Indigenous People and Period Product Accessibility

According to the True North Aid-Moon time connection report, “74% of Indigenous respondents in remote communities and 55% of Indigenous respondents in non-remote communities “sometimes” or “often” have issues accessing period products.”

THE STEM OF THE ISSUE

A significant barrier Indigenous communities face when accessing menstrual products stems from socioeconomic disparities. These are caused by the ongoing impacts of colonialism and systemic discrimination against Indigenous populations, reinforced by government policies. Poverty rates among Indigenous populations are particularly high, especially for those living on reserves and in remote areas (Government of Canada, 2022). The Moon Time Connections report found that 24% of Indigenous respondents were unable to afford menstrual products, while 23% reported that they had to prioritize buying other essential items. Additionally, 37% of respondents living in remote communities were simply unable to purchase menstrual products as they were out of stock. 

Indigenous people are five times more likely to experience homelessness in Canada, with Indigenous women being particularly vulnerable. This increases reliance on housing shelters which may not have the necessary resources to provide menstrual products. This makes it even more challenging to access menstrual products with financial constraints and inconsistent supplies in shelters (Bingham et al., 2019).

Water inaccessibility further exacerbates these challenges. It is reported that 1 in 5 Indigenous communities in Canada are under constant water advisories as the water is not safe to use. Clean water is needed for maintaining menstrual hygiene and overall health thus, this widens the menstrual accessibility gap within these populations (McKibbin, 2023). Around 50% of Indigenous respondents in the Moon Time Connections report said they “extremely dislike” reusable menstrual products, which could be attributed, in part, to clean water inaccessibility. This reliance on single-use products, which are expensive and often inaccessible, increases the barriers between Indigenous people and menstrual equity.

ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED 

On November 5, 2021, The Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, made a statement regarding free access to menstrual products for all students at First Nations operated schools on reserves across Canada (Indigenous Services Canada, 2021).

Recently, the federal Menstrual Equity Fund Pilot Project has been developed to distribute free menstrual products to low-income people and provide awareness about period poverty. This will be facilitated by Food Banks Canada and a national Indigenous-led period equity group, who will receive a funding of $18 million and $2.4 million, respectively, to increase accessibility of period products, specifically in remote and northern Indigenous communities (Chishti & Schwientek, 2024). 

Hence, menstrual equity for Indigenous communities is not just a matter of health but also a matter of social justice while emphasizing that every person has the resources and respect they deserve during menstrual justice.