1. Healthy Aboriginals = Healthy Canadians
The Housing Conditions of Aboriginal Canadians:
The Davis Inlet-Natuashish Example
By Alex Drossos
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

2. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Aboriginals in Canada
“Indian” under Indian Act, “non-status Indians”, Métis and Inuit
4.4% of Canadian Population
608 First Nations, 52 Cultural Groups, more than 50 Languages
>50% of on-reserve are under 25 yrs old
On average,  income,  unemployment,  education
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

3. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Research Shows…
Aboriginal Canadians are less healthy than the rest of Canadians.
Providing health care services to this population cannot in itself remove the health disparities; upstream provisions must also be used.
Maintaining cultural identity of Aboriginals is key to providing programs to combat health inequalities.
More research in this area is needed, and must be conducted by native people themselves. The formation of the IAHR (Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health) is a step in the right direction.
The Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) is data rich and a good source for this type of research.
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

4. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Housing Determinants
Physical housing conditions
Clean water
Food availability
Income
Adequate waste disposal
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

5. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Mandala of Health
Hancock, 1985
Good fit with Aboriginal tradition and culture
Housing isn’t the centre of the “universe”
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

6. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Policies
Historically poor Aboriginal housing policies
RCAP 1996 changed that
On-reserve housing policy of July 25, 1996
Government claims it is working
7% increase in adequate housing for 133 participating communities
Over 60% of First Nations now participating
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

7. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Policies (cont’d)
Four key pillars:
First Nation control
First Nation expertise
Share responsibility
Better access to private capital
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

8. Davis Inlet-Natuashish: History
Part of Mushuau Innu Band
Originally nomadic hunters, from Eastern Quebec
Algonkian-speaking
Davis Inlet = Utshimassits (place of the boss)  community of ~650
Natuashish is near Little Sango Pond
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

9. Davis Inlet-Natuashish: Geography
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

10. Davis Inlet-Natuashish: Sociology
History of substance and alcohol abuse
One of the highest suicide rates in the world
Battle with cultural identity
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

11. Davis Inlet-Natuashish: The Housing Project
15 km from Davis Inlet
133 new homes
New school, medical facility, etc.
$152 Million
Huge delays
Now June completion
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

12. Policy Cycle Deficiencies
Problem definition
Policy formulation
Interests
Research
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

13. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Recommendations
Focus on repeating policy cycle, addressing deficiencies
Concentrate the interests of Aboriginals
Not only housing policy:
Education
Self-government
Population Health Template
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

14. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Pop. Health Template
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations

15. CHS 730 - Determinants of Health of Populations
Question Period
"We know that this will not solve all our problems, but our people deserve these houses. No human being should have to live in miserable shacks like those in Davis Inlet. We are leaving behind many years of pain and suffering. Here, we'll at least have a base with decent conditions for dealing with other social problems, like alcoholism."
-- Chief Simion Tsakapesh
April 3, 2003
CHS Determinants of Health of Populations