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In a 1200 word report issued June 3, 2019, Canada’s federal government acknowledged a horrifying statistic: Canada’s Indigenous women are at least six times more likely to become victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mmiwg-inquiry-deliver-final-report-justice-reforms-1.5158223
In addition, we should acknowledge that Canada’s Indigenous people are at least five times more at risk of acquiring hepatitis C, and that Indigenous women (unlike their non-Indigenous sisters) are at almost equal HCV risk as Indigenous men. Hepatitis C, then, adds further risk to the lives of aboriginal women in Canada.
Acknowledging problems is a good first step, but our society has to do much more to address these preventable tragedies. What can you do to help? Start by informing yourself of recent research about the effects of Colonialism on aboriginal health, and SHARE THE THREE RESOURCES BELOW with others:
- Read excellent blog entry: “In the eyes of Indigenous people: The link between colonialism and hepatitis C, and the need for historic trauma-informed care” by Sadeem Fayed and Dr. Alexandra King, April 15, 2019 at
http://blog.catie.ca/2019/04/15/in-the-eyes-of-indigenous-people-the-link-between-colonialism-and-hepatitis-c-and-the-need-for-historic-trauma-informed-care/ - Read more about Missing and Murdered Canadian Indigenous Women at
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/04/canada-finally-acknowledged-genocide-against-indigenous-women-its-time-act/ - Listen to “Finding Cleo,”a series of 10 podcasts about a family impacted by residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and a missing sister/daughter named Cleo, at
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/findingcleo/click-here-to-listen-to-missing-murdered-finding-cleo-1.4557887
(watch the short trailer on YouTube, then scroll down the page to the 10 podcast links. [Going on a long road trip this summer? Download these podcasts; they are riveting…)