Aboriginal urbanization and rights in Canada

Examining implications for health

Bibliographic Data

ID4595065
AuthorsLaura C Senese (University of Toronto), Kathi Wilson (0000-0001-5189-3919, University of Toronto)
Year2013
Volume91
Pages219-228
Publication date2013-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.02.016
PMID23474122
OpenAlexW2089042408
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited41

Urbanization among Indigenous peoples is growing globally. This has implications for the assertion of Indigenous rights in urban areas, as rights are largely tied to land bases that generally lie outside of urban areas. Through their impacts on the broader social determinants of health, the links between Indigenous rights and urbanization may be related to health. Focusing on a Canadian example, this study explores relationships between Indigenous rights and urbanization, and the ways in which they are implicated in the health of urban Indigenous peoples living in Toronto, Canada. In-depth interviews focused on conceptions of and access to Aboriginal rights in the city, and perceived links with health, were conduced with 36 Aboriginal people who had moved to Toronto from a rural/reserve area. Participants conceived of Aboriginal rights largely as the rights to specific services/benefits and to respect for Aboriginal cultures/identities. There was a widespread perception among participants that these rights are not respected in Canada, and that this is heightened when living in an urban area. Disrespect for Aboriginal rights was perceived to negatively impact health by way of social determinants of health (e.g., psychosocial health impacts of discrimination experienced in Toronto). The paper discusses the results in the context of policy implications and future areas of research

Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Geography · Human rights · Indigenous · Indigenous rights · Political science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Urbanization · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Homelessness and Social Issues · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Law