Decolonizing Health

Decolonizing Health and Sport Policy

• Focus on Indigenous resistance and colonial conditions in Canada.
• Current protests reflect ongoing issues not addressed historically.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)

• Established following the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in 2007.
• Aimed to facilitate reconciliation and identify past injustices.
• Produced 94 "calls to action" addressing various areas of policy including health and education.

Calls to Action

• Emphasize historical wrongs against Indigenous peoples.
• Calls include promoting Aboriginal athletes' stories and ensuring inclusive sports policies.

Apologies in Context

• Recent apologies from organizations like the Canadian Medical Association highlight systemic issues in healthcare regarding Indigenous peoples.
• Apologies must lead to action rather than just recognition of past wrongs.

Politics of Reconciliation

• Critique of reconciliation efforts that lack structural changes.
• Reconciliation often overlooks ongoing colonial violence and systemic issues.

Theories of Refusal

• Focus on Indigenous youth’s agency and their refusal to participate in colonial sport structures.
• Concept of refusal challenges traditional narratives of deficit in Indigenous experiences.

Research Methodology Concerns

• Traditional research often objectifies Indigenous peoples, raising concerns about power dynamics in research.
• Emphasis on shifting research methodologies to respect Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.

Concluding Reflections

• Consider ongoing colonial impacts and the effectiveness of reconciliation measures.
• Explore how sport can serve as a site for resistance and empowerment for Indigenous youth.