Indian hospitals were started by the federal government to control and isolate the health care of Indigenous people in Canada, and really ramped up just after the second world war which ended in 1943. At their start, they were supposed to be limited to people with tuberculosis, however they became the sole medical provider for Indigenous people and admitted people based on race, not disease. Many of the health gaps that we see today between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people can be traced back to Indian Hospitals and care inequality.

Support for survivors and their families is available. Call the Indian Residential School Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066, or 1-866-925-4419 for the 24-7 crisis line

-K&O

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Sources:

Nanaimo Indian Hospital - Institutions - Eugenics Archives

Former Nanaimo Indian Hospital part of $1.1-billion class-action suit – Nanaimo News Bulletin (nanaimobulletin.com)

Island survivors share experiences at Indian hospital, day schools (cheknews.ca)

Community funds search of former Nanaimo "Indian Hospital" grounds (thediscourse.ca)

Indian Hospitals in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia

A Brief Look at Indian Hospitals in Canada (ictinc.ca)

Researching and Revealing Indian Hospitals in Canada - Canada's History (canadashistory.ca)

'Canadians would be shocked': Survivors, lawyers describe treatment at Nanaimo Indian Hospital | CBC News

The story of a separate and unequal Canadian health care system | CBC Radio

Devastating legacy of Indian hospitals still present in Canada's health care system | CityNews Toronto

Indigenous families, former patients ask for Canada's 'Indian hospital' records - National | Globalnews.ca

Decades after Ontario's 'Indian hospitals' closed, survivors are still fighting to be heard | TVO Today

Indigenous families seek access to federal hospital records | CTV News

Nanaimo hospital stories 'unbundled' in new book | Salish Sea Sentinel

Snuneymuxw First Nation to search for unmarked graves at former Nanaimo 'Indian Hospital' site (cheknews.ca)

Three former 'Indian hospitals' in B.C. part of class-action lawsuit | Vancouver Sun

First Nation receiving money to search old Nanaimo Indian Hospital grounds – Parksville Qualicum Beach News (pqbnews.com)

'It has to be heard': Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor recounts torture he endured – Nanaimo News Bulletin (nanaimobulletin.com)