‘Sacred and Strong’ Celebrates Strength and Resilience and Demands Collective Action
A new report takes a decolonized approach to data and stories about the health of Indigenous women and girls living in BC.
Odette Auger is an Indigenous freelance reporter. Recent bylines include APTN National News, Watershed Sentinel and IndigiNews. SHARES ‘Sacred and Strong,’ multimedia on wood, by Tiyaltelwet Melanie Rivers.
Angeline Pete, of Quatsino First Nation, is “fiercely protective, always eager to help others, and so strong, we never worried about her,” says her auntie, Cary-Lee Calder, in the opening of “Sacred and Strong: Upholding our Matriarchal Roles,” a new health report about First Nations women, girls, non-binary and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer individuals living in B.C.
Posted: Jul 28, 2021 3:45 PM PT | Last Updated: July 28
A new report looks at First Nations women and girls health from birth to their elder years, including all aspects of wellness, from physical activity to community gatherings.(Sacred and Strong: Upholding our Matriarchal Roles Report)
A new report from the First Nations Health Authority and the provincial health officer takes a deep dive into the systemic racism Indigenous women and girls continue to face when accessing government services, in particular, health care.
What s unique about the report, however, is that it also highlights the resiliency and knowledge they possess and always have.
There will be some chaos at the beginning, I know that. So, please be patient, she said. Henry told the virtual meeting they expect clinics to open in the middle of March, with higher-risk populations getting their shot before that. Metis and other Indigenous people are eligible to get their shots 15 years younger than the rest of the population, meaning they can get their shot at 65 when 80-year-old residents are being called. Dr. Daniele Behn Smith, the deputy provincial health officer for Indigenous Health, said they ve been working hard to make Metis people feel seen during the vaccination process. We know that there are going to be hiccups, we know that there are going to be bumps along this road. It would be inconceivable that we wouldn t, she said. Recognizing what just came out in the In Plain Sight report, we have a lot of work to do to create cultural safety throughout systems.