Gender is an intrinsic part of the colonization process. This thesis examines the social construction of gender in the colonial context of the Indian Industrial Schools of western Canada. Through a case study of the official and hidden curricula of the Regina Indian Industrial School, this thesis explores the attempted imposition of Victorian Euro-Canadian ideals of gender upon Aboriginal youth around the turn of the century. The curricula of the Regina Indian Industrial school, as well as other western Industrial schools, was shaped by Victorian ideologies of gender, which promoted separate spheres for men and women, a cult of domesticity, sexual division of labour, and binary oppositions. The curriculum of the Regina Indian Industrial School became a method of conveying Euro-Canadian discourses of Victorian gender ideals. While boys in the Indian industrial schools were educated to become breadwinners, girls were socialized into domestic roles. Employing feminist, post-colonial, and poststructural theories and research methods, this study provides a textual analysis of records of government and church officials regarding gender and the curriculum of the Regina Indian Industrial School.

Gender is an intrinsic part of the colonization process. This thesis examines the social construction of gender in the colonial context of the Indian Industrial Schools of western Canada. Through a case study of the official and hidden curricula of the Regina Indian Industrial School, this thesis explores the attempted imposition of Victorian Euro-Canadian ideals of gender upon Aboriginal youth around the turn of the century. The curricula of the Regina Indian Industrial school, as well as other western Industrial schools, was shaped by Victorian ideologies of gender, which promoted separate spheres for men and women, a cult of domesticity, sexual division of labour, and binary oppositions. The curriculum of the Regina Indian Industrial School became a method of conveying Euro-Canadian discourses of Victorian gender ideals. While boys in the Indian industrial schools were educated to become breadwinners, girls were socialized into domestic roles. Employing feminist, post-colonial, and poststructural theories and research methods, this study provides a textual analysis of records of government and church officials regarding gender and the curriculum of the Regina Indian Industrial School.

Background: A novel mutation (V205M) within the KCNQ1 gene was previously delineated and confirmed to predispose to long QT syndrome (LQTS) in a First Nations community in Northern British Columbia (Gitxsan). LQTS is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that is named for the elongation of the ECG (electrocardiogram) Q-T interval, corrected for rate, but is reflective of delayed repolarization predisposing to LQTS. Clinically, LQTS presents as sudden loss of consciousness (fainting, seizures) and sudden death. KCNQ1 is responsible in part for IKs the slow rectifying potassium channel in the heart, and also accounts for about 30% percent of all genetically confirmed cases of LQTS. The KCNQ1 gene is also expressed in the pancreas, and recent Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified variants found within the KCNQ1 gene to be strongly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Asian and European populations. In Canada, and around the world, Indigenous populations have the higher rates of T2D. We set out to determine if the V205M mutation could influence the development of T2D in this First Nations population. Methods: Participants were recruited from a contact data base from the original study (entitled ‘The Impact of Long QT on First Nations People of Northern British Columbia’) and invited to determine if their KCNQ1 mutation status influenced their HbA1c values, and therefore risk for diabetes. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), exercise levels and HbA1c test values were collected from each participant. Sixty-five participants (18 mutation positive and 47 mutation negative) were included in this sub-study. Results: Adjusting for anthropometric measurements, V205M+ participants were almost ten times more likely to attain an ‘at-risk’ (or ‘pre-diabetic’) HbA1c value (adjusted OR: 9.62; p=0.002; CI: 2.23-41.46). Although there was no difference in average HbA1C levels (p=0.963). The distribution of values was markedly different between those in the mutation positive vs mutation negative group. Conclusion: Although it is premature to declare a true risk for diabetes in this cross-sectional study, our results suggest that HbA1C levels are influenced by the presence of the V205M mutation, and further study is indicated to determine if insulin secretion is affected in these individuals. This work has potential implications for others with LQTS who might have altered glycemic control as a result of mutations in KCNQ1. Furthermore, in this First Nations population, broader health implications might need to be considered for those with the V205M mutation. / Graduate

