In the eyes of Indigenous people in Canada: exposing the underlying colonial etiology of hepatitis C and the imperative for trauma-informed care
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The distribution of hepatitis C (HCV) infection in Canada signals a widening gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Current evidence demonstrates that the rate of HCV infection among Indigenous people is at least five times higher than the rest of Canada. This analysis provides a reconciliatory response, which exposes the colonial etiology of the HCV gap in Canada and proposes potential anti-colonial approaches to HCV wellness and health care for Indigenous people. Methods: This analysis applies Two-Eyed Seeing as a reconciliatory methodology to advance the understanding of HCV burden and identify the key elements of responsive HCV care in the context of Indigenous nations in Canada. Results: The analysis underlines the colonial distribution of HCV burden in Canada, highlights Indigenous perspectives on HCV infection, hypothesizes a clinical pathway for the underlying colonial etiology of HCV infection, and identifies Indigenous healing as a promising anti-colonial conceptual approach to HCV wellness and health care among Indigenous people. Conclusions: In the eyes of Indigenous people, HCV infection is a colonial illness that entails healing as an anti-colonial approach to achieving wellness and gaining health. Future empirical research should elaborate on the colonial HCV pathway hypothesis and inform the development of a framework for HCV healing among Indigenous people in Canada.
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Published In
Canadian Liver Journal
Volume 1 • Number 3 • Summer 2018
Pages: 115 - 129
Copyright
Copyright © 2018.
History
Published ahead of print: 7 September 2018
Published online: 1 October 2018
Published in print: Summer 2018
Keywords:
Authors
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Conceptualization, STF; Methodology, STF; Investigation, STF; Writing – Original Draft, STF; Writing – Review & Editing, AK, MK, CM, JD, NR, BH, SG; Funding Acquisition, AK, MK; Resources, STF, AK, MK, CM, JD, NR, BH, SG; Supervision, AK, MK.
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The authors have nothing to disclose.
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No funding was received for this work.
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Canadian Liver Journal 2018 1:3, 115-129
Canadian Liver Journal 2018 1:3, 115-129