The frank truth is Canada has a dark past. Canada has participated, spearheaded, and funded many efforts to assimilate aboriginal cultural identity and take away aboriginal rights. Whether it be the Indian Act of 1876 allowing government control of things like aboriginal land, resources and a requirement to register for rights and the creation of residential schools around the same time through amendments, creations of treaties and all the way up to the last residential school closing in Saskatchewan in 1996, the history and treatment of aboriginals and their lifestyle by the Canadian government has been long, gruesome, and relatively swept under the rug. This ill treatment has lead to intergenerational trauma and many health concerns unique to this population.
In 2011, Canada’s aboriginal population represents 4.3% of the total population, a total of 1.4 Million people (Statistics Canada, 2018). Although the representation is small the stats around determinants of health show drastic rates in comparison to the Canadian average. Aboriginal people make close to 10K less each year on average than non aboriginals, unemployment rates are more than double, child mortality rates are higher, suicide rates are higher, obesity, diabetes, alcohol and drug abuse, and homelessness are also higher than the national average (National Collaborating Center for Aboriginal Health, 2013). This brings up the simple question, Why?
Although there are many precipitating factors this writer would argue that the intergeneration trauma experienced through residential schools, as well as, arguably, the continued negative impact of the foster system and government policy on the aboriginal cultural identity, as one of the main influencers. Coupled with societal misinformation, lack of education, and a tainted cultural perception around aboriginals this makes a population already struggling to hold onto their cultural identity even more at risk.
Trauma and trauma informed care practices, especially programs tailored to aboriginal history, bridging the gap of misinformation and helping connect people back to the culture they lost, are a good first step in reversing these trends. The Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Canada was a huge step in the right direction, allowing people affected by residential schools to come forward, promoting public awareness and their 94 “Calls to Action” provided a top down approach to taking responsibility for this tragic time in Canadian history (Government of Canada, 2019). Justin Trudeau’s public apology for this period of history on November 24, 2017 also provided some hope to those affected. But is it enough? And is providing financial compensation for Trauma and all the ill effects it has caused a solution to the problem?
This writer would argue it is not. As we look at the aboriginal way of life it differs in many ways to the way of life we try to fit them into. Their focus on tradition, community, and hand to hand knowledge transfer isn’t seen in our society today. Thus, by taking away these important elements we also strip the aboriginal cultures ability to transfer its values from generation to generation. Although residential schools are now closed, many in the aboriginal community describe the current foster system and the “21st centuries version of residential schools”. By taking children from their home and failing in government and cultural reconnection we are, in essence, assimilating them further from their cultural traditions. More programs need to focus on connecting children to their culture; families should be involved in whatever way they can in a healthy capacity to transfer those cultural values, and foster care should focus on mandates for culture connection. Funding should be provided to create programs to educate the general population on the effects of trauma and the history of Canada’s treatment of the aboriginal population. We cant change the past, but throwing money at it is the not the right answer, we need to work from a holistic approach to form bonds, rebuild the importance of community and reconnect with the aboriginal people to adapt how we provide care to this population, including their cultural traditions. It is only by embracing the aboriginal culture, owning our mistakes, and educating each other on the effects of trauma, that we can truly move forward and make long term progress.
Brayden Sharp-Chrunik, BSc.
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