Confronting Racism within the Canadian Healthcare System: Systemic Exclusion of First Nations from Quality and Consistent Care

Wanda Phillips-Beck; Rachel Eni; Josée G Lavoie; Kathi Avery Kinew; Grace Kyoon Achan; Alan Katz

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228343

Confronting Racism within the Canadian Healthcare System: Systemic Exclusion of First Nations from Quality and Consistent Care

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 11;17(22):8343. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17228343.

Authors

Wanda Phillips-Beck¹, Rachel Eni², Josée G Lavoie³, Kathi Avery Kinew⁴, Grace Kyoon Achan⁵, Alan Katz⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Medicine, First Nation Health and Social Secretariat Manitoba and the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B3, Canada.
² Independent Researcher, Victoria, BC V9C 0M1, Canada.
³ Department Community Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada.
⁴ First Nation Health and Social Secretariat Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B3, Canada.
⁵ Education Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada.
⁶ Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department Community Health Sciences and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B3, Canada.

Abstract

The study is on racism against First Nation peoples in the Canadian healthcare system. The study design incorporates principles of grounded theory, participant and Indigenous (decolonizing) research. Four questions are addressed: (1) What is the root cause of racism against First Nation peoples in the healthcare system? (2) What factors perpetuate racisms existence? (3) What are the impacts of racism on First Nation health? (4) What needs to be done to eradicate racism and to create an equitable healthcare system that sufficiently represents the needs, interests and values of First Nation peoples?

Keywords: Canadian healthcare system; First Nations; grounded theory; racism.

MeSH terms

Canada
Delivery of Health Care* / standards
Delivery of Health Care* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Indigenous Canadians* / statistics & numerical data
Racism* / prevention & control
Racism* / statistics & numerical data