Indigenous Health and Impact of Colonization

Overview

• Indigenous peoples worldwide endure poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous populations.
• Health disparities include higher suicide rates, higher infant, child, and maternal mortality, and greater infectious disease burdens.

Historical Context

• Research has been ongoing to identify and address Indigenous health inequities.
• "The Lancet" published a series focusing on Indigenous health across continents.
• Earlier research mainly focused on developed countries (CANZUS: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA).
• Recent works call to address health inequities within socio-political contexts, including colonialism's impacts.

Indigenous Health Research

• Emphasizes a rights-based approach in accordance with the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples' Rights.
• Importance of Indigenous participation in policy-making and data collection.
• Data disaggregation is crucial for understanding disparities in Indigenous health outcomes.

Colonization and Health Disparities

• Colonization viewed as a significant determinant influencing Indigenous health.
• Calls for colonization to be considered in epidemiological and demographic studies.
• Some researchers argue colonization is ongoing, impacting health outcomes.
• In demography, colonization is often overlooked as a significant factor.

Policy and Critiques

• "Closing the gaps" initiatives by CANZUS governments focus on improving Indigenous wellbeing.
• Critics highlight a focus on government needs over Indigenous community needs.
• Calls for addressing underlying power inequalities linked to colonialism in policy interventions.

Research Directions

• Aim to integrate colonization into Indigenous health research.
• Calls for interdisciplinary approaches involving Indigenous scholars.
• Special issue papers explore colonization's role and propose new methods and policies.

Key Papers and Themes

• Griffiths et al.: Examines health disparities in Australia, emphasizing Indigenous definitions of health.
• Reid et al.: Investigates cultural impacts of land loss on Ngai Tahu tribe in New Zealand.
• McCalman & Smith: Uses historical analysis to trace health impacts of British colonization in Victoria, Australia.
• Andersen: Discusses implications of self-identification in census data for Indigenous populations in Canada.
• Paradies: Analyzes colonial processes contributing to health inequalities in settler states.

Conclusion

• Scholars call for more nuanced, culturally appropriate measures and policies.
• Recognition of colonization's ongoing impact is crucial for addressing Indigenous health disparities effectively.