The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services”

I have realized that in Canada these rights are upheld only if you are non-indigenous in Canada.

From what I’ve seen over the past 20 years as a physician, researcher and health advocate, indigenous people have suffered human rights abuses on a daily basis. Today, in our land of plenty, indigenous children suffer malnutrition and many are actually starving. Hundreds of indigenous communities lack clean water and adequate housing. Indigenous children receive less funding for education per child than their non-indigenous counterparts. Many indigenous women and girls don’t live in safety.

This daily attack on the basic needs such of food, water, housing, safety (the determinants of health) has a great impact on indigenous health.

I’ve also witnessed bias and blatant discrimination by health providers against indigenous peoples. Recently, our two-tiered health system allowed a First Nations man to die while waiting 34 hours in an emergency department without being seen.