Comparative Analysis of Services for Canadian Inuit for Tuberculosis, Suicide Prevention, and Smoking Cessation: Common Themes and Underlying Issues

This article provides a comparative analysis of Government of Canada interventions in three areas of Inuit public health: tuberculosis (TB), suicide, and smoking. Each public health case study focuses on a different period from the 1940s to the present. Common themes across these times and health issues are identified: the extent of the health issue is more prevalent among Inuit; each problem began with colonization, particularly from the resulting trauma, family separation, cultural interruption, and removal of decision making; resources for Inuit health are insufficient; racism, language, and cultural barriers impede Inuit access to healthcare; overcrowded housing, food insecurity, and unresolved trauma play roles in each health issue in each time period. The article argues that public health initiatives for Inuit need to be designed by Inuit and adequately funded, and to address the root causes of the problems.