1
Q
Who is Dr. Carpenter’s friend?
A
- “kaka”/brother
- clinical officer (three-year college degree) –> “doctor” –> minimal emphasis on clinical reasoning
- desire to improve knowledge on daily basis
- went to school to become an MD
- graduating next year, Dr. Carpenter and mother planning trip back
2
Q
What does Dr. Carpenter lead in Tanzania?
A
- mobile medical outreach clinics
- teach Canadian and Tanzanian healthcare students
3
Q
How do they mitigate “Caravan Medicine” downsides?
A
- clear and sustainable follow-up for the people
4
Q
True or False: Health can be defined differently by different people
A
TRUE
5
Q
What is WHO’s definition of health?
A
Health is a state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being and not simply an absence of disease or infirmity.
6
Q
True or False: There are many cultures that believe that spiritual well-being contributes to health
A
TRUE
7
Q
When evaluating healthcare globally, it is important to apply a ________ lens.
A
Holistic
8
Q
What type of healthcare encompasses a consideration of the whole person, including their mind, body and spirit. For some, a further extension of this considers not just the overall health of the individual but also the emotional, social, and cultural status of their community.
A
HOLISTIC
9
Q
Who said this: Health is not a stand-alone phenomenon with clear boundaries. Diseases and health conditions have
multiple causes, including social. They are interrelated with nature and nurture, and evolve over time.
Health systems defy simple representation. They call for novel ways of thinking to improve our ability
to predict and control individual and population-based health outcomes. A holistic framework is
needed to capture disparate diseases and health conditions and their intricate relationships into a
unified platform.
A
WHO - when asked about the importance of holistic framework in healthcare
10
Q
What is the definition of holistic
A
concerned with complete systems rather than the analysis or treatment of individual parts
11
Q
Which lens tends to be more tactical and data driven, and influenced by conventional scientific approaches?
A
Western lens
12
Q
TRUE/FALSE: Primary is learning about the goals, desires, and values of the human.
A
TRUE
13
Q
Two-eyed seeing is about the whole human
A
TRUE
14
Q
What is two-eyed seeing?
A
Framework that combines the strengths of both Indigenous and Western knowledge, acknowledging that no single perspective is better.
15
Q
What type of Indigenous peoples are Mi’kmaq
A
First Nations
16
Q
Love, honesty, humility, and respect in order to build trust, relationships and safe spaces valued in this approach
A
Indigenous approach
17
Q
Two-Eyed seeing approach offers an opportunity for healthcare professionals to begin to address ongoing impacts of…
A
colonization, marginalization and reduce negative health outcomes
18
Q
What have Indigenous Peoples in Canada use the medicine wheel for?
A
Health and healing for generations
19
Q
What is the medicine wheel a reminder of?
A
Need for alignment in various dimensions of health
20
Q
From FOUR DIRECTIONS CENTRE… what do each of the quadrants represent?
A
physical
emotional
mental
spiritual health
21
Q
From FOUR DIRECTIONS CENTRE what does the middle of the wheel represent?
A
learning, beauty, harmony
22
Q
From FOUR DIRECTIONS WHEEL - what does circular shape represent?
A
Interconnectivity of all aspects of one’s being, including connection with natural world
23
Q
Two forms of medicine wheel:
A
painting/land formations
24
Q
T/F: Different Indigenous communities use the medicine wheel to represent the natural world in different ways.
A
True
25
As of 2020, Indigenous peoples in Canada comprised of three groups:
Inuit, Metis, First Nations
26
Historically in Canada, the terms Indian, Eskimo, and Aboriginal have been used in legal documents, but are now considered:
DEROGATORY and carry a NEGATIVE connotation
27
In the US, Indigenous people called "Native Americans"
TRUE
28
As of 2020, the Canadian government uses the terms "_____" and "_______ _______" to describe Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada administrative units, which include the many complex Indigenous societies that were traditionally organized not as bands but as tribes or chiefdoms.
bands; First Nations
29
How many modern administrative bands or First Nations are there? How do they function - what laws does it follow?
