Introduction
The Indigenous people of Canada have been misrepresented in the media since the 20th Century. In core-relation to this misrepresentation, racism is a social determinant of health for Indigenous peoples. Stereotypes in the media continue to affect the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples by “impacting access to education, housing, food, security, and employment,” as well as “permeating societal systems and institutions.” (Allan & Smylie 2) As a result, Indigenous peoples are not given equal healthcare treatment in comparison to non-Indigenous Canadians. This briefing report will identify health issues currently on the Sandy Lake reserve and give a brief history surrounding Indigenous peoples. It will outline why current healthcare …show more content…
Residential schools were government sponsored initiatives established in the early 1900’s as an attempt to convert, educate, and integrate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. If anything, residential schools were an act of cultural assimilation while committing cultural genocide. Several of the problems at residential schools include- language loss, lack of food due to lack of funding from the Federal government, and extremely high death rates (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada).
Following the residential school system, was the “sixties scoop”, the wide-scale movement of Aboriginal children into non-Aboriginal homes (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada). Residential schools had “harmed the subsequent ability of the students to be caring parents.” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 138) Consequently from this, steps were not taken to preserve the culture and identity of many Indigenous groups; and another act of cultural assimilation and cultural genocide had …show more content…
- The racism that arises from these stereotypes has permeated the health care systems in several ways. The first is in the inability to see that Indigenous people continue to suffer from residential schools and the ‘sixties scoop’. Additional and extensive support for these groups is still needed in order to reach an “equal” healthcare system. The second is in the neglect and withholding of health services because of race (Ambtman-Smith Lecture 9).
2. Have history and context (Sterritt)
- The Indigenous have suffered from under and misrepresentation for many years. “If you’re looking at the effect, you also need to look at the cause.” (Sterritt) The current majority of media focuses on the actions of protest instead of the reasoning behind the protests (Pierro 12). Ignoring or distorting history does not give the whole picture which perpetuates stereotypes and creates unintentional bias.
- There are several simple ways to add context to a story by adding elements like sidebars, shadow boxes, graphics, and charts (Serritt).
3. Balance positive and negative stories
The Indigenous people of Canada have been misrepresented in the media since the 20th Century. In core-relation to this misrepresentation, racism is a social determinant of health for Indigenous peoples. Stereotypes in the media continue to affect the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples by “impacting access to education, housing, food, security, and employment,” as well as “permeating societal systems and institutions.” (Allan & Smylie 2) As a result, Indigenous peoples are not given equal healthcare treatment in comparison to non-Indigenous Canadians. This briefing report will identify health issues currently on the Sandy Lake reserve and give a brief history surrounding Indigenous peoples. It will outline why current healthcare …show more content…
Residential schools were government sponsored initiatives established in the early 1900’s as an attempt to convert, educate, and integrate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. If anything, residential schools were an act of cultural assimilation while committing cultural genocide. Several of the problems at residential schools include- language loss, lack of food due to lack of funding from the Federal government, and extremely high death rates (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada).
Following the residential school system, was the “sixties scoop”, the wide-scale movement of Aboriginal children into non-Aboriginal homes (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada). Residential schools had “harmed the subsequent ability of the students to be caring parents.” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 138) Consequently from this, steps were not taken to preserve the culture and identity of many Indigenous groups; and another act of cultural assimilation and cultural genocide had …show more content…
- The racism that arises from these stereotypes has permeated the health care systems in several ways. The first is in the inability to see that Indigenous people continue to suffer from residential schools and the ‘sixties scoop’. Additional and extensive support for these groups is still needed in order to reach an “equal” healthcare system. The second is in the neglect and withholding of health services because of race (Ambtman-Smith Lecture 9).
2. Have history and context (Sterritt)
- The Indigenous have suffered from under and misrepresentation for many years. “If you’re looking at the effect, you also need to look at the cause.” (Sterritt) The current majority of media focuses on the actions of protest instead of the reasoning behind the protests (Pierro 12). Ignoring or distorting history does not give the whole picture which perpetuates stereotypes and creates unintentional bias.
- There are several simple ways to add context to a story by adding elements like sidebars, shadow boxes, graphics, and charts (Serritt).
3. Balance positive and negative stories