service-level responses (including Indigenous and non-Indigenous led […]

This volume is the consolidation of a series of annual evaluation reports, examining both process and impact, published over the period 2001 to 2003. The first report, An Interim Evaluation Report of Aboriginal Healing Foundation Program Activity (2001), focussed on the formative stages of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation’s work (hereinafter referred to as the AHF). The […]

This book is divided into four sections that are intended to take the reader along a path of reconciliation. Each chapter is written by a different author and in different styles. The first section, Truth-Telling looks at Aboriginal history in Canada with a focus on residential schools. The second section, The legacy Lives On describes […]

Apparent accidental opioid toxicity deaths  Rates of apparent accidental opioid drug toxicity deaths per 100,000 were three times higher among First Nations people compared to Non-First Nations people from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.  First Nations people represented 12 per cent of all apparent accidental opioid toxicity deaths in Alberta from January […]

Over seven months in 2015, the Child and Youth Advocate (the “Advocate”) received reports regarding the deaths of three girls: • 13-Year-Old Tina • 16-Year-Old Shirley • 19-Year-Old Jazmine Although these girls had unique life experiences, through our Investigative Review processes, some common themes emerged. Their mothers abused substances and were unable to care for them. The […]

A systematic review and meta-analyses of birth outcomes among Indigenous women (predominantly from Canada, the United States and Australia) outlined factors associated with the higher risk: reduced access to standard prenatal care; inaccurate estimation of gestational age and subsequent complications of post-term pregnancies; pre-existing medical conditions; high rates of multiparity; young maternal age; marital status; […]

Developed in partnership with First Nations, the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (the Framework) presents a shared vision for the future of First Nations mental wellness programs and services and practical steps towards achieving that vision. A response to the mental health and substance use issues that continue to be a priority concern for many […]

Mental health and substance use issues continue to be a priority concern for many First Nations communities. While there are different kinds of specific mental health issues that can affect communities, mental wellness is a broader term that can be defined as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own […]

Sacred Feminine is a colouring book by Anishinaabe artist Jackie Traverse. The beautiful and intricate works of art within depict images of strength, resilience and empowerment. With each image, the artist explains the symbolism and meaning represented. The first of its kind, Sacred Feminine is intended to heal and educate readers and colourers of all ages.

This scoping review explores Canadian and international peer-reviewed literature and Canadian grey literature addressing Indigenous youth suicide and resilience. It asks: What makes Indigenous youth suicide distinct; What are promising practices for addressing youth suicide in Indigenous contexts; and What are knowledge gaps around service provision related to Indigenous suicide and prevention?

Indigenous homelessness is a human condition that describes First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, families or communities lacking stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means or ability to acquire such housing. Unlike the common colonialist defnition of homelessness, Indigenous homelessness is not defned as lacking a structure of habitation; rather, it is more fully […]

Indigenous homelessness is not defined as lacking a structure of habitation;  rather, it is more fully described and understood through a composite lens of Indigenous worldviews.