While previous health research with Aboriginal populations focused almost exclusively on Aboriginal Peoples of First Nations descent living on reserves or in isolated rural communities in Canada, this study focusing on diabetes aimed to engage Aboriginal Peoples of First Nations and Métis descent living in an urban Ontario setting. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder that affects Aboriginal Peoples of Métis and First Nations descent disproportionately compared to the rest of the Canadian population. To understand this disparity in diabetes incidence and to address issues with existing diabetes prevention and management strategies, this study: a) explores the perceptions surrounding Type 2 diabetes and its prevention from First Nations and Métis community people and health service providers and policy makers; and b) informs the existing diabetes prevention, management and care strategies in light of these perceived understandings. Primary data was collected through 40 in-depth one-on-one narrative interviews with First Nations and Métis people, health service providers and policy makers. Thematic codes that emerged through the narrative analysis of this data revealed that to fully understand the social determinants of diabetes in an urban First Nations and Métis people’s context required the application of intersectionality theory, since production of First Nations and Métis diabetes is socially determined and deeply intersectional. By combining the concepts of the social determinants of health and intersectional approaches, narrative analysis of the primary data revealed that diversities in socio-economic, cultural, legal and spatial contexts determine First Nations and Métis people’s life choices and have a strong bearing on their health outcomes. First Nations and Métis participants’ narratives revealed that dimensions of marginalization were reflected not only through inadequate material resources, but also through intersections of multiple factors such as colonial legacies, stereotyping, legal statuses, and the pan-Aboriginal nature of government policies and services. First Nations and Métis community members indicated that preventive programming aimed at avoiding or managing diabetes should be grounded in balancing and restoring the positive aspects of physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and should also balance their diverse needs, lived realities, and social circumstances. The views of health service providers and policy makers captured in this thesis tended to reflect an understanding of diabetes causation grounded in both biomedical and intersecting social determinants of health. At the pragmatic level, however, the solution to this health issue presented by health service providers and policy makers addresses only the measurable individualistic biomedical risk factors of diabetes. Policy makers also discussed the need for developing qualitative indicators of the success of presently implemented health programs. Overall, the results of this study indicated that effective diabetes prevention and management strategies for urban First Nations and Métis people must recognize and address the diversities in their historical, socio-economic, spatial and legal contexts as well as their related entitlement to health services. A comprehensive diabetes prevention strategy should target the social determinants of health that are specific to urban First Nations and Métis people and must build on community strengths.

While previous health research with Aboriginal populations focused almost exclusively on Aboriginal Peoples of First Nations descent living on reserves or in isolated rural communities in Canada, this study focusing on diabetes aimed to engage Aboriginal Peoples of First Nations and Métis descent living in an urban Ontario setting. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder that affects Aboriginal Peoples of Métis and First Nations descent disproportionately compared to the rest of the Canadian population. To understand this disparity in diabetes incidence and to address issues with existing diabetes prevention and management strategies, this study: a) explores the perceptions surrounding Type 2 diabetes and its prevention from First Nations and Métis community people and health service providers and policy makers; and b) informs the existing diabetes prevention, management and care strategies in light of these perceived understandings. Primary data was collected through 40 in-depth one-on-one narrative interviews with First Nations and Métis people, health service providers and policy makers. Thematic codes that emerged through the narrative analysis of this data revealed that to fully understand the social determinants of diabetes in an urban First Nations and Métis people’s context required the application of intersectionality theory, since production of First Nations and Métis diabetes is socially determined and deeply intersectional. By combining the concepts of the social determinants of health and intersectional approaches, narrative analysis of the primary data revealed that diversities in socio-economic, cultural, legal and spatial contexts determine First Nations and Métis people’s life choices and have a strong bearing on their health outcomes. First Nations and Métis participants’ narratives revealed that dimensions of marginalization were reflected not only through inadequate material resources, but also through intersections of multiple factors such as colonial legacies, stereotyping, legal statuses, and the pan-Aboriginal nature of government policies and services. First Nations and Métis community members indicated that preventive programming aimed at avoiding or managing diabetes should be grounded in balancing and restoring the positive aspects of physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and should also balance their diverse needs, lived realities, and social circumstances. The views of health service providers and policy makers captured in this thesis tended to reflect an understanding of diabetes causation grounded in both biomedical and intersecting social determinants of health. At the pragmatic level, however, the solution to this health issue presented by health service providers and policy makers addresses only the measurable individualistic biomedical risk factors of diabetes. Policy makers also discussed the need for developing qualitative indicators of the success of presently implemented health programs. Overall, the results of this study indicated that effective diabetes prevention and management strategies for urban First Nations and Métis people must recognize and address the diversities in their historical, socio-economic, spatial and legal contexts as well as their related entitlement to health services. A comprehensive diabetes prevention strategy should target the social determinants of health that are specific to urban First Nations and Métis people and must build on community strengths.