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Features
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A Report from National Indian Health Board
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Terry Nelson,
Mr. Nelson's main focus was the impact of unemployment and poor economic conditions on the health of Native communities. He also addressed the fact that Canadian laws make it illegal for Native communities to improve their situation by creating gambling revenues. These revenues have been integral to improving health care facilities and care on reservations in the United States. Unemployment rates on Canadian reservations can be upwards of 98 percent due to Canadian regulations. Native groups in Canada have not been able to take advantage of casino generated revenues. |
IHS Director Dr. Charles Grim addresses |
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I have followed Mr. Nelson's work over the past 20 years in Canada. He is considered a "radical" by the Canadian government and has been the subject of investigations over the years. There has been increased tension between the Canadian government and First Nations since the Québec Oka Crisis in the early 1990s. That crisis centered on the provincial government's plan to build a golf course on land that was sacred burial ground for local First Nations. Native groups staged a take over of the land and a stand off ensued, followed by violence from both sides of the issue. The Canadian government then inflamed the issue by sending troops into the area. By the end of the stand-off there had been deaths on both sides. Mr. Nelson has been involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM) for many years. He recommended that people go to the AIM website to view the video "Not So Gentle Neighbours to the North" (http://www.aimovement.org/) to learn more about the problems facing First Nations in Canada.
Health issues are impacted by unemployment rates. For some tribes in remote Northern Manitoba, getting sick can separate people from their families, their community, and their traditions for long periods of time. When someone gets sick they must first be flown to the closest major city or town. When they arrive, they must get a taxi from the airport to the hotel; many individuals from remote reserves may have never been out of their community, may never have been in a large city in their life, may never have used a taxi before, and may not speak English well. These cultural and linguistic differences can substantially increase the stress level for someone who is ill. Once the individual gets to the hospital and receives treatment, they may then have to find local accommodations while they complete follow-up care. This can increase the stress level of the individual even more. If there is no family or community support; this can be detrimental to a patient's ability to recover. Ernie Stevens,
Mr. Stevens was a very dynamic speaker and had the audience laughing throughout much of his keynote. He explained that the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) represents 180 tribes throughout the United States and regulates Indian gaming, and that the revenues from gaming have been integral in improving healthcare infrastructure in Native communities across the US. He noted that 67 percent of Americans support gambling and that Native American casinos have an impact not only on their own economy but also the economy of the community around them. So many jobs are available at casinos that 75 percent of casino employees are non-Indian and it is not only Native Americans that benefit financially from gambling. He noted that those who oppose Native run casinos never seem to mention the impact on the surrounding community or how the revenues impact those outside of the Native American community. Gaming is a progressive and regulated industry, he told the gathering. The community outside the Indian community also benefit, so benefits are not limited to the color of your skin. The Oneida tribe has used its gambling revenues to build new healthcare facilities that include:
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