Aboriginal-specific health initiatives and accessible health care in Canada; Are goodwill initiatives enough

Abstract

This chapter examines aspects of two initiatives with the potential to improve access to culturally appropriate health care in Canada: the Traditional Healer Travel Fund as part of the Non-Insured Health Benefits program and the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy in Ontario. Representing only two of a number of current Aboriginal-specific initiatives across the country, they have been chosen because they exemplify the obstacles to and achievements of improved access to acceptable health care in the Canadian political, legal, and cultural context. The essential elements of the right to health as listed by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in General Comment 14 are employed as the criteria for assessing congruencies between the above-mentioned initiatives and the human right to health. Underpinning this research is the question of whether goodwill initiatives are sufficient to ensure the availability and accessibility of culturally appropriate health care for Aboriginal Peoples. Ultimately, respect for the ongoing calls by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities to define and address local needs through Aboriginal-led and Aboriginal-driven initiatives is argued to be fundamental to the realization of the right to health. While culturally appropriate health care is best defined by the community using it, governments have an important role in facilitating availability and access through partnership, commitment, and reliable long-term support for Aboriginal-led and Aboriginal-driven initiatives. Tying government's role to human rights obligations will help to ensure greater accountability, respect for the principles of nondiscrimination and equality, and an enabling environment in which Aboriginal Peoples' self-determination can be exercised.