The major health issues need to be taken care of and fixed to improve Indigenous lives throughout Canada. Different strategies need to be implemented to allow for the issues to slowly disintegrate over time. Preventative steps such as educational programs need to be implemented to improve the future. The more education available the greater the possibility of change will be for Indigenous children. The unhealthy situation in Indigenous communities must also be focused on to help change the present as well as creating a stronger, healthier …show more content…
The education of parents is crucial in creating healthier environments for children. It may be a huge task, but give a great reward and will help to change future generations. One major thing education should be focused on is eating healthy and creating healthy eating habits. Often in Canada’s northern communities, food is expensive and often unaffordable for families (Insel, P. M., Roth, W. T., Irwin, J. D., & Burke, S. M., 2011). The lack of nutrition will often lead to health problems in children and in a child’s future. According to Core Concepts in Health Canadian Edition, Indigenous people are three to five times more likely to get Type 2 Diabetes than a non-Indigenous person in Canada (Insel, P. M., Roth, W. T., Irwin, J. D., & Burke, S. M., 2011). This is often caused by unhealthy eating habits that start in childhood and continue into adulthood. Many Indigenous children are lacking many vitamins and minerals due to unhealthy foods, which puts them at risk for health issues and disease. Often the healthier foods are more expensive and are unaffordable so cheaper and less nutrient rich food is substituted increasing health risks (Insel, P. M., Roth, W. T., Irwin, J. D., & Burke, S. M., 2011). Families with unhealthy eating habits are more likely to be obese or at risk of obesity according to Core Concepts in Health Canadian Edition (Insel, P. M., Roth, W. T., Irwin, J. D., & Burke, S. M., 2011).