Child Welfare: A Determinant Of Health For Canadian First Nations and Métis Children

This article highlights the over-representation of First Nations and Métis children in child welfare systems across Canada along with the continued high apprehension rates of these children despite awareness that both the government and general public have regarding the inflated statistics. This article examines the government’s mandate for Indigenous children based on the social determinants of health. The authors illustrate how colonization is a social determinant to health that is institutionalized through channels such as legislation and unequal funding for family supports/targeted funding on reserves compared to off-reserve.