Medicine that Walks

Medicine that Walks examines the tuberculosis epidemic among Indigenous peoples in Western Canada during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through historical records and documents, Maureen Lux investigates the Canadian government's policies and medical responses to TB in First Nations communities. The book analyzes how colonial administrators and medical authorities viewed Indigenous health through a racial and cultural lens that shaped their interventions. Lux documents the conditions in residential schools, reserves, and sanatoriums where Indigenous patients were treated or confined. The research draws on government correspondence, medical reports, and testimony from Indigenous people who experienced these health policies firsthand. The narrative traces connections between disease management, land dispossession, and the broader project of settler colonialism in Canada. By examining this medical history, the book reveals how healthcare became a tool of colonial power and control over Indigenous populations. The work contributes to understanding how historical medical practices impacted Indigenous communities and continue to influence health inequities today.

Readers note this book exposes failures in Canadian government policy toward Indigenous peoples in the late 1800s through detailed archival research. The academic tone resonates with scholars and researchers. Readers appreciate: - Thorough documentation of medical records and historical evidence - Clear connections between food scarcity and disease outbreaks - Analysis of how policies impacted Indigenous health Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing makes it less accessible to general readers - Limited discussion of Indigenous perspectives and voices - Some sections become repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (6 ratings) WorldCat: No ratings available Google Books: No ratings available From a reader on Goodreads: "Important research but the writing is dry and focused on institutional records rather than Indigenous experiences." Another notes: "Documents the devastating health impacts of Canadian policies but requires careful, slow reading to follow the academic arguments."

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🏥 The book examines how Canadian government policies and healthcare practices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed to devastating health outcomes among Indigenous peoples on the prairies. 🔍 Author Maureen Lux spent over a decade researching archival documents, including medical records, government correspondence, and First Nations accounts, to uncover this previously under-examined aspect of Canadian history. 🌾 The title "Medicine that Walks" refers to government officials' belief that Indigenous peoples could simply walk to get medical care, ignoring the vast distances and harsh conditions they faced in accessing healthcare services. 📊 The book reveals how tuberculosis rates among First Nations people were up to 20 times higher than the non-Indigenous population during this period, yet they were often denied access to sanatoriums and hospitals. 🎓 Lux's work won the 2001 Clio Prize for Prairie History from the Canadian Historical Association and has become required reading in many university courses on Indigenous health and Canadian medical history.