Mapping Manitoba First Nations Tuberculosis History Inaugural Lecture Series Mary Jane McCallum Department of History

Manitoba NEAHR New Investigator Award A Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) imitative awarded by the Manitoba Network Environment for Aboriginal Health Research (NEAHR) The NEAHR is based at the Manitoba First Nations Centre for Aboriginal Health Research, University of Manitoba

Manitoba NEAHR Network Environment for Aboriginal Health Research The NEAHR aims to develop a sustainable and collaborative research environment for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities. It does so through a variety of funding initiatives including: –Graduate Student Fellowships and Grants –The Summer Research Internship Program for undergraduate students –New Investigator Award for Faculty –Other faculty research initiatives For more about the Manitoba NEAHR, see earch/index.html earch/index.html

Tuberculosis: The Disease an infectious disease contracted by inhalation neck glands and the lungs fatigue, coughing, weight loss deadly in conditions of poverty

First Nations TB in Manitoba more Aboriginal people proceeded from being infected to having active, serious and deadly cases of the disease Until 1940s, minimal health care provisions The Sanatorium Board of Manitoba and the Indian Health Services Branch worked together to manage a racially-segregated program of surveying, institutionalization and rehabilitation.

Dynevor Indian Hospital, Beds: 50 Location: Selkirk, MB Indian Sanatoria in Manitoba Clearwater Lake Indian Hospital, Beds: 160 Location: Near the Pas, MB Brandon Sanatorium, Beds: 250 Location, Brandon, MB

Rehabilitation Education – in class and in ward Occupational Therapy – focus on handwork –embroidery, beadwork, knitting, leather and wood work, soapstone carvings, weaving, basketry, hooking, drawing and painting, needlework and crochet. –Exhibiting and Selling of craftwork Labour programs –pre-vocational instruction (elementary and high school education) –vocational training –training on the job (in such fields as book keeping, typewriting, electricity, mechanical drafting) –post-sanatorium employment placement and follow-up

Closure of the Sanatoria Antibiotics helped to bring TB under control in Canada. By the end of 1965, the three Indian hospitals, Dynevor, Clearwater Lake and Brandon, had all ceased to be hospitals for exclusively First Nations TB patients. Yet TB rates have made a comeback in First Nations communities –the conditions in which the disease prevails – poverty and a lack of good, affordable housing – have not been addressed.