Roundtable:
Indigenous Peoples of North America & Public Policy
(Social Equity, Race, and Indigenous Populations)
*Names in bold indicate Presenter
The roundtable discussion will focus on federal Indigenous policy, Indigenous sovereignty, and potential areas of exploration in Indigenous public policy in North America/Turtle Island. With increasing number of land claims, self-governments and transfers of authority for health services, there has been an increase in scholarship and learnings around Indigenous health policy. We will discuss the history of Indigenous health policy in Canada with a specific examination of the Indian Health Policy of 1979 as it forms the basis for the federal governments First Nations and Inuit Health Branch which is now situated in Indigenous Services Canada. We will highlight points of convergence and divergence in policies impacting access to health care for First Nations and American Indians/Alaska Natives in Canada and the United States with findings based on accessibility and policy instrument frameworks. Finally, we will share lessons from a collaborative gathering in the Northwest Territories that included several Indigenous governments and organizations from across Canada and internationally with promising practices in policy to be shared. This panel will be of interest to scholars and practitioners interested in learning about the models of Indigenous governance and ownership in health care in Canada and the United States.
