Aboriginal Health: Health Disparities, Colonialism, and Social Impact

This report examines the health disparities among Aboriginal people, emphasizing the role of colonial structures and their impact on health outcomes. It references Waldram, Herring, and Young (2006), and Butler-Jones (2008) to highlight how colonial policies and practices have contributed to these inequalities. The report discusses how limited access to resources, such as clean water and healthy foods, along with geographical barriers and adverse weather conditions, further exacerbate these health challenges. The assignment underscores the importance of understanding the historical and social contexts that shape Aboriginal health, and how government policies and community access to amenities play a significant role in determining overall health and well-being. It also highlights the need for addressing the systemic issues that lead to these health disparities.

Running Head: ABORIGINAL HEALTH
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Aboriginal Health
Name
Institutional Affiliation

ABORIGINAL HEALTH 2
Aboriginal Health
In this week’s reading, Waldram, Herring and young (2006) explain the reason behind
the social and the material inequalities that caused the health disparities among the aboriginal
people, one that has been existing for several generations. The authors claim that these
inequalities exist because of the oppressive colonial structure. Likewise according to Butler-
Jones (2008), the persisting diminished life expectancy, the disproportional burden of the
various chronic diseases, social violence as well as substance addiction all trace their origin
from the overarching colonial structure of these people. According to Waldram, Herring and
young (2006), however, the health disparities could also be traced form the fact that these
people lived in remote places where access of portable water was limited as the water-access
rights favored only the Euro-Canadian people and had no consideration on the aboriginal
people. Butler-Jones (2008), on the other hand, claims that determinants of the healthy
disparities economic and geographic barriers as well as limited access to healthy markets and
country foods coupled with adverse weather conditions, physical conditions and
inaccessibility of recreational facilities.
From the week’s reading I have learned about the aboriginal people and how they
came to be and how their lives differed from that of the Euro-Canadians. I have learned how
colonial structures impacted their lives as well as their health. I have learned about how
discrimination of people and communities when a government is implementing rights can
have in their lives, not only at the present time but also in the future. The geographical
positioning of a community, the ease access to social amenities and access to healthy foods
and living conditions has a substantial impact on the health of the members of that
community.

ABORIGINAL HEALTH 3
References
Butler-Jones, D. (2008). The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the state of addressing
health inequalities.Ottawa, ON:Public Health in Canada.
Waldram, J.,Herring, D.,& Young, K.(2006). Aboliginal health in Canada:History, culture,
and epidemiological perspectives. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press