Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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This webinar will explore vulnerable urban Indigenous populations

About this Event

Indigenous populations in Canada are among the most vulnerable to contracting and dying from COVID-19. Agencies supporting urban Indigenous homeless and street-involved peoples have very little resources from the government to support this community in response to pandemic needs.

According to Statistics Canada, more than half of Canada’s Indigenous population lives in a metropolitan area. Health disparities for urban indigenous peoples continue to persist at alarmingly high rates, despite close proximity to health and social services.

On this webinar, a joint presentation between Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Well Living House, academic, community, and Traditional Knowledge Keeper experts will explore how issues related to health access and equity impact urban Indigenous experiences of COVID-19.

Panelist will also explore the efficacy, challenges, and successes of Indigenous culturally-based health information and interventions in preventing and ending COVID-19, and how these can form a basis of western health services and interventions in the context of a pandemic. Indigenous knowledges, western sciences, community resources and services, and ways to support urban Indigenous community networks will be discussed.

Panel

• Moderator: Dr. Suzanne Stewart, Director, Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

• Clayton Shirt, Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Elder in Residence, Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

• Ms. Pamela Hart, Executive Director, Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto

• Mr. Steve Teekens, Executive Director, Native Men’s Residence

• Dr. Janet Smylie, Director, Director, Well Living House, St. Michael’s Hospital

A link for the webinar will be provided TWO HOURS before the event.

Resources to Read

United Nations (2020). Covid19 and Indigenous Peoples: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/covid-19.html

Why a lack of data on urban Indigenous people could be harmful: https://www.tvo.org/article/why-a-lack-of-data-on-urban-indigenous-people-could-be-harmful

Well Living House – Our Health Counts Toronto: http://www.welllivinghouse.com/what-we-do/projects/our-health-counts-toronto/