615, small Aboriginal municipalities, managed by elected band councils according to the laws of the Indian Act
30
Do these bands always coincide with the cultural and linguistic groupings of Aboriginal people?
No
31
What is a reserve under the Indian Act?
Land held by the Crown "for the use and benefit of the respective bands for which they were set apart" under treaties
32
Many First Nations include several __________ portions of land as their reserve.
Separate
33
How do Indigenous peoples organize themselves?
Bands/Chiefdoms
34
What lands is Queen's University Situated on?
Traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory
35
What is the principle of the medicine wheel?
To remain centred while developing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life equally
36
Does the medicine wheel differ between Indigenous communities?
Yes
37
What does the east of the Anishinaabe Medicine wheel represent? What's the colour, animal, healing medicine, and season?
- spiritual dimension of health
- spiritual practices such as singing, dancing, belief in "Creator" higher power, relating to nature
Yellow
Eagle
Tobacco
Spring
38
What does the south represent on Anishinaabe medicine wheel? What is the colour? Animal? Healing medicine? season?
Emotional dimension of health - positive self-image, self-love, positive surrounding environment
RED
Coyote
Cedar
Summer
39
What does West on healing wheel represent for Anishinaabe?
Physical dimension of health
- regular exercise, balanced daily diet, adequate sleep
Colour - Black
Animal - Bear
Healing Medicine - Sage
Season - Autumn
40
What does the North on the healing wheel represent for Anishinaabe?
Mental dimension of health
- quality time with family, learning from Elders, listening to oral stories
Colour: White
Animal: Deer
Healing Medicine: Sweet Grass
Season: Winter
41
The Haudenosaunee and Mi'kmaq medicine wheels have how many directions? What are the three added ones?
7
- center/inward to represent self
- up to represent sky
- down to represent Mother Earth
42
Which direction does Mi'kmaq wheel go?
Clockwise to follow the motion of the sun
43
What are FOUR examples of health promoting conditions?
1) Availability of Health Services --> requires access to a family doctor, emergency health services, specialists, medical technologies, vaccines, etc. Should be available in a timely manner
2) Adequate housing --> access to safe and secure home and community, in which to live in peace and dignity
3) Safe Working Conditions --> access to thorough and comprehensive workplace training, an understanding of and reasonable protection against occupational hazards, and a comfortable and supportive work environment
4) Nutritious foods --> complete health requires access to a variety of foods that provide macro and micro-nutrients needed to support growth, maintain sufficient energy levels and feel good, all without great financial burden
44
Availability of Health services. How much more likely are Indigenous than non Indigenous to suffer from TB?
8-10x
45
The suicide rate in Indigenous adults is ________ as high as in non-Indigenous Canadians.
twice
46
What is needed to increase access and effectiveness of services for Indigenous Peoples?
- increase in integration of Indigenous practices and cultures
- making healthcare workers aware of the colonial basis of current mental health practices
47
What percent of homes on Indigenous reserves are in need of immediate repair?
40%
48
Rates of overcrowding are how many times greater on reserve than off?
6x
49
What are reasons for why housing is inadequate in Indigenous communities
- improper funding
- environmental conditions on reserves
- lack of access to hardware stores and building supplies
- difficulty obtaining bank mortgage since reserve land owned by the crown
50
What is the Crown?
- state and government
- source of sovereign authority which performs parts of the country's legislative, executive and judicial powers on the binding advice or through the actions of members of parliament, ministers, or judges
51
Since many Indigenous peoples have limited funding for band councils, they need to choose between either ... or ...
- fixing houses in need of repair
- putting money towards new construction to ease housing shortages
52
What is a band council? What decisions do they make?
group responsible for administration and governance of Indigenous band/community affairs - responsibilities: decisions regarding education, housing, water and sewage, etc/
53
What types of chiefs can band council have?
hereditary or elected
54
T/F: Indigenous Peoples are more likely to work in hazardous occupations. Higher risk of hospitalizations due to unintentional workplace falls, more likely to work seasonal/part time - more vulnerable to stress and economic downturns, barriers to employment: racism, poverty, family structure, geography, lower levels of education and literacy, intergenerational trauma, historic and contemporary impacts of colonization
TRUE
55
How many Indigenous communities are under boil water advisory?
more than 100
56
How many times more likely are Indigenous peoples to experience hunger than non-Indigenous?
