Opinion: Can the government help Canada’s most vulnerable population amid a pandemic? – SooToday
Indigenous populations are often overlooked when discussing vulnerable communities during COVID-19, NPI says
When talking about protecting vulnerable communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, groups often discussed include the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. One population often overlooked is Indigenous peoples in Canada, especially those living on reserves.
Though navigating through unprecedented circumstances, the government must prioritize the health and safety of Indigenous communities and create collaborative policies specifically tailored to meet their unique needs and circumstances.
Often enough, what works for the rest of Canada does not work for Indigenous peoples. For example, the universality of the Canada Health Act’s purpose is to ensure health care provision follows uniform terms and conditions, supposedly providing the same quality of service throughout Canada. As many Indigenous communities can attest to, this is often not the case; there is a well-being gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Canadians.
