Relevant Considerations Historically, Attawapiskat has largely been left alone regarding mental health services, as health resources are underfunded and difficult to implement due to the isolated location (Attawapiskat: Four Things, 2016). As of July 24, 2017 a major political breakthrough in healthcare occurred, affecting the forty-nine communities governed by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (One Step Closer, 2017). First Nation leaders signed the Charter of Relationship Principles Governing Health System Transformation, which is meant to bring reform to the healthcare system in rural communities in Northern Ontario. The Charter permits First Nation communities within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation to “design and control their own healthcare system”, while maintaining “culturally appropriate mental health …show more content…
I will lead the project in the position of Project Manager. This decision was made due to my in-depth understanding of the goals of the policy and familiarity with the community of Attawapiskat. Communication with the Youth Committee in Attawapiskat lead to the selection of an experienced individual for the Youth Coordinator position. The successful candidate is a citizen of Attawapiskat and deeply involved in community events, and was a key leader of the Youth Committee. The Youth Coordinator has experience working directly with youth and is knowledgeable about the community The Youth Counselor is a certified therapist originally from Attawapiskat. This team member has an understanding and sensitivity to indigenous issues after growing up in Attawapiskat and working for Indigenous Affairs in Whitehorse, Yukon. This candidate was selected for both personal experience in Attawapiskat and for extensive experience in mental health. The following chart indicates the responsibilities for each team
Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall. The Justice System and Aboriginal People: Child Welfare. n.d. - n.d. - n.d. The Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission. Retrieved December 12, 2013, from http://www.ajic.mb.ca/volumel/chapter14.html.
The significant societal, economical, and political changes of the First Nations tend to be overlapping and correlational. As political maintenance declines the economy declines, and as the economy declines society crumbles and quality of life declines. While issues in one area cause issues in others it becomes hard to separate what can be solved politically vs. societally. All issues, either with society or politics, cause damage to the First Nations economic situation creating gaping issues with society such as health issues, famine, sheltering, and education.
It is the belief of first nations that the healing process and renewal of relationships are the essential ingredients for the building of healthy First Nations communities. First nations realize that the current justice process does not address the real issues at hand nor does it fit into their traditional forms of achieving justice. In fact, the current justice process systematically removes the offenders from their people and communities effectively severing all ties and ...
As stated in the book “Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principals and Practices.
However, Canada is working towards incremental equality when regarding this concept, which in turn, impacts reconciliation. The most universal outcomes of the physical environments of reserves are to do with substantial housing shortages and poor quality of existing homes. With the lack of affordable housing off reserves, there is overcrowding in First Nation communities, as well as homelessness for Aboriginals living in urban areas, (Reading & Wien, 2009, p.8). Homes that exist on reserves lack appropriate ventilation, which results in mold, which in turn can lead to severe asthma as well as allergies. Families on reserves do not have access to a fresh supermarket that carries nutritious foods because they live in a remote community. With this being said, health conditions may develop in Aboriginal peoples because of the lack of healthy, nutritious food. Canada is working towards equality within the physical environments as William F. Morneau (2016) describes, “Budget 2016 proposes to invest $8.4 billion over five years, beginning in 2016-17, to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous peoples and their communities and bring about transformational change,” (“A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples,” 2016). All of these aspects play a key role in reaching reconciliation throughout
The needs of Aboriginal youth are not being met in mainstream systems. Undoubtedly, with the high dropout rate of “7 out of 10 first nation youth drop out of school” (Donovan, 128), the school system is failing them. Across Canada only “23 percent of the Aboriginal population has their high school diploma” (Donovan, 129). Aboriginal people make up the youngest and fastest growing segment of our population, and yet many still have significantly less education than the general population.
"Native American Youth 101." Aspen Institue. Aspen Institues, 24 July 11. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
Guerin, B. & Guerin, P. 2012, 'Re-thinking mental health for indigenous Australian communities: communities as context for mental health', Community Development Journal, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 555-70.
Waller, M., (2006). Strengths of Indigenous Peoples. In D. Saleebey (Eds.), The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice Forth Edition (pp 148-170). Boston. Pearson Publishing.