4x
57
T/F: Indigenous Canadian households are more likely than non-Indigenous households to experience the sociodemographic risk factors associated with food insecurity (ex. extreme poverty, single-motherhood, etc)
TRUE
58
What is an example of how Indigenous communities are reclaiming their traditional way of life?
Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN)
- signed declaration to begin process of creating a law giving them jurisdiction over their child and family services, rather than the Manitoba provincial government
59
Who's the OCN chief?
Christian Sinclair
60
In July 2020, OCN raised their own...
pride flag
61
Which group has established a community health program that promotes health and provides health services to all community members independent of status?
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
62
What does the Mohawks of the Bay Quinte community health program contribute to? What is their goal? How do they work to achieve this goal?
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program-First Nations and Inuit Component (CPNP-FNIC)
- GOAL: Improve maternal and infant nutritional health
- offering monthly food vouchers to pregnant women
63
When did the Indian Act take place?
1876
64
In which ways did Indigenous nations attempt to assert their treaty rights and utilize their territories and reserves?
traditional ways
65
What is assimilation? Who was this done by?
Colonial governments
- individuals/groups from differing ethnic heritage absorbed into dominant culture to such a degree that the assimilating group becomes socially indistinguishable from other members of the society
66
Efforts to assimilate Indigenous Peoples in Canada were institutionalized within the...
INDIAN ACT OF 1876
67
What did the Indian act define? Did it include all Indigenous community members?
Who was 'indian' - thought they reached south asia - symbol of oppression
68
What laws did the Indian Act include?
- Indigenous women (and children) who marry settlers lose status
- tribal nations broken up to bands, and existing leaders not recognized
- Western electoral system imposed on most bands, ignoring traditional selection processes and excluded Indigenous women
69
T/F: in many Indigenous communities today, continuation of parallel systems of governance where traditional chiefs and elected governing bodies co-exist, sometimes in conflict with each other
TRUE
70
What was goal of Indian act? What religion did they convert them to?
To "civilize" Indigenous Peoples by Christianizing them, disconnecting them from their former was of life and forcing them into permanent agricultural settlements.
71
What else did Indigenous Peoples lose as a result of colonization?
- spiritual and medicinal healers and healing practices
- makes them hesitant or uncertainty about medical system, no alternative to turn to without past medical system
72
What are three negative consequences of the Indian act?
- remote access to healthcare
- unsafe living and working conditions
- lack of social support
73
What does Koplan et al, 2009 define global health as?
an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences, and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration; and is a synthesis of population-based prevention with individual-level clinical care
74
Is global health everywhere even in your backyard?
Yes
75
What are the four aspects of global health as a discipline?
Data and Evidence
Population Focused
Social Justice
Emphasis on Prevention
76
Poor health costs _____ for the government?
$$$
77
What is public health?
Government Contributions & Resources + Societal Contributions = Public Health
Government Contributions (proper health programs, services, and policies in place)
Societal contributions (organized efforts of society to use resources and follow health guidelines)
Public health (health maintenance, injury prevention, and illness prevention)
78
What are the three Ps of public health mentioned in the animated video?
Preventing disease, prolonging life, promoting health
79
What are the three pillars of public health mentioned in the module?
Prevention
Protection
Promotion
80
What are the components of public health mentioned in the module?
health promotion, population health assessment, disease and injury prevention, health protection, and health and disease surveillance
81
What are examples of heath prevention measures?
food inspections, evaluation of air and water quality
82
What are examples of health promotion measures?
campaigns to encourage physical activity, nutritional educational programs, flu vaccinations
83
What are examples of health protection measures?
zoning laws to promote active transport, workplace health and safety measures, vaccination requirements for healthcare workers
84
What is the WHO? What do they do?
World Health Organization is a directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.
