This blog was written by Issac Racette, Systems Navigator, Calgary Support Services and Alisha Ostberg. Edited By Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi.
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day dedicated to honouring the children who never returned home and recognizing the Survivors of residential schools, along with their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is essential for the reconciliation process.
At SafeLink Alberta, we are committed to Truth and Reconciliation and strive to support our Indigenous participants through culturally informed outreach and programming.
Table of Contents
Why SafeLink Alberta Serves Indigenous Participants:
The socio-economic determinants of health in Canadian Indigenous communities are deeply rooted in the legacy of colonialism, which continues to perpetuate systemic inequities and health disparities today. The historical trauma caused by colonization, including events such as land displacements, the residential school system, and the Sixties Scoop, continues to affect Indigenous communities.
Specifically, factors like the forced removal from traditional lands undermined Indigenous access to traditional food sources and medicines, replacing them with calorie-dense, nutrient-poor rations that have contributed to poor health outcomes. In addition to this, segregated health systems, like Indian Hospitals, inflicted further harm by providing substandard care, which fostered mistrust in the healthcare system—a mistrust that lingers to this day.
Indigenous populations now face disproportionate rates of chronic illness, food insecurity, and mental health crises. Compared to the broader Canadian population, they comprise less than 4% of the Canadian population but represent more than 10% of the homeless population.
The socio-economic determinants of health affecting Indigenous communities are multifaceted, including systemic poverty, inadequate housing, limited access to education, and employment barriers. Social determinants such as income inequality and cultural marginalization not only directly influence health but also create feedback loops that perpetuate poor outcomes across generations.
For instance, Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in new HIV infections in Canada, with an incidence rate nearly four times higher than the national average. 18.2% of all new HIV infections are among Indigenous people, and the STBBI rates for Indigenous women continue to be disproportionately high. This overrepresentation is not due to inherent risk factors within Indigenous communities. It is a direct result of systemic inequalities—such as discrimination, social exclusion, and inadequate access to health services—that increase vulnerability to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).
Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities also possess strengths and resilience, with cultural practices, community solidarity, and traditional knowledge offering protective factors that can be built upon to support health and wellness. Addressing the socio-economic determinants of health in Indigenous populations requires a holistic approach that not only acknowledges the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism but also emphasizes community-led solutions that restore cultural continuity and improve access to resources necessary for health equity.
Services SafeLink Alberta Offers to Indigenous Participants:
SafeLink Alberta strives to offer meaningful and culturally appropriate services to our Indigenous participants as part of our strategy to provide anti-oppressive and anti-colonialist services. Read about our services below:
Elder in Our Calgary Drop-in Space
SafeLink Alberta’s Calgary drop-in centre hosts monthly visits from an Indigenous Elder and bi-weekly visits from a knowledge keeper who provides cultural support and ceremony. This gives participants the time to talk about their spiritual, physical, emotional, or mental well-being with the Elder or simply to share stories. Having an Elder present provides Indigenous people, who may have never had the chance to speak with one before, the opportunity to do so.
Sacred Medicines
At SafeLink Alberta, we ensure that all four sacred medicines—sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, and Tobacco—are available on-site. These medicines hold deep significance in Indigenous culture and are essential for ceremonies like smudging, a cleansing tradition in which the smoke carries prayers to the Creator. It is important to have medicine available, especially for most participants who may not have easy access to these medicines, especially those living within city limits and who are disconnected from their communities.
Smudging Sessions
Once a week, we offer smudging for anyone in the Calgary drop-in space who wishes to participate. We also read the “Elders Meditation of the Day,” a book written by Elders with different daily readings for the year. We share our connections with the reading of the day or where we are at in our journeys. These practices help foster a sense of community and provide an opportunity for cultural connection and renewal.
Indigenous Connections
Coming this fall, The Strong Voices Program in Calgary will introduce a new event every couple of months. Each event will feature a new traditional Indigenous meal and activity and conclude with a sharing circle. An Elder will be present at every event for story time and to debrief with participants as needed. This event was created to address the shortage of Indigenous spaces and gatherings in Calgary, recognizing the importance of community and culture. It is, therefore, important that they have increased access to public events and spaces where connections and traditions can thrive.
Learning More on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Reading the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
- Attending a Local Event in Your Area
Accessing Additional Support
References
Challacombe, L. “The Epidemiology of HIV in Canada.” Edited by Maggie Wilson. CATIE, January 24, 2024. https://www.catie.ca/the-epidemiology-of-hiv-in-canada.
Kim, Paul J. “Social Determinants of Health Inequities in Indigenous Canadians through a Life Course Approach to Colonialism and the Residential School System.” Health Equity 3, no. 1 (July 1, 2019): 378–81. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2019.0041.
Loppie, Charlotte. Understanding Indigenous Health Inequalities Through a Social Determinants Model. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, 2022. https://www.nccih.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/10373/Health_Inequalities_EN_Web_2022-04-26.pdf
National Indigenous Homelessness Council. “Timeline & Background.” National Indigenous Homelessness Council. Accessed September 25, 2024. https://nihc-cnasa.ca/about-us/timeline-background/
TRW 2024 Lunch & Learns: Health Related Impacts of the Residential School System. NCTR Lunch and Learns. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/live/sJfnA1GAFcY.
Stay in Touch
Please click the button below to provide your consent to receive messages SafeLink Alberta. This is important so you don’t miss out on updates about our events, presentations, programs and services.
Thank you!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact