Behind the Pandemic in Aboriginal Communities - Interagency ...

Aboriginal peoples are individuals who identify themselves as Aboriginal and areaccepted by members of their community as Aboriginal; have a historical link to the landfrom the time before colonization or annexation; have a strong link to territories andnatural resources; have distinct social, economic, and political systems; have distinctlanguages, cultures, beliefs and knowledge systems; want to maintain their identity asdistinct peoples and communities; and are from non-dominant groups in society (UNPFIIin Papan, 2009). Aboriginal peoples include Métis, Inuit, and First Nations regardlessof where they live in Canada and whether they are ‘registered’ under the Indian Act ofCanada.AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This is a medicaldiagnosis given when a person is at an advanced stage of HIV disease.Broader determinants of Aboriginal health incorporate the historical socio-politicalcontext to situate contemporary health disparities that are evident in Aboriginalcommunities (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). These broader determinants attempt tocapture the policy environment that has created chaos for individuals and communitiesand continues to challenge resilience.Community HIV competence describes a community’s readiness and ability to respondto HIV epidemics. HIV competent communities have an accurate understanding ofHIV, safe social spaces to discuss how HIV relates to their own lives, solidarity amongcommunity members, a sense of ownership over the problem, a sense of responsibilityto contribute to solutions, confidence in the community’s ability to effectively respond,access to outside resources (financial, technical, etc.) and networks to support efforts.Cultural competence is a term used to describe the skills, knowledge, and attitudes thatenable health practitioners to provide respectful care to patients of diverse cultures.Cultural continuity describes the intergenerational capacity to transmit and reinforceAboriginal knowledge and cultural practices in families and communities.Cultural safety is a term that is replacing cultural competence. It shifts the focus of culturallyappropriate health services from the sole responsibility of the health practitioner toa shared responsibility of the health practitioner and patients. Cultural safety is an outcomewhereby patients and health practitioners work together in an equal and respectfulmanner to decide how to manage the patient’s health. This exposes and manages powerrelationship inherent in health care services.Determinants of health are the non-medical determinants that include gender; culture;income; employment and working conditions; income and social support; healthy childdevelopment; physical environment; social environment; and personal health practicesand coping skills.Gender refers to the expectations placed on people of a particular sex about how theyshould or should not feel, behave, and think about themselves, their bodies, and theirroles in relationships and society. These expectations vary across cultures and historicaltimes.104