Organization works to improve international health conditions through actions such as increasing global access to medicine, epidemic surveillance, prevention, control, initiating large-scale health promotion and policy campaigns, providing technical support to countries, and more.
85
How many people from how many countries work for WHO?
7000, 150 countries
86
Where are the WHO headquarters?
Geneva, Switzerland
87
Who does the WHO staff include?
- physicians
- scientists
- epidemiologists
- public health specialists
- health statisticians
- economists
- emergency relief specialists
88
What is this: The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition
WHO constitution
89
When did diplomats first meet to form the UN, one of the first topics they discussed here was a global health organization?
1945
90
When was WHO formed? What is this date celebrated as now?
April 7, 1948
World Health Day
91
When was the Universal Declaration of human rights founded?
December 10, 1948
92
What was progress for WHO in 1950s like?
promoting primary healthcare programs, including global vaccination campaign to eradicate SMALLPOX
93
Progress for WHO in 1960s
- global campaign to eradicate malaria (parasitic mosquito source was focus)
- became major authority and supplier of experimental pharmaceuticals globally
94
Progress for WHO in 1970s
- expanded program on immunization created, goal of making vaccines available to all children throughout the world
- Europe free of malaria
- declaration of Alma-Ata adopted - first international declaration of the importance of primary healthcare aimed to attain global "health for all by 2000"
95
Progress for WHO 1980s
- smallpox declared officially eradicated
- WHO taking action against HIV/AIDS
- promoting to quit smoking
96
WHO progress 1990s
- goal to eliminate leprosy
- Hep B vaccines into infant immunization
- TB declared global emergency
97
WHO progress 2000
- Millennium development goals created
- WHO put mental health on policy agenda
- Canada took action to increase knowledge on social determinants of Indigenous Peoples health including self-determination --> presented to WHO commissioners in 2007 for global impact
98
Progress for WHO 2010s
- set global targets to prevent and control non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
- SDGs created in 2015
99
Progress for WHO 2020s
- december 31 2019, WHO learned about viral pneumonia/COVID
- March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID a global pandemic
100
What was the overall trend for share of COVID-19 cases between high income low income?
Lower income (bottom two brackets of 0-29999 and 30000-49999) had the highest share of COVID-19 cases (24% each), despite having lower shares of population (14 and 15%)
101
What was the overall trend for share of COVID-19 cases between races?
Sough Asian, followed by Black with most share
- arab, middle eastern with least
Largest population present in canada white, lowest was latin american
102
What percent of people reported COVID-19 infection in Toronto identified with a racialized group?
77%
103
What percent of individuals were living in a household that could be considered low income that got COVID?
48%
104
What are reasons for disparities in COVID cases?
- existing health disparities linked to social and economic factors
- stress caused by low income, racism, and other forms of discrimination
- inequitable access to healthcare and social services, fewer individuals being able to work from home, more crowded living, including intergenerational households
105
How many articles in Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?
30
106
What did Cyrus the great do after conquering Babylon?
- announced all slaves free to go
- freedom to choose religion
107
Humans followed natural laws even when they weren't told to... what is this called?
Natural law
108
What did Indian Lawyer,
Mahatma Gandhi do?
insisted that all people on Earth had rights not just in Europe
109
How many people died in Holocaust?
90 million
110
Elanor Roosevault under her leadership what did they make?
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
111
T/F: Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela fought for human rights even after they were promised
TRUE
112
Which article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is concerned with our human right to health?
Article 25
113
On september 13, 2007, the United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the general assembly. What does this document establish? What term did it push for in legal documents?
- universal framework of standards to ensure survival, dignity, and well-being for Indigenous Peoples of the world
- specifically apply to Indigenous peoples
- all inherent rights, and document helps reconcile the fact that these human rights were not being upheld in Indigenous populations
- pushed for Indigenous
114
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights refers to motherhood - does that mean it doesn't apply to caregivers that do not identify as female?
No
- mother but not a women
- use more inclusive language
115
What is Two-Spirit?
individuals who identify as having both feminine and masculine spirit
116
What is Niizh Manidoowag?
