Key Findings:

“Inuit in Ottawa have experienced very high levels of historical trauma due to colonial policies such as residential schools and forced relocation. Current discriminatory practices, including racism in social services, health care and high levels of child protection agency involvement contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and trauma. Additional barriers to health care, documented in this report, contribute to a high burden of chronic disease and physical and emotional pain.

These factors both help to contextualize the Our Health Counts findings, and to contribute to what is likely a significant under-reporting of hardship, from physical pain to socio-economic conditions. In addition, there may be cultural norms that discourage direct verbal expression of complaint. As a result, it is likely findings related to rates of chronic disease, mental health and socio-economic hardships are underestimated.”

This report focuses on health, wellbeing and access to health services for the adult Inuit population in Ottawa. The OHC study of Inuit in Ottawa was led by Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI), who worked with a research team led by Indigenous physician, Dr. Janet Smylie from the Well Living House at the Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. TI’s work is grounded in the traditional principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), the Inuit way of ‘knowing’.

Highlighted Findings with 22 specific recommendations directed to federal, provincial, municipal and local policy-makers:

1. Large, youthful and majority permanent resident Inuit population with close connections and strong retention of Inuktitut (3)
2. Striking barriers to income, education, employment, stable housing and food security
   • Striking poverty, food insecurity, and housing vulnerability (3)
   • Barriers in access to education and employment (2)
3. Disproportionate burden of chronic disease, barriers in access to health care and high rates of Emergency Department admissions
   • Disproportionate burden of chronic health conditions and barriers in access to preventative screening and primary health care health services (3)
   • High rates of emergency room admission (1)
4. Striking burden of trauma, family disruption, discrimination and violence (3)
5. Disproportionate burden of mental health challenges (1)
6. Strength of Inuktitut language and Inuit community networking (3)
7. Opportunities for further Inuit community-directed health assessment and response (3)

http://www.welllivinghouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Our-Health-Counts-Urban-Indigenous-Health-Database-Project-Inuit-Adults-July-2017.pdf