In order to be a competent and compassionate health care provider, one must be aware and educated on certain cultural topics. In Canada there are a few common myths which lead to direct or indirect racist feelings or attitudes towards Indigenous cultures. In particular there are alot of assumptions about Indigenous government funding and assistance. The following document was published by the University of Manitoba, and contains twenty eight myths about Indigenous people in Canada. Hopefully by reading this very brief document, we all can learn a different side of financial support provided to Indigenous people. As health care providers we are the front line of care for our Indigenous patients. Let us make ourselves more aware and sensitive to these very real topics. Together we can begin the change.
The following are just four myths and facts from the myth document published by the University of Manitoba. I strong encourage the you read the rest of the myths by clicking on the link below
https://umanitoba.ca/student/asc/media/28_Myths_and_facts.pdf
=========Myths and facts About First Nations Peoples==========
1 Myths and facts
Myth: Indians get all kinds of government
money.
Fact: Treaty People get a $5 Treaty once per
year, in cash. This is the same amount
they got under the Treaties, over one
hundred years ago. There has been no
adjustment for inflation.
Myth: Life is great on First Nations Reserves –
it seems everyone has a new truck.
Fact: First Nations living conditions are rated
as being similar to those of countries in
the so-called Third World. In 2006, CBC
found that 76 First Nations were under
boil water advisory. In 2003, a Winnipeg
Harvest study found that while a 4-litre
jug of milk cost $3.40 in Winnipeg, costs
$12.09 in Wasagamack.
Myth: All Aboriginal people go to University for
free.
Fact: Access to education is not free, but a
treaty right. The Government of Canada
claims to meet this obligation through
funding to the Post-Secondary Student
Support Program (PSSSP). However,
the government has capped increases
to PSSSP funding far below inflation
and population growth rates. Band
councils have been forced to choose
between forcing students to wait years
to attend university or providing
smaller grants to student s that do not
fully cover the cost of tuition and living
expenses. When adjust for inflation,
funding through Indian and Northern
Affairs for Aboriginal post-secondary
education, declined by $14 million
dollars between 1998 and 2002.
Myth: Residential Schools are history. Get
over It!
Fact: The earliest residential school was
found in 1620 and last closed in 1996.
Children were forcibly removed from
their families, as the system was
compulsory and not “Boarding School”. 2
Children’s names were taken away and
new names and numbers were given in
their place. Language, culture and
religion were beaten and humiliated out
of them with the purpose of “killing the
Indian in the child”. In some schools,
half of the children died from
Tuberculosis, malnutrition, or other
diseases. Many suffered the worst
kinds of abuse at the hands of school
authorities.
The education received was never
intended to be on par with the
mainstream, and by-the-large, survivors
haven’t been able to gain decent
employment or take their rightful place
in Canadian society.
Financial compensation is small and not
easy to obtain. Most of the money has
gone to lawyers and state bureaucrats.
A new “healing industry” has grown out
of the compensation. The survivors and
their families are still devastated
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 