Anishinaabemowin term meaning two spirits
117
TRUE or FALSE: Different Indigenous communities have their own variations of the term two-spirit.
True
118
What does Dr. James Makokis do?
- healthcare professional who understands and identifies with two spirit community - family physician - runs transgender health-focus practice
119
T/F: Colonization and Christianity and Western views of homophobia negatively impacted two-spirit
TRUE
120
What is this definition: Who made this?
The extent to which an individual or group is able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living: it is a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities
WHO & resilience
121
What are the three components of resiliency?
Social resources - social support networks
Personal Resources - personal health practices and coping
Physical resources - physical health and ability
122
What is a "characteristic at the biological, psychological, family, or community (including peers and culture) level that is associated with a lower likelihood of problem outcomes or that reduces the negative impact of a risk factor on problem outcomes"
Protective factor
123
What are common protective factors?
- academic achievement/intellectual development
- high self esteem
- emotional self-regulation
- good coping skills and problem-solving skills
- engagement and connections in two or more of the following contexts: school, with peers, in athletics, employment, religion and/or culture
- family provides structure, limits rules, monitoring, and predictability
- presence of mentors and supports for development of skills and interests
124
How many factors are considered applicable social determinants of health to the Canadian population?
14
125
What are social determinants of health?
Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age; play a key role in determining a population's health
126
What are four categories/pillars of social determinants of health?
- Personal behaviour (lifestyle, relationships)
- Psychosocial Economic Environment (unemployment, education, healthcare services, work environment)
- Human Biology (genetic predispositions)
- Physical Environment (housing, agriculture and food production, water and sanitation, living and working conditions)
127
True or False: Social conditions associated with health can be represented differently depending on the culture of the person, context of the situation and time period.
TRUE
128
What are the 14 factors that make up the Canadian Framework of the Social Determinants of Health
- Gender
- Disability
- Housing
- Early Life
- Income Distribution
- Education
- Race
- Employment/working conditions
- Social Exclusion
- Food Insecurity
- Social Safety Net
- Health Services
- Unemployment and Job Security
- Indigenous Status
129
________ results from the interplay between external factors (ex. the environment), internal factors (ex. genetics) and SDOH. Focusing on SDOH for different populations provides insight about health inequities that arise between groups of people and can help inform health interventions.
Illness
130
What percent of your health is influenced by your life? your healthcare? your biology? your environment?
50% your life
25% your healthcare
15% your biology
10% your environment
131
What is a downstream prevention for health problem?
treating healthcare problem
- chemotherapy treatment
132
What is upstream prevention?
- aim to treat cause of health problems. Ex. cancer screening
133
T/F: Poorest 20% of population show worse health than richest 20%?
TRUE
134
What percent of lowest income earners report health status as excellent/very good?
50%
135
What percent of richest people report health as very good/excellent?
almost three quarters
136
What percent of Ontario overall reports health as very good/excellent?
61.9%
137
People living in lower income neighbourhoods in Ontario account for nearly ________ the total number of visits in the ER for mental illness or addiction compared to in richest neighbourhoods?
Twice
138
Women in lower income neighbourhoods in province die on average more than ______ years earlier than women in richest neighbourhoods? What about for men?
Women - 2 years
Men - 5 years
139
Han's Rosling video - where are western countries, what about Asian/colonized
Western are richer and higher life expectancy
Asian - middle life expectancy and income
Africa - lowest
within countries, can be split and vary across spectrum
140
What are four factors/Gapminder findings to make populations become rich and healthy?
- Time
- Trade
- Peace
- Green Technology
141
True or false: Rosling provides hope that with hard work, every subsection of society can make it closer to the "rich and healthy" corner
TRUE
142
What is inequality?
Differences in health experiences or outcomes between different populations
143
What is inequity?
inequality that is an unfair and avoidable disadvantage
144
What does it mean to be an advocate?
