Indigenous People And The Issues That Surround Them

Challenges the First Nation People of Canada Face
Name
Institution
Challenges the First Nation People of Canada Face
Introduction
The First Nation people of Canada, who also go by the name Aboriginals, are part of the community of indigenous societies in the country. The community is isolated and remote and practices a different way of life from other societies in the nation. The remoteness stems from the action instituted to protect the lands and culture of the native people — isolation of the community results to further isolation from developments in the mainstream society. The community falls subject to matters that the government has already addressed for other communities, which results in underdevelopment, and associated problems. The government institute measures, initiatives, and policies that address the concerns of the community, but poor implementation of the endeavors cause a lag in the quality of public services the society enjoys. The paper focuses on a breakdown of four issues, which represent a majority of the challenges the First Nation people of Canada face.
High Rates of Suicide
Indigenous people exhibit a higher rate of suicide than non-indigenous individuals. The group also portrays a tendency for an exhibition of suicidal behaviors and thoughts (McQuaid, Bombay & McInnis, 2018). Researchers attribute the observation to the influence of contemporary stressors, and historical experiences such as the Indian Residential School system, which increase the associated level of risk. The rate of suicide and attempted suicide is because of increased concerns over mental health. Researchers have established that the high levels of psychological distress among members of the indigenous community arise from exposure to risk factors, which include adversity in childhood, substance abuse, and trauma. The observation is evident in the community in both groups of people who live inside and outside the reserves. There exists evidence that the inequalities the community faces could have originated from considerable exposure to collective stressors and traumas (McQuaid, Bombay & McInnis, 2018). The two factors have links to various disproportionate experiences of current and historical stressors, which could influence the suicidal tendencies of indigenous people. Enforcement of a government policy that forced indigenous children to assimilate through attendance of Indian Residential Schools had negative implications on the wellness of the community (Hartmann & Gone, 2016). The system undermined the indigenous identity of the community and promoted an increase in mortality rates, chronic neglect, and facilitated cultural, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse (McQuaid, Bombay & McInnis, 2018). Testimonies and data collected from survivors of the system provide evidence for an increased risk for health and physical difficulties for anyone who participated in the IRS. Evidence suggests the necessity for healing, and present-day inequities are bases for the continued effect of the influence the IRS system has on successive generations.
Poor Health Systems in Communities
There is a wide gap in the health disparities that exist between the indigenous community and the rest of the country. Health-related needs arise from lack of proper voicing of the needs the First Nations in the system, and an increase in the health crises the population faces (Levesque, 2017). The current health system fails to acknowledge and incorporate considerations from the intergenerational effects centuries of desolation to the community, identity, and culture on individual wellness and health. A proper understanding of health issues in the indigenous community requires focus through the context of current colonialism. Part of the factors that contribute to the problem is poor access to housing, water, and food. Achievement of results may be difficult due to the lack of control over structural factors that determine health. Administration systems also contribute to poor systems in existence (Levesque, 2017). Public disapproval hampers reassignment of authority in child protection and education. The systems in place lack stability because of the lack of transparency and accountability in operations. The selection policies for the recruitment of personnel contain limitations, which prevent employment of the most qualified candidates for implementation of healthcare programs for the community. The scenario dictates that even though there may be functional and useful systems for the people; poor management hinders the community from enjoying the benefits of the program. Also, the personnel who provide healthcare services to the population tend to be non-native who lack information about the intimate details of the health history of the indigenous community (Waltman, 2019). The personnel identifies discrepancies in the needs of native patients, which keep growing. Service providers report feeling overwhelmed by the diversity of needs in the community. Without sufficient addressing of the needs, the community will receive proper healthcare services.
Suppressive Government Systems
The government initiates ventures to assist the community, but the terms and conditions make the process of implementation difficult. An instance of such a scenario is the devolution initiative program the government sets up (Baker & Schneider, 2015). First Nations associations deal with the problem of excessive reporting necessities. The problem undermines the self-determination of First Nations and the existence of a governm...