Land-Based Learning
Introduction Land-based learning brings traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and teaching into contemporary Indigenous education programs. The practice touches on many of the issues at the forefront for Indigenous peoples today – a 2019 report from the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness outlines the numerous ways in which land-based learning fulfills goals set out in […]
Cultural Safety and Indigenous Elder Care
Introduction Often naturally self-effacing, many Indigenous Elders frequently lead with, “I’m not an Elder, I’m just old” and then proceed to re-contextualize a long-held perspective of the listener or provide a new, revealing viewpoint that ties back to the fundamentals of close observation, sustainable practice, trial and error, or culturally-specific received wisdom. Whether Christian, Traditional […]
How Community Paramedicine Can Serve First Nations
Introduction Community Paramedicine is an emerging field that uses paramedics outside of their traditional roles of emergency response and transportation, applying their skills to provide more preventive and proactive services, sometimes in a home setting. This field has received interest for its potential to reduce ambulance calls, emergency department visits, address health service gaps in […]
The Framework Agreement Initiative
Introduction The Framework Agreement Initiative (FAI) was a historic agreement to restore self-governing jurisdiction to First Nations in Manitoba and, ultimately, dismantle the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). Signed on December 7, 1994 by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Grand Chief Phil Fontaine and DIAND Minister Ron Irwin, the agreement aimed […]
First Nations’ Medical Travel in Manitoba
An Issue of Isolation First Nations in Canada are disproportionately located in rural, remote, and northern areas of the country, away from major service centres. This isolation and a deficit of transportation infrastructure makes it difficult and expensive for First Nation citizens living on-reserve to access healthcare and other essential services. In Manitoba, this situation […]
The Challenges of On-Reserve Housing in Manitoba
Introduction Housing is not a commodity; it is a fundamental human right. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are the earliest key documents which recognize adequate housing as a crucial element of basic human rights. As a signatory of the UDHR, […]
On and Off-Reserve: K to 12 Education
Introduction Discrepancies exist between educational services provided by on-reserve schools, a primarily federal government responsibility, and provincially run off-reserve schools. This inequality in the provision of education for First Nations in Canada amounts to a violation of their human rights. Furthermore, it impedes self-determination as some families are forced to relocate in order to access […]
The Role of Racism in the Health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Introduction A core belief of Canadians is publicly funded health care is universally applied and accessible to all citizens equally. However, the reality of inequities experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada are significant. Prominent examples, such as the discrimination and neglect experienced by Brian Sinclair in Manitoba and Joyce Echaquan in Québec, demonstrate Indigenous-specific racism […]
The First Nations Principles of OCAP®
Introduction First Nations Principles of ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP®) are the de facto ethical standard for research involving First Nations data. These principles cover the collection, use, and management of First Nations data generally. Each principle can be described as follows. The Need for OCAP® OCAP® was developed as a response to persistent […]
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada: An Ongoing Tragedy
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+) refers to the national inquiry and awareness campaign on the disproportionately high rates of violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people across North and Central America. Despite considerable public attention in recent years and the declaration of a national crisis in Canada, the trauma […]