Yale Belanger | University of Lethbridge (original) (raw)
Books by Yale Belanger
Blockades have become a common response to Canada's failure to address and resolve the legitimate... more Blockades have become a common response to Canada's failure to address and resolve the legitimate claims of First Nations. Blockades or Breakthroughs? debates the importance and effectiveness of blockades and occupations as political and diplomatic tools for Aboriginal people.
The adoption of direct action tactics like blockades and occupations is predicated on the idea that something drastic is needed for Aboriginal groups to break an unfavourable status quo, overcome structural barriers, and achieve their goals. But are blockades actually "breakthroughs"? What are the objectives of Aboriginal people and communities who adopt this approach? How can the success of these methods be measured? This collection offers an in-depth survey of occupations, blockades, and their legacies, from 1968 to the present. Individual case studies situate specific blockades and conflicts in historical context, examine each group’s reasons for occupation, and analyze the media labels and frames applied to both Aboriginal and state responses.
Direct action tactics remain a powerful political tool for First Nations in Canada. The authors of Blockades or Breakthroughs? Argue that blockades and occupations are instrumental, symbolic, and complex events that demand equally multifaceted responses.
Contributors include Yale D. Belanger, Tom Flanagan, Sarah King, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, David Rossiter, John Sandlos, Nick Shrubsole, and Timothy Winegard.
"Blockades have grown increasingly common as a response to Canada’s failure to address and resolv... more "Blockades have grown increasingly common as a response to Canada’s failure to address and resolve the legitimate claims of First Nations people. Blockades or Breakthroughs? reveals the importance of blockades and occupations as effective diplomatic tools for Aboriginal communities.
The adoption of direct action tactics like blockades and occupations is predicated on the idea that something drastic is needed for Aboriginal groups to break the unfavourable status quo, overcome structural barriers, and achieve their goals. But are blockades actually “breakthroughs”? What are the objectives of Aboriginal people and communities who adopt this approach? How can the success of these methods be measured? This collection offers a comprehensive survey of occupations and blockades, and their legacies from 1968 to the present. Individual case studies situate specific blockades and conflicts in historical context, examine each group’s reasons for (re)occupation, and analyze the media labels and frames applied to both Aboriginal and state responses.
Direct action tactics remain a powerful political tool for First Nations in Canada. The authors of Blockades or Breakthroughs? argue that blockades and occupations are instrumental, symbolic, and complex events that demand equally multifaceted responses.
Contributors include: John Sandlos, Tom Flanagan, David Rossiter, Sarah King, Timothy Winegard, Nick Shrubsole, Yale Belanger, and Whitney Lackenbauer.
Yale D. Belanger is associate professor, Political Science, and adjunct associate professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge.
P. Whitney Lackenbauer is associate professor and chair of history at St. Jerome’s University."
While games of chance have been part of the Aboriginal cultural landscape since before European c... more While games of chance have been part of the Aboriginal cultural landscape since before European contact, large-scale commercial gaming facilities within First Nations communities are a relatively new phenomenon in Canada. First Nations Gaming in Canada is the first multidisciplinary study of the role of gaming in indigenous communities north of the 49th parallel. Bringing together some of Canada’s leading gambling researchers, the book examines the history of Aboriginal gaming and its role in indigenous political economy, the rise of large-scale casinos and cybergaming, the socio-ecological impact of problem gambling, and the challenges of labour unions and financial management. The authors also call attention to the dearth of socio-economic impact studies of gambling in First Nations communities while providing models to address this growing issue of concern.
