Social Determinants of Indigenous Health

(1) Image Source: Greenwood, M. L., & de Leeuw, S. N. (2012). Social determinants of health and the future well-being of Aboriginal children in Canada. Paediatrics & child health, 17(7), 381-384.

Social Determinants of Health & Well-Being

Social determinants of health are the social and economic factors that influence people's health.

Social determinants of Indigenous health and well-being are shaped by historical and ongoing colonization, imposition of colonial institutes, and disruption of traditional lifestyles.

The image on the left (Greenwood & de Leeuw, 2012) articulates some of the unique social determinants of Indigenous health and how they influence the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples living in Canada.

We encourage you to read the report below, "Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Aboriginal Peoples' Health to learn more about the proximal, intermediate, and distal determinants of health.

RPT-HealthInequalities-Reading-Wien-EN.pdf
(2) Source: Reading, C.L. & Wien, F. (2009). Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Aboriginal Peoples' Health. Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health

Indigenous Social Determinants of Health in Research

The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) is a nationally funded Indigenous organization that promotes health equity through knowledge translation and exchange. We have featured two of their webinars that focus on topics related to Indigenous social determinants of health. These webinars are helpful in broadening what is typically understood as "health" and "contributors to health" in the bio-medical model and touch on the dynamics that uniquely impact Indigenous health and wellbeing.
We encourage you to visit their website and explore other webinars related to Indigenous Peoples' health.

Anti-Aboriginal Racism in Canada Presentation with Dr. Charlotte Loppie (3)

Cultural Safety for Indigenous Peoples with Dr. Sarah de Leeuw (4)

References:

  1. Greenwood, M. L., & de Leeuw, S. N. (2012). Social determinants of health and the future well-being of Aboriginal children in Canada. Paediatrics & child health, 17(7), 381-384.
  2. Reading, C.L. & Wien, F. (2009). Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Aboriginal Peoples' Health. Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health
  3. NCCIH CCNSA . [NCCIH CCNSA]. (2015, December 8). NCCAH Webinar Anti-Aboriginal Racism in Canada Introduction [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHN4vuaA_RQ
  4. NCCIH CCNSA . [NCCIH CCNSA]. (2016, May 13). NCCAH Webinar Cultural Safety for Indigenous Peoples Presentation with Dr. de Leeuw [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXmcQ7kOfQU