Addiction : The Canadian Aboriginal Community

However, in order to understand the culture of the Native Americans, it is important to study each group distinctly from the other. While the history of the Native Americans is beyond the scope of this paper, it suffices to note that the enduring cultural practices of the Native Americans have had an impact on the abuse of substances such as Alcohol (Moore Gay, 2010). The prevalence of alcohol among this cultural group has been influenced in two ways: by a misperception, social rules, norms and customs, and traditions that have normalized drinking among certain tribes.

Since the colonization of Canada First Nations people have been discriminated against and assimilated into the new culture of Canada through policies created by the government. Policies created had the intentions of improving the Aboriginal people’s standard of living and increasing their opportunities. Mainly in the past hundred years in Canadian Society, policies and government implemented actions such as; Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reserve systems have resulted in extinguishing native culture, teachings, and pride. Policies towards the treatment of Aboriginal Canadians has decreased their opportunities and standard of living because of policies specified previously (Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reservation systems).

On October 15th 2013 the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, released a statement upon the conclusion of his visit to Canada. In his statement, Anaya reveals that “from all I have learned, I can only conclude that Canada faces a crisis when it comes to the situation of indigenous peoples of the country” (2013:8). Even though Canada was one of the first countries to extend constitutional protection to the rights of indigenous people, Canadian aboriginals experience a well-being gap. Aboriginal teens are more likely to commit suicide; Aboriginal women are

Aboriginal peoples of Canada have suffered exponentially throughout the entirety of history and proceed to do so in modern society. Much of the continued suffrage of aboriginal peoples is as a result of the Sixties Scoop and the Residential School System, as well as the lack of resources available to them. This has wreaked extensive havoc on the mental health of Aboriginal peoples, and has left excessive amounts of stigma and racism attached to Aboriginal Peoples, explicitly seen in the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Alcohol abuse among Aboriginal youth is a prevalent issue in Canada. This widespread drug abuse stems from social, cultural, and biological factors. As there are many negative impacts that come with alcohol abuse, treatment options are necessary. When treating Aboriginal youth for alcohol abuse, it is necessary for practitioners to take cultural context into consideration to ensure sensitivity and success. It is important to understand alcohol abuse and why Aboriginal youth are an especially high risk demographic. This helps to identify effective ways to diminish alcohol abuse in the Aboriginal youth population through behavioural therapy, drug therapy, and therapeutic recreation programs.

Aboriginals in Canada are also known as indigenous people. They consist of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Approximately 4.3% of the Canadian population is considered Aboriginal. Most of them can be found in the province of Ontario. However, even though they have a strong presence in the country’s population, they have and still do go through a variety of issues. One of those issues would be education. The gap between Aboriginals and other Canadians on school-related achievements has gotten wider over the past decade, even though, more Aboriginals have been completing their secondary, as well as post-secondary education than ever before. Another issue would be the housing conditions for Aboriginal people living in Canada. The 2006 Census revealed that Aboriginal people were much more likely than non-Aboriginal people to live in houses that were in need of some major repairs. Research done from 1996 to 2006, highlighted the fact that around 20% of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people lived in less than desirable housing. The number of non-Aboriginal people, on the other hand, that needed some major repairs, went from 8% in 1996, to 7% in 2006. Another major issue in Aboriginal communities is violence. More specifically, domestic violence. More often than not, the violence usually comes from one side of the relationship, the male side. In 2006, it was reported that only 7% of non-Aboriginal women had been assaulted by a current or former spouse, compared to

Cultural oppression, social inequality, the loss of self-government and systemic discrimination are all things that are negatively effecting Aboriginal social welfare in Canada. They all contribute to the overall issue of the oppression that aboriginal people face in Canada creating a social problem. Although steps forward have been taken, for example Justin Trudeau investing significant funds into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there is much more work that must be put into this problem before it can even be close to resolution.

Social stigma is society’s way of placing judgments on a particular person or circumstance. These stigmas Indigenous people know too well. Within addiction, the number one stigma is that it is a choice. With this stigma attached to a First Nation person, it becomes more such as a drunk Indian living off the government. Having stigmas against aboriginal peoples has gone from generations to generations.

Due to all of the problems mentioned above, many people in society have a negative stereotype of First Nations people. A common stereotype is 'all Aboriginal people are alcoholics.' Studies have acknowledged that the alcoholism that does exist within Native culture is linked to the cultures history of economic disadvantages and are trapped in a cycle of oppression that is difficult to break, especially with limited options for help. Indigenous women are frequently sexually objectified and are often stereotyped as being promiscuous. Such misconceptions lead to murder, rape and violence of Aboriginal women and girls by non-Aboriginal men.

Imagine a world without jobs, education or even no health systems. Well as in today many aboriginals in Canada are living a life compared to this. Indigenous people of Canada, including status Indians, non-status Indians, Métis and Inuit people are Aboriginal people of Canada.(“Aboriginal Definition and Terms”) According to a study by the National Household Survey (NHS) 1,400,685 people had an Aboriginal identity in 2011, representing 4.3% of the total Canadian population. Aboriginal people mostly live in Ontario and the western provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia (Aboriginal Peoples). The loss of land is not the biggest problem facing the aboriginal Canadians. The biggest problem facing the

The substance of this paper will be to discuss the discourse regarding the inequalities facing aboriginal peoples living on reserves in the northwestern corner of Ontario. Inequality is not naturally occurring; poverty is not an innate cultural trait that accumulates at the feet of the marginalized (Schick & St.Denis, 2005, p.304). Stephens, Nettleton and Porter stated in the Lancet (2005) “Aboriginal people in Canada suffer enormous inequalities in health and in accessibility to health

Throughout Canadian history, Indigenous children, families and communities have been aggressively assimilated through Canadian government policies (Baskin, 2011). The combination of colonization, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop and other discriminating tactics has damaged Indigenous cultures, weakened parenting capacity, and challenged economic self-sufficiency. Many Aboriginal people live in communities that experience high levels of poverty, alcohol and substance abuse, suicides, incarceration rates, unemployment rates, and other social problems. Today, Indigenous child are disproportionately represented in the Child Welfare System. The National Household Survey (2011) indicated that 48% of 30,000 children and youth in foster care

When the Canadian government set up residential schools in the 1870’s, they took away a major component of the Aboriginal people’s culture: family. The aims of these schools were to assimilate Aboriginal children and prepare them for living in a white society. Instead, they caused tremendous psychological abuse to not only the children being forced to leave their homes, but also to their guardians. After this traumatic event, many aboriginal people resorted to substance abuse in order to cope with their experience in these schools. One study reported “82 percent of individuals were involved in substance abuse behaviors after attending residential schools.” (Chansonneuve, 2007, p.22). I believe that there is a negative correlation between substance abuse and crime rates, as proven by various studies. A study conducted in 2005 showed that “alcohol or substance abuse problems [were] significantly associated with serious violent acts in the community.” (Swartz et al.,1998, pp.226-231). Many Indigenous detainees, who attributed their crime to alcohol, have also acknowledged this negative

First Nations people suffer from poor health and are devastated by problems such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, violence and suicide.

Traditionally indigenous people of Australia led very physically active lives, before the adoption of drugs, alcohol and tobacco became a challenge; there is no longer any need for indigenous people to hunt for wild animals and to gather uncultivated plants. There has now been a change in indigenous people lifestyle in cities, rural and remote areas, due to the effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco use. Assessments are undertaken by train health worker at the Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service; there is also drug, alcohol and tobacco health promotion days for clients or groups who want a health assessments they can also provide a referral, for a drug, alcohol or tobacco relate problem; and can provide treatment or counselling within a supervised