This book is a historically grounded look at the wide variety of issues that inform Native people... more This book is a historically grounded look at the wide variety of issues that inform Native peoples in Canada today. The book is divided into four sections: Philosophy and Worldview, History, Political Economy, and Contemporary Issues. In addition to those topics commonly considered in existing texts, such as health, politics, self-government, and urban reserves, Belanger includes unique chapters on Native philosophy, language, art and literature, and writing about Native history and Native issues. This text is designed to satisfy the needs identified by these students' while presenting an academic interpretation illustrative of how Native people in Canada scrutinize the last four centuries of contact. It also highlights, within the context of the 14 chapters, the socio-political and socio-economic challenges impacting Native leaders and their communities nationally. Belanger avoids historicizing Native people. Rather the larger historical narrative is contextualized within the 14 chapters while also demonstrating how history continues to inform the evolution of self-government, urban reserve development, literature, and health. Written in a narrative style that largely avoids technical language, this book is unique in that it is written for lower-division students being introduced for the first time to Native issues framed from an academic perspective.
Building on the success of the first two editions, this volume briefly recaps the historical deve... more Building on the success of the first two editions, this volume briefly recaps the historical development and public acceptance of the concept of Aboriginal self-government, then proceeds to examine its theoretical underpinnings, the state of Aboriginal self-government in Canada today, and the many practical issues surrounding implementation. Topics addressed include: justice innovations, initiatives in health and education to grant greater Aboriginal control, financing and intergovernmental relations, Aboriginal-municipal government relations, developing effective Aboriginal leadership, Métis self government aspirations, the intersection of women’s rights and self-government, and international perspectives. Various self-government arrangements already in existence are examined including the establishment of Nunavut, the James Bay Agreement, Treaty Land Entitlement settlements, the Alberta Métis settlements, and many other land claims settlements that have granted Aboriginal communities greater control over their affairs.
This book is an interdisciplinary guide for practitioners, policy makers, and students interested in learning about government policy and the aspirations of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. With the exception of three updated chapters, all of the material by the 31 contributors in this volume is new and original. Brief biographies of the contributors can be found on our web site.
First Nations run casinos and other gambling activities have become a visible part of the Canadia... more First Nations run casinos and other gambling activities have become a visible part of the Canadian landscape. Many people see such enterprises as an important tool of economic development for impoverished First Nations communities, while others view them with suspicion. Beginning with an examination of the role gambling and gaming played in pre-contact Aboriginal society, Yale Belanger traces the history of First Nations gaming institutions nationally. Early legislation designed to control gambling notwithstanding, First Nations leaders persevered and eventually capitalized on the gradual relaxation of the rules permitting lotteries, off-track betting, and the numerous forms of gambling that are legally available today.
At the heart of the book is an examination of the development of First Nations gambling across Canada, the resultant political battles fought in each province to establish Indian run casinos, and the kinds of agreements that were reached with provincial authorities to legally establish First Nations gambling institutions. Factors including the importance of casino location and management arrangements – which have led some casinos to become very successful and others economically problematic – are discussed in full. Finally, the author looks at challenges First Nations gambling institutions face in the future and the question of the extent to which such institutions are an important engine for economic development of First Nations communities.
This exciting volume includes 35 refereed chapters written by Elders, poets, artists, scientists,... more This exciting volume includes 35 refereed chapters written by Elders, poets, artists, scientists, politicians, and environmentalists. Chapters cover relationships to the land, Sacred places, traditional knowledge, Aboriginal imagination, therapeutic landscapes, identity and repatriation, ethics, Metis studies, historical interactions of Inuit, climate change, food webs,and literary works.
Papers by Yale Belanger
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2021
Canadian Public Policy, 2012
En 2001, l’Alberta a mis en place une politique, la First Nations Gaming Policy, qui permet aux A... more En 2001, l’Alberta a mis en place une politique, la First Nations Gaming Policy, qui permet aux Autochtones de construire des casinos dans les réserves, mais qui stipule que 30 % des revenus du jeu réalisés par ces casinos doivent être versés au gouvernement qui les utilise ensuite à des fins caritatives dans la province. Durant les six années qui ont suivi l’ouverture du premier casino sur une réserve, presque toutes les nations autochtones ont continué de subir un retard, sur le plan socio-économique, par rapport au reste de la population albertaine; et les organisations caritatives provinciales, pour leur part, dépendent de plus en plus des revenus des casinos des réserves. Dans cet article, nous analysons l’impact des cinq casinos autochtones provinciaux sur les communautés où ils sont implantés, ainsi que les sommes que les prétendus bénéficiaires de ces casinos perdent en fait chaque année à cause de la règle qui leur impose de verser 30 % des revenus au gouvernement.
