Aging in Indigenous Canada

This chapter focuses on aging for Indigenous individuals in Canada, which has multiple layers of complexity involving both opportunities and challenges that relate closely to the places in which people live. It discusses 'Indigenous peoples' as an umbrella term that is used internationally...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nelson, Sarah E.
Format: Book Part
Language:English
Published: Policy Press 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447352563.003.0017
Description
Summary:This chapter focuses on aging for Indigenous individuals in Canada, which has multiple layers of complexity involving both opportunities and challenges that relate closely to the places in which people live. It discusses 'Indigenous peoples' as an umbrella term that is used internationally to refer to the original peoples of a place, noting that in Canada 'Indigenous peoples' include over 70 distinct language groups and hundreds of different nations. It also refers to the Constitution Act that recognizes three main Indigenous groups: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. The chapter looks at issues for older and aging Indigenous people, which include urbanization and relationships to land, and health disparities and experiences of dementia and memory loss. It also cites the provision of services in culturally appropriate ways that account for the different geographies of Indigenous aging in Canada.