Indigenous Commitment

Healing Together: Acknowledging Indigenous History, Health Disparities, and Our Commitment to Reconciliation

At LAH Counselling, we recognize the profound impact of Canada’s colonial history on Indigenous peoples and their ongoing journey toward healing. By understanding the past and its lasting effects, we strive to provide culturally safe, accessible nurse-psychotherapy services that honor Indigenous resilience and support reconciliation.

Below, we share key historical facts, health disparities faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) communities, and our commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (TRC CTAs).

The Legacy of Residential Schools

The residential school system, a painful chapter in Canada’s history, aimed to assimilate Indigenous children by severing their ties to culture, language, and family.

Key facts include:

Origins and Duration:

Mission schools began in the 1600s, with government sponsorship starting in the 1830s.
The Mohawk Institute in Brantford, Ontario, opened in 1831, marking the start of the formal system, which was solidified by the 1876 Indian Act.
The last federally funded school, Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, closed in 1997, spanning 166 years (or over 300 years including early mission schools).

Scale and Impact:

Approximately 150,000 FNIM children were forcibly removed from their families and communities.

Poor record-keeping obscures the true toll, but at least 4,118 children died—estimates suggest 6,000 to 15,000—due to disease (e.g., tuberculosis), malnutrition, abuse, neglect, and escape attempts.

Intergenerational Trauma:

The forced separation and cultural suppression disrupted family bonds, leading to lasting intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous well-being.

References: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015), National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Statistics Canada.

Health and Social Disparities

The legacy of residential schools, combined with ongoing colonial policies, has created significant disparities across physical, mental, emotional, and relational well-being for Indigenous peoples:

Physical Health:

Lower Life Expectancy: Indigenous peoples face a life expectancy gap of up to 12 years compared to non-Indigenous Canadians (e.g., 73.3 years for First Nations in BC vs. 82.5 years non-Indigenous, 2021).
Chronic and Infectious Diseases: Higher rates of diabetes (5.6–7.1% vs. 3–4%), hypertension, obesity, arthritis, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Cancer: Elevated incidence of lung, colorectal, and cervical cancers, with 60% of Indigenous patients diagnosed at late stages (2017).

Reference: Statistics Canada (Tjepkema et al., 2019), Public Health Agency of Canada (2018).

Mental Health:

Suicide Rates: Inuit in Nunavut face rates 10 times the national average (70–100 per 100,000 vs. 10 per 100,000).
First Nations and Métis youth are also disproportionately affected.
Depression and Anxiety: 15–20% of Indigenous adults report mood disorders vs. 10% non-Indigenous (2007–2010).
Substance Use Disorders: Higher prevalence, often as a coping mechanism for trauma, with limited access to culturally safe treatment.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): 41% of Indigenous people report childhood violence vs. 25% non-Indigenous (2019).

Reference: National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH, 2019).

Emotional Health:

Cultural Disconnection: Colonial policies severed ties to language, spirituality, and community, fostering alienation and low self-worth.
Cultural revitalization (e.g., language programs) shows emotional benefits.
Grief and Loss: High mortality, suicide, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) amplify collective grief.

Reference: NCCIH (2019), National Inquiry into MMIWG (2019).

Relational and Social Impacts:

Violence: Indigenous women face a violent victimization rate of 220 per 1,000, nearly triple non-Indigenous women (2014).
63% of Indigenous women report lifetime physical or sexual violence (2018).
Incarceration: Indigenous people are incarcerated at 8.9 times the rate of non-Indigenous in provincial custody (2020/2021), comprising 32% of federal inmates despite being 5% of the population.
Child Welfare: Indigenous children (7% of the population) make up 53.8% of foster care cases (2021), echoing the Sixties Scoop, which removed 20,000 children (1960s–1980s).

Reference: Statistics Canada, National Inquiry into MMIWG (2019).

Systemic Roots of Disparities

These challenges stem from colonial policies:

We acknowledge that our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe peoples, including Nipissing First Nation, within the Robinson-Huron Treaty. This land, central to Indigenous identity and sustenance, was profoundly impacted by colonial policies that continue to shape disparities today:

Land Dispossession: Indigenous peoples were displaced from 99.7% of their lands, confined to reserves (0.2% of Canada’s land base), with ongoing treaty violations, such as those affecting the Robinson-Huron Treaty, limiting economic opportunities (1871–1921 treaties). Forced Relocations, like the 1950s High Arctic Inuit displacement, disrupted traditional food systems, increasing food insecurity and health issues.
Economic and Educational Gaps: Indigenous median income is $62,000 vs. $81,000 non-Indigenous (2020), and only 52.6% of Indigenous adults have a high school diploma vs. 83.6% non-Indigenous (2021).
Environmental Risks: 26 long-term drinking water advisories persist on reserves (2023), contributing to health issues.

References: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015), Statistics Canada (2021).

Indigenous Resilience

Despite these hardships, Indigenous communities demonstrate remarkable resilience through traditional healing practices (e.g., smudging, land-based activities) and language revitalization.

Studies show cultural continuity reduces suicide rates, underscoring the strength of FNIM peoples in reclaiming their heritage.

Our Commitment to Reconciliation

As a small business, LAH Counselling is dedicated to honoring the TRC’s Calls to Action through tangible actions to provide accessible, culturally safe nurse-psychotherapy services.

We commit to:

CTA 19: Implementing evidence-based measures to track outcomes and reduce Indigenous health disparities.
CTA 22: Valuing Indigenous healing practices, collaborating with Indigenous healers and Elders when requested by clients.
CTA 23.iii: Pursuing cultural competency training to ensure respectful care.
CTA 24: Educating ourselves on Indigenous health issues, including the history of residential schools, UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights, and Indigenous teachings.
CTA 57: Deepening our knowledge of Indigenous history, law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations, alongside skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Removing Barriers

To enhance accessibility, we have:

Registered as a Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) provider.
Offered virtual service delivery for remote access.
Implemented a flexible cancellation policy to accommodate clients’ needs.

Moving Forward Together

We acknowledge the pain of the past and the strength of Indigenous communities.

By fostering trust, cultural safety, and accessibility, we aim to support healing and reconciliation.

We invite feedback from FNIM clients and communities to ensure our services align with your needs.

References:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015),
Statistics Canada (various),
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (2019),
National Inquiry into MMIWG (2019),
Public Health Agency of Canada (2018).