Addictive Behaviours, 2022
Introduction: Cannabis use frequently co-occurs with gambling, and evidence indicates that both a... more Introduction: Cannabis use frequently co-occurs with gambling, and evidence indicates that both acute and chronic cannabis use may influence gambling behavior. The primary aim of the present study was to further contribute to the literature on this relationship by examining data collected from a Canadian national study of gambling. Methods: Respondents consisted of 10,054 Canadian gamblers recruited from Leger Opinion's (LEO) online panel. In this study, gamblers who used cannabis were compared with non-users across a number of gambling as well as demographic and mental health variables. Results: Of the total sample, 25.4 % reported past 12-month cannabis use. Among the 2,553 cannabis-users, 21.3 % reported daily use, and 69.9 % reported using once a month or more. A total of 56.2 % indicated they had used cannabis while gambling in the past 12 months. Bivariate analysis found significant differences between cannabis use and non-use on numerous demographic, mental health, and gambling-related variables. Individuals with greater problem gambling severity scores, more hours gambling, and a larger range of gambling activities were more likely to endorse using cannabis. Hierarchical logistic regression revealed that tobacco use, and having experienced significant child abuse were predictors of cannabis use. Non-use of cannabis was associated with older age, less engagement in online gambling, and being less likely to consume alcohol. Conclusion: The present findings both corroborate previous studies and expand upon the relationship between cannabis and gambling.
Journal of Gambling Studies , 2021
This study analyzed the Responsible Gambling Check patron survey data from Canadian casinos and r... more This study analyzed the Responsible Gambling Check patron survey data from Canadian casinos and racinos collected from 2011-2019 (18,580 patrons and 75 venues). The results indicated increasing awareness and use over time of harm minimization tools among more frequent patrons. Despite these promising trends, it is concerning that a substantial percentage of gamblers are still unaware of the harm minimization tools available. Further, the actual impact of this awareness on responsible gambling behaviour is largely unknown. We suggest greater efforts are needed nation-wide to promote the awareness, utilization, and evaluation of these harm minimization tools.
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2021
The present study provides a profile of Canadian Indigenous gambling and problem gambling using t... more The present study provides a profile of Canadian Indigenous gambling and problem gambling using the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (n = 23,952 adults; 1,324 Indigenous) and an online panel survey of 10,199 gamblers (n = 589 Indigenous). The relative popularity of different types of gambling was similar between Indigenous and non-Indigenous samples. However, there was higher Indigenous participation in electronic gambling machines (EGMs), bingo, instant lotteries, overall gambling and a higher rate of problem gambling (2.0% versus 0.5%). Variables predictive of Indigenous problem gambling were EGM participation, gambling fallacies, having a mental or substance use disorder, sports betting, and male gender. Compared to non-Indigenous problem gamblers, Indigenous problem gamblers had higher substance use and lower impulsivity. In general, variables predictive of Indigenous problem gambling were the same ones predictive of problem gambling in all populations, with elevated Indigenous problem gambling rates primarily being due to elevated rates of these generic risk factors. Many of these risk factors are modifiable. Particular consideration should be given to reducing the disproportionate
concentration of EGMs in geographic areas having the highest concentration of Indigenous people and ameliorating the disadvantageous social conditions in this population that are conducive to mental health and substance use problems.
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2021
Objectives The purpose of this study is to provide an updated profile of gamblers and problem ga... more Objectives
The purpose of this study is to provide an updated profile of gamblers and problem gamblers in Canada and to identify characteristics most strongly associated with problem gambling.
Methods
An assessment of gambling participation and problem gambling was included in the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey and administered to 23,952 individuals 18 years and older. Descriptive statistics provided a demographic profile for each type of gambling involvement as well as category of gambler (non-gambler, non-problem gambler, at-risk gambler, problem gambler). A logistic regression identified characteristics that best distinguished problem from non-problem gamblers.
