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Aboriginal Woman's Health

ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S WELLNESS:

A Brief Over-View Of Some Of The Health Related Issues Affecting Aboriginal Women.

Aboriginal Studies 1116

K Paxton-Judge


ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S WELLNESS:
A Brief Over-View Of Some Of The Health Related Issues Affecting Aboriginal Women.

“Canada is praised for affording its people one the best qualities of life anywhere in the world, yet Aboriginal women and men (living in Canada are often) characterized by a health profile one would normally associate with the developing world.”

- Aboriginal Women’s Health Research Synthesis Project.


INTRODUCTION

Elders, as well as historical writings and current research, tell us that pre-contact aboriginal peoples enjoyed an extremely high level of physical mental and spiritual health and wellness. The quality and quantity of life was drastically different than it is today, for example pre-contact aboriginal elders were said to often live beyond the age of 100 and were seldom, if ever, plagued by disease. Traditionally aboriginal communities followed a holistic approach to medicine, centred around the need for balance in all aspects of life. “ Today, aboriginal people in Canada are subject to some of the lowest points on quality of life measures as defined by the World Health Organization… Aboriginal people have the highest rates of unemployment, suicide, death by non-natural causes, infant mortality, incarceration, child protection intervention, inadequate housing and student-drop out rates.” There are a wide range of factors affecting aboriginal health. With the loss of land, destruction of culture, breakdown of communities, and demoralization of mind, body and spirit that was suffered in the years following contact aboriginal people have many powerful obstacles to overcome in reclaiming the type of wellness lived by their...