Reducing health disparities among indigenous populations: the role of collaborative approaches to improve public health systems

Excerpt

Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) are the youngest and fastest growing portion of the Canadian population. In 2011, approximately 1.4 million people reported an Indigenous identity (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada 2013). It is well established that Indigenous peoples in Canada experience a disproportionate burden of health problems compared to the non-Indigenous population (Frohlich et al. 2006). Indigenous peoples are at greater risk for preventable chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2009). These disparities in health are not limited to Canada; they are also observed in other colonial nations such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (King et al. 2009; UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2009). …