Results
Gambling participation and problem gambling both varied as a function of gender, income, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity. However, multivariate analysis identified electronic gambling machine (EGM) participation to be the primary predictor of problem gambling status, with race/ethnicity, presence of a mood disorder, male gender, casino table game participation, older age, a greater level of smoking, participation in speculative financial activity, instant lottery participation, lower household income, and lottery or raffle ticket participation providing additional predictive power. Provincial EGM density and EGM participation rates are also very strong predictors of provincial rates of at-risk and problem gambling.
Conclusion
Problem gambling has a biopsychosocial etiology, determined by personal vulnerability factors combined with the presence of riskier types of gambling such as EGMs. Effective prevention requires a multifaceted approach, but constraints on the availability and operation of EGMs would likely have the greatest single public health benefit.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020
Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of gambling and ... more Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of gambling and problem gambling in Canada and to examine how the rates and pattern of participation compare to 2002.
Method: An assessment of gambling and problem gambling was included in the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey and administered to 24,982 individuals aged 15 and older. The present analyses selected for adults (18þ).
Results: A total of 66.2% of people reported engaging in some type of gambling in 2018, primarily lottery and/or raffle tickets, the only type in which the majority of Canadians participate. There are some significant interprovincial differences, with
perhaps the most important one being the higher rate of electronic gambling machine (EGM) participation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The overall pattern of gambling in 2018 is very similar to 2002, although participation is generally much lower in
2018, particularly for EGMs and bingo. Only 0.6% of the population were identified as problem gamblers in 2018, with an additional 2.7% being at-risk gamblers. There is no significant interprovincial variation in problem gambling rates. The interprovincial pattern of problem gambling in 2018 is also very similar to what was found in 2002 with the main difference being a 45% decrease in the overall prevalence of problem gambling.
Conclusions: Gambling and problem gambling have both decreased in Canada from 2002 to 2018 although the provincial patterns are quite similar between the 2 time periods. Several mechanisms have likely collectively contributed to these declines. Decreases have also been reported in several other Western countries in recent years and have occurred despite the expansion of legal gambling opportunities, suggesting a degree of inoculation or adaptation in the population.
Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 2020
Rural homelessness is an emergent social concern in Canada but it remains overshadowed by urban h... more Rural homelessness is an emergent social concern in Canada but it remains overshadowed by urban homelessness policy and research agendas. Thus, it is rare to find extended academic discussions of rural homelessness and its causes. In this paper, we report on the findings of
a mixed-method rural homelessness study in a small Alberta prairie town (Canada). We explore the nature of transitions and how they place individuals at risk of housing risk and/or homelessness, particularly in a rural context. Findings reveal a complex interplay between external and internal resources and drivers that cast an individual into the liminal
space of housing risk and into homelessness, and that the rural context accentuates housing risk.
The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien, 2019
This paper examines indigeneity and spatial production in the city of Winnipeg, home to the large... more This paper examines indigeneity and spatial production in the city of Winnipeg, home to the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Using data from semi‐structured interviews with Indigenous inhabitants,
municipal officials, and Indigenous leaders, this paper argues that the right to the city and to difference are deradicalized for urban Indigenous communities. Indigenous engagement in processes of everyday urbanism occurs through broadly participatory public consultation and through mechanisms designed by City Hall to communicate with Indigenous communities about municipal initiatives. To arrive at a more robust and meaningful Indigenous urban visibility in Canadian cities, spatial production and programming mechanisms will need to be reconstituted. Guided by the perspectives of Indigenous participants, this paper considers some of what Indigenous urbanism might yet entail. Fulfilling coexistence and reconciliation is dependent on enabling Indigenous urbanism to guide the course taken in urban governance, spatial planning, and the built environment of Canadian cities.
