This course was developed for Indigenous Services Canada employees to help increase people’s understanding of our collective history of colonialism in Canada and how it has contributed to ongoing health and social inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous (Settler) peoples in Canada.

Course Outline 

Part 1: Watch a documentary called: Indigenous Health and Social Inequities: Understanding the Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Historical Trauma

This documentary discusses colonialism and its effects on the well-being, resilience and strength of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and beyond. The documentary describes the many colonial traumas that Indigenous Peoples have experienced since first contact with Settlers and presents research demonstrating the long-term negative health and social consequences. Examples include the Indian Act and associated assimilation policies including the Indian Residential School System, the Sixties Scoop, and the Millennium Scoop. It also presents research related to the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and the importance of culture-related factors for well-being. Alongside research that is presented, the daughter of an Indian Residential School Survivor shares her story of intergenerational trauma and resilience within the context of colonialism in Canada.

Part 2: Complete 4 short sections featuring a presentation by Dr. Amy Bombay, an Indigenous Scholar from Rainy River First Nation, that delves further into existing research that has explored how various aspects of colonialism, particularly the Indian Residential School System, have contributed to the health and social inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Research will also be presented that demonstrates the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and emphasizes the importance of having an accurate understanding of colonialism and its effects in Canada. At the end of each section, you will be asked to critically reflect on the content within each section.

• • • • Section 1: History of colonialism in Canada and ongoing health and social inequities
      • Section 2: Intergenerational transmission of adverse childhood experiences
      • Section 3: Positive childhood experiences and culture
      • Section 4: Importance of learning about our collective history of colonialism