There are many endemics and challenges that impact Indigenous Peoples. Across the world, we are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions and lower life expectancy; we have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and substance abuse. Additionally, Indigenous Peoples are becoming increasingly urban residents without access to health services. City living challenges our food choices, access, health, and wellbeing. Some of these health challenges relate to disease, while others to the mind, spirit, and culture. Regardless, there is a common thread to these circumstances: colonial and neocolonial practices continuously marginalize Indigenous Peoples either through socioeconomic means, health access exclusion, damaging policies, or cultural genocide.
When we think of all the mental, physical, and spiritual health challenges that Indigenous Peoples face, it is paramount that we realize that our circumstances stem from intergenerational challenges that are different from those of local populations and national minorities. National governments and UN agencies insist on minoritizing Indigenous Peoples by addressing our issues along with other communities, which—as proven over and over, is the wrong approach because equity for Indigenous Peoples is not achieved. Instead, our health priorities are buried by issues from populations that outnumber our communities. Another intrinsically related driver is the lack of substantial engagement and representation in technical, policy, and decision-making work groups. By including Indigenous Peoples at the core of all planning, data gathering, action planning, etc., we can begin the process towards remedying these challenges through Indigenous knowledge and culturally safe methodologies. For far too long, Indigenous Peoples have not had the chance to voice their concerns, ideas, and opinions when it comes to deciding what the best practices are for improving their health and wellness. By having Indigenous researchers, decision-makers, and leaders at the core of all planning, we better understand who, what, when, where, and why these challenges exist. In a sense, it will create a better, bigger, and clearer picture of the challenges. Doing so will also help contribute more accurate data to represent Indigenous Peoples. Right now, data about Indigenous Peoples is very limited. These limited data sets can create an inaccurate representation of Indigenous Peoples’ challenges.