1) First topic chosen was wellness which is “a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.” (The National Wellness Institute, para 3) What wellness means to me is being with my family, surrounding myself with your loved ones, or even being with the environment. To Indigenous people it is the exact same with their wellness with each other, or the wellness with their environment. Mental wellness in Indigenous is living a journey along the way being fulfilled in good health. This changed my thoughts because sometimes I don’t always see the good or surround myself in happiness which can create bad health for me.
For decades First Nations people1 faced abuse in Canada's residential school system. Native children had their culture and families torn away from them in the name of solving the perceived “Indian Problem” in Canada. These children faced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of residential school supervisors and teachers. Since the fazing out of residential schools in the 1960's the survivors of residential schools and their communities have faced ongoing issues of substance addiction, suicide, and sexual abuse.2 These problems are brought on by the abuse that survivors faced in residential schools. The government of Canada has established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to address these issues but it has been largely ineffective. Though the Government of Canada has made adequate efforts towards monetary reparations for the survivors of residential schools, it has failed to provide a means to remedy the ongoing problems of alcohol and drug addiction, sexual abuse, and suicide in the communities of residential school survivors.3
A child and youth care professional can be described as a juxtaposition; an emotionally tough job with challenges, but incredibly rewarding and inspiring at the exact same time. Upon interviewing a child and youth care professional with 4 years of experience working in a group home, named Sarah Bakelaar at the Arrow Lodge in Edmonton, Alberta, on September 16th, 2015 at 3:30pm, it was evident that these workers require exceptional skills to help their clients. Arrow Lodge group home is an initiative through McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association throughout Alberta, serving the community by supporting individuals to reach their full potential. This particular Group Home, Arrow Lodge serves to provide a home to an all male clientele from the ages of 15-18 years of age.
These quotes allow the reader comprehend the various opinions of healthcare from the members of the river Town community. The authors present their findings in a well-structured article that begins by giving an introduction about the health of Aborigines in River Town. Following the introduction, the findings of the study are presented in multiple sections with a conclusion to the study at the end. The most interesting aspect of this article to me was the belief in sorcery among the Aborigines. Sorcery is a subject that I know nothing about, but I was interested to learn many Aborigines believe that an evil source was the cause of certain illnesses such as chest pains and mental health problems. This example shows the vast ethnographical difference between the Aborigines and myself because the belief in sorcery in the community I live is non-existent to my knowledge. This is an informative article for an anthropologist to read to learn more about the cultural attitudes and behaviors towards personal health and healthcare of an Aboriginal community in Northern Australia. Another aspect that could have been studied by the researchers would have been different behaviors and beliefs toward healthcare between different age demographics. Since the community was studied as a whole, age difference was not mentioned in the article. These findings would have allowed the health clinic to know which age demographic is most opposed to biomedical treatments and at most risk of disease and
It is well-known that Indigenous Peoples in Canada have experienced an extremely disturbing and distressing past. From colonization to residential schools and major oppression, the negative impact continues to weigh on Indigenous populations today, as they carry the affects of this horrifying historical experience. Four generations of Indigenous residential school survivors in Canada have passed down these experiences of trauma to their children, grandchildren as well as other members living in the community (Elias 1561). Thus Indigenous children in Canada are highly susceptible to mental health problems such as substance abuse, suicide and mental disorders such as low academic achievement, due to this ongoing transmission of intergenerational
...cts are unknown. Preliminary data indicates the Youth Advisory Council model, one example of the community problem-solving approach, may be a promising avenue for engaging young people. Additional longitudinal research in coming years will be crucial in developing more definitive conclusions. Anecdotally, many students find great value in the program, indicating it develops leadership skills and provides motivation for further community participation. The participants are not the only beneficiaries, however. Through thorough planning and thoughtful implementation, the sponsoring agency and broader community gain significantly from such a process. Involving young people in addressing community problems at the local level can infuse new life into agencies and communities, while helping to prepare young people to become active, engaged citizens in our democracy.