Cultural Rights and First Nations Health Care in Canada

In this paper, I apply Kymlicka’s theory of cultural rights to the health care of Canada’s First Nations, within the framework of human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples, as formulated by the United Nations. I extend Kymlicka’s concept of cultural rights into a specific right to culturally appropriate health care, and I consider how this right can be categorized. I also explore how far the Canadian state recognizes a right to health care in general and to culturally appropriate health care in particular; and whether it has instituted a statutory or constitutional right in these areas. Finally, I consider the same questions with regard to First Nations health care in British Columbia. My conclusions are that the right to culturally appropriate health care is not recognized nationally, or in British Columbia, and that the potential exists to establish such a right politically.