April Issue of the JPIC Communiqué

4/9/2021

Download this issue here: April Issue of the JPIC Communiqué

OFS Canada JPIC Communiqué JPIC - April 202

Indigenous health care

How would you react if you faced…?

Long waiting lists, lack of doctors and nurses, costs not covered by your Health Benefits, and no transportation? These are the main challenges to health care facing Indigenous people. When specialized treatment is needed, a patient has to endure a long journey to southern-based hospitals and leave behind families and support network for an extended period of time. Living in an urban centre is not much better for Indigenous people as they constantly face racism and discrimination. The rates of Indigenous people being admitted to hospitals and accessing emergency shelters are much higher than the general population.

Public Health Care Services… available to all?

Indigenous children do not always have the same access to services as non-Indigenous children because different levels of government fund different services for Indigenous children, especially those living on-reserve. Jordan River Anderson, for example, from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba was caught in one Editors Note: Until the National Chapter of Election in May 2022, the National OFS JPIC Team will be focusing on the issues faced by the Indigenous people in Canada. Subsequent Communiqués are not meant to be thorough, but to invite Secular Franciscans in Canada to deepen their understanding of their Indigenous brothers and sisters.

OFS Canada JPIC Communiqué JPIC of these payment disputes. The federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. Jordan stayed in the hospital until he passed away at the age of 5. Since then, to honour Jordan, Jordan’s Principle was created: it is a child-first principle that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations children. Jordan’s Principle states that any public service ordinarily available to all other children must be made available to First Nations children without delay or denial.

December Issue of the JPIC Communique