PoPulationand Public HealtH etHics

HealtH inequities in First
nations coMMunities anD
canaDa’s resPonse to tHe
H1n1 inFluenza PanDeMic
Donna Atkinson, M.a.
& Margo Greenwood, Ph.D.
National Collaborating Centre
for Aboriginal Health
Prince George BC
DatkInson@unBC.Ca
Mona Shum, M.sc.
National Collaborating Centre
for Environmental Health
Vancouver BC
Introduction
Access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and housing are internationally
recognized human rights essential to the full enjoyment of life and
all other human rights, including the right to health. 1–3 Yet, for many First
Nations communities in Canada — particularly those in remote areas —
clean running water, basic sanitation, and adequate housing are lacking. As
of September 30, 2012, approximately 116 First Nations communities were
under a drinking water advisory, many of them long-term advisories of a year
or more, and more than 65% of First Nations water and wastewater systems
on-reserve were rated at either high or medium risk. 4, 5 Recent census data indicates
that First Nations are five times more likely to live in crowded homes
than non-Aboriginal peoples and four times more likely to live in homes in
need of major repairs. 6 First Nations’ homes on-reserve are also ninety times
more likely to be without piped water. 7 These disparities call into question
whether Canada is fulfilling its obligations under the International Covenant
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, as well as its respect for First
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Chris Kaposy, Ph.D.
Division of Community Health and
Humanities, Faculty of Medicine,
Memorial University of Newfoundland,
Health Sciences Centre
St. John’s NL