Helps the cause of people who need support to be fairly represented or defended
145
Who was the father of socialized medicine? The beginnings of our current healthcare system in Canada
Tommy Douglas
146
Movement that advocated for change within society to allow and accept women's rights
Suffragette movement
147
Instrumental leader during the civil rights movement for African Americans to gain equal rights.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
148
Explain more about Tommy Douglas
- founding father of socialized medicine
- achieved toward end of first term as Saskatchewan premier
- held unfortunate views on topics such as gay rights, eugenics policies, and social and educational segregation
- in late 1930s, endorsed eugenics interventions, like sterilization, in masters thesis at McMaster
- first half of 20th century, advocated for sterilization of people with disabilities and unmoral women
- positioned Indigenous women as unmoral and promoted their forced sterilization
- forced sterilization was never banned and has been happening since beginning of forced eugenics movement in Canada
- 100 women, 64 from Saskatchewan, launched a class action lawsuit about forced sterilization from 1985 to 2018
149
Explain more about the Suffragettes. What did Emily Murphy and Nellie McClung do?
- embodied maternal feminism
- encouraged reproduction of married, Christian, middle-upper class white women, because it maintained majority of the population this way
- Emily and Nellie advocated for the sterilization of Black, Indigenous and women of colour, with low economic status - believed they threatened establishment of a white settler state in Canada
- McClung arranged appointments for sterilization
Murphy was first female Magistrate Court Judge in Alberta, sentenced women to be sterilized based on social location
- maternal feminists supported eugenic attitudes that women should be defined by reproductive capacity
- eugenic discourse was tied to feminism, which focused on rights for middle-class, Christian, white women
150
Who is Cindy Blackstock?
- member of Gitksan First Nation
- 25 years experience in child protection and Indigenous children's right social work
- Dr. Blackstock has recently helped develop the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child
151
Who is Geena Rocero?
- transgender supermodel and founder of Gender Proud - media production company that aims to advance the rights of all transgender individuals
- spoken about transgender rights at UN
152
Autum Peltier who is this?
- Wiikwemkoong First Nation, named Chief water commissioner by Anishinabek Nation (political advocate for 40 First Nations, 65 000 people across Ontario) at the age of 14
- motivated by lack of clean water in many Indigenous communities, "Water Warrior" spoke at UN forum at the age of 15
153
What are four responsibilities of a health advocate?
- Respond to patient needs
- Respond to health needs of communities that they serve
- Identify the social determinants of health of the populations that they serve. Recall that by identifying and addressing these factors, health equity can be achieved
- Promote the health of individual patients, communities, and populations
154
What are the three levels of health advocacy?
Individual, Community, Global/Humanitarian
155
What is individual advocacy?
- making difference for someone in need of assistance
- visiting someone lonely, etc
156
What is community level advocacy?
- recognizing and acting upon a defined need in the community in which you live
- assisting a community organization that aims at mediating health inequities or assisting in changing civic policies
157
Who is Jerry Brown?
- dr
- one of many people on front lines during ebola outbreak
- during first outbreak in 2014, he taught and trained and treated hundreds of people
158
What is advocacy on a global level/as a global humanitarian?
- involves recognizing the social determinants of health on a more global level, and acting to change the effects through work with communities or through changing policies
159
Who is Dr. Helen Caldicott?
- advocates against the effects of nuclear wars and nuclear waste
- president of Physicians for Social responsibility when they won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985
- threats to her safety, continues to speak about what is one of the greatest threats to humanity
160
Summarize the taking root video
Taking Root Discussion
For the majority of today’s session, you will discuss the film Taking Root. Please discuss the following questions:
How did Wangari act as an advocate? What levels of Advocacy could you see in the film?
Wangari acted as an advocate at all three levels:
Individual Advocate:
Recognized a need for firewood, water, and traditional foods of rural Kenyan women
Educating self and others
Encouraged women to plant trees and empowered them to take initiative to find local seeds, fostering self-reliance and dignity
Community Advocate:
The Green Belt Movement grew into a nationwide effort, creating local tree nurseries and mobilizing communities. She linked environmental degradation to poverty and hunger, encouraging people to advocate for their rights and demand accountability from leaders.
She created networks of women working together
Advocated for pushback against the corrupt Kenyan government that pursued colonially-influenced goals over what was best for the people
Particularly as Daniel arap Moi’s government has prevented group gatherings.
