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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Métis leader rips governments for health gap shown in study

By: Jen Skerritt

Posted: 06/25/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

MANITOBA Métis Federation president David Chartrand accused the federal and provincial governments of discrimination following the release of a report documenting the poor health status of Métis people.

The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy's study revealed Métis are 21 per cent more likely to die before age 75 than other Manitobans. The report released Thursday was the first of its kind to compare the health status of about 90,000 Manitoba Métis with the rest of the province to determine potential health gaps and strengths within existing health services.

Report highlights:

Métis are 21 per cent more likely to die before age 75

The suicide and attempted suicide rate among Métis is 38 per cent higher

The Métis diabetes rate is 38 per cent higher than the rest of the province

Métis have a 50 per cent higher rate of leg and foot amputations due to diabetes

The teen pregnancy rate is 51 per cent higher

The smoking rate among Métis youth is 87 per cent higher than the rest of the population

It found Métis are more likely than other Manitobans to have chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, have a leg or foot amputated due to diabetes and suffer from a mental illness. The suicide rate among Métis is 38 per cent higher and the rate of diabetes is 38 per cent higher than the rest of the Manitoban population.

Chartrand seized on the finding to argue Métis people are not receiving the same access to health-care services as First Nations people or other Manitobans. He said "it should be a shameful thing" Métis people are suffering because neither the federal nor provincial government will take responsibility to deliver health services. He said some Métis communities neighbour First Nations, but the Métis people can't receive health services on reserve.

"Our people are suffering, our people are dying, and there's nothing happening because of this jurisdictional limbo," Chartrand said.

"They wouldn't even treat animals in this country the way they treat Métis people. I guarantee you I will be taking a hard line on this."

Chartrand said he plans to write a letter to the federal and provincial ministers of health and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to ensure something is done to address the discrepancy between Métis and other Manitobans.

Local researchers said Métis people likely have a higher death rate because they have a higher rate of chronic illnesses, injuries and suicides than the rest of the population.

"It's not surprising (since) these are things that will lead to an earlier death than the average population," said Patricia Martens, director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

Dr. Judith Bartlett, director of health and wellness for the Manitoba Métis Federation, said regional health authorities are working with Métis people to do something about some of the troubling results. She said the report can be used as a starting point to examine how the health status of Métis in certain parts of the province can be improved.

She said the good news is Métis children are more likely to be fully immunized by age two than other Manitoba children.

"I think the report itself is a beginning," Bartlett said. "It's the first time we've had this information for a starting point."

jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2010 A6

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