Indigenous leaders from across Canada say they are worried supports promised by the federal government to help First Nations, Inuit and Metis deal with the fallout of COVID-19 might not do enough to prevent the most vulnerable people from falling through the cracks. Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde, second from right, is joined by First Nations leaders during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.
Indigenous leaders from across Canada say they are worried supports promised by the federal government to help First Nations, Inuit and Metis deal with the fallout of COVID-19 might not do enough to prevent the most vulnerable people from falling through the cracks. Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde, second from right, is joined by First Nations leaders during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.
It’s true that COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate: anyone can get sick and potentially die from it. But the social systems that Canada has created often can discriminate. Health treatment and the outcomes aren’t always equal across all communities. Many Indigenous communities face big challenges: fewer doctors, inadequate housing and water that isn’t safe to drink. All of those issues, alongside systemic racism, can lead to especially bad health outcomes during a pandemic, Public health experts, like Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, say the health outcomes of COVID-19 could hit Indigenous communities especially hard.
Canada’s Indigenous populations have a lower life expectancy and higher rate of chronic illnesses compared to national averages. They’re also six times more likely to contract tuberculosis. The historical effects of the residential school system and discriminatory practices stemming from the Indian Act play a big role in the quality of healthcare. But there are big challenges that face these communities in the present day too.