Global / Humanitarian Advocate:
She brought international attention to environmental and human rights issues in Kenya
Encouraged women along the Saharan belt, not just in Kenya, to plant trees for themselves
Set an example for people across the globe, like us in Canada, that initiative, advocacy, and resistance can yield beneficial results for every level of society.
How did colonisation affect the Kenyans and do you see any similarities to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples?
Maathai witnessed these changes first-hand after returning from the U.S.
Cultural Suppression & Religious Oppression were established in an attempt to assimilate both peoples.
Canada’s Indigenous Peoples also experienced suppression of cultural practices and marginalization of their voices, through interventions like residential schools and even earlier when European settlers landed in Canada and began taking over Indigenous lands for their own colonial gain, unaware or uncaring of preexisting Indigenous land and lifestyle.
In Kenya & Canada, the British established Christian churches and attempted to destabilize traditional spiritual ideas
Environmental degradation:
Is relevant in both colonization of Canadian Indigenous Peoples and Kenyans:
Kenyans: Large tracts of indigenous forest cleared (coffee, tea)
Soil erosion -> increased desertification -> rivers drying -> loss of biodiversity -> loss of livelihood
Local farmers could no longer sustain themselves with traditional practices. (Land is uncultivatable due to lack of shrubbery and forestry, “soil was washing down hills in their fields”)
Canadian Indigenous Peoples: Increased foot traffic and machinery in the north has reduced sea ice, increased seaside erosion.
Hinders Indigenous (especially Inuit) hunters from roaming on previously solid ice.
Changes caribou, seal, other animal migratory patterns
Polar bear attacks / sightings near Indigenous civilization are increasing.
Century-long cultural practices are being erased.
Why is a film about planting trees related to health? What Social Determinants of Health do you see illustrated in this film?
Trees provided firewood, allowing for the cooking of traditional, nutritious, and less processed foods, improved soil, restored clean water, and increased food availability. (SDoH: Physical Environment & Food Security).
Allowed women and the community as the initiative grew to take back control of their lives, land, and communities, improving mental health outcomes by negating feelings such as helplessness/ lack of control (SDoH: Social and Community Connection).
Spiritual and cultural significance of restoring nature by planting trees (SDoH: Culture)
In what ways do you see the effects of grassroots changes demonstrated in this story?
The movie portrayed how grassroots initiatives and changes can quickly snowball and grow to have community, national, and global-level effects.
Communal resistance is necessary to implement change on a broader scale, if none of the women had stood by Maathai throughout President Moi’s political oppression, then it is unlikely that she would have actually been able to continue her resistance (or at least bring national change).
Portrayed the importance of implementing change on a small scale, such as individual, and slowly but surely helping others to do the same by leading by example and empowerment.
What did you learn about the importance of food security?
When deforestation stripped communities of fuel, people could no longer cook traditional crops that required long cooking times. This led to an overreliance on refined, carbohydrate-heavy foods, causing malnutrition and disease.
Wangari emphasized local agriculture using native plants, root vegetables, and perennial crops to make food available year-round, even for those who lacked money.
Food security was presented not only as a nutritional issue but as a human right and cultural right. When people lost access to traditional food, they lost a part of their identity and resilience.
What are your thoughts on the fact that Wangari refused to give the women seeds? How does this relate to empowerment?
By not supplying seeds, the woman had to become self-reliant, meaning they would not need to ask or retrieve seeds from someone else and were able to get them for themselves. Being self-sufficient is empowering because you gain control of your outcome with reduced barriers in your way
Encouraged women to take ownership of their health and take pride in their work
Teaching the tree planting process brought the community together
Choice and control are powerful
As said by Wangari, “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people.” By trying to create a means for initiative for these women, Wangari is supporting environmental development in the long term and empowering them by teaching the women how to resource for themselves. She understands the importance of community and by encouraging the women to source their own, she is demonstrating and teaching resiliency within these women and thus within the environment, as well as the younger/ future generations.
GLPH 271
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