In D. Long & G. Starblanket (ed.). Visions of the Heart: Canadian Aboriginal Issues, 5th Ed. pp. 34-58. Toronto: Oxford University Press. , 2019
Blockades have become a common response to Canada's failure to address and resolve the legitimate... more Blockades have become a common response to Canada's failure to address and resolve the legitimate claims of First Nations. Blockades or Breakthroughs? debates the importance and effectiveness of blockades and occupations as political and diplomatic tools for Aboriginal people.
The adoption of direct action tactics like blockades and occupations is predicated on the idea that something drastic is needed for Aboriginal groups to break an unfavourable status quo, overcome structural barriers, and achieve their goals. But are blockades actually "breakthroughs"? What are the objectives of Aboriginal people and communities who adopt this approach? How can the success of these methods be measured? This collection offers an in-depth survey of occupations, blockades, and their legacies, from 1968 to the present. Individual case studies situate specific blockades and conflicts in historical context, examine each group’s reasons for occupation, and analyze the media labels and frames applied to both Aboriginal and state responses.
Direct action tactics remain a powerful political tool for First Nations in Canada. The authors of Blockades or Breakthroughs? Argue that blockades and occupations are instrumental, symbolic, and complex events that demand equally multifaceted responses.
Contributors include Yale D. Belanger, Tom Flanagan, Sarah King, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, David Rossiter, John Sandlos, Nick Shrubsole, and Timothy Winegard.
"Blockades have grown increasingly common as a response to Canada’s failure to address and resolv... more "Blockades have grown increasingly common as a response to Canada’s failure to address and resolve the legitimate claims of First Nations people. Blockades or Breakthroughs? reveals the importance of blockades and occupations as effective diplomatic tools for Aboriginal communities.
The adoption of direct action tactics like blockades and occupations is predicated on the idea that something drastic is needed for Aboriginal groups to break the unfavourable status quo, overcome structural barriers, and achieve their goals. But are blockades actually “breakthroughs”? What are the objectives of Aboriginal people and communities who adopt this approach? How can the success of these methods be measured? This collection offers a comprehensive survey of occupations and blockades, and their legacies from 1968 to the present. Individual case studies situate specific blockades and conflicts in historical context, examine each group’s reasons for (re)occupation, and analyze the media labels and frames applied to both Aboriginal and state responses.
Direct action tactics remain a powerful political tool for First Nations in Canada. The authors of Blockades or Breakthroughs? argue that blockades and occupations are instrumental, symbolic, and complex events that demand equally multifaceted responses.
Contributors include: John Sandlos, Tom Flanagan, David Rossiter, Sarah King, Timothy Winegard, Nick Shrubsole, Yale Belanger, and Whitney Lackenbauer.
Yale D. Belanger is associate professor, Political Science, and adjunct associate professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge.
P. Whitney Lackenbauer is associate professor and chair of history at St. Jerome’s University."
While games of chance have been part of the Aboriginal cultural landscape since before European c... more While games of chance have been part of the Aboriginal cultural landscape since before European contact, large-scale commercial gaming facilities within First Nations communities are a relatively new phenomenon in Canada. First Nations Gaming in Canada is the first multidisciplinary study of the role of gaming in indigenous communities north of the 49th parallel. Bringing together some of Canada’s leading gambling researchers, the book examines the history of Aboriginal gaming and its role in indigenous political economy, the rise of large-scale casinos and cybergaming, the socio-ecological impact of problem gambling, and the challenges of labour unions and financial management. The authors also call attention to the dearth of socio-economic impact studies of gambling in First Nations communities while providing models to address this growing issue of concern.
This book is a historically grounded look at the wide variety of issues that inform Native people... more This book is a historically grounded look at the wide variety of issues that inform Native peoples in Canada today. The book is divided into four sections: Philosophy and Worldview, History, Political Economy, and Contemporary Issues. In addition to those topics commonly considered in existing texts, such as health, politics, self-government, and urban reserves, Belanger includes unique chapters on Native philosophy, language, art and literature, and writing about Native history and Native issues. This text is designed to satisfy the needs identified by these students' while presenting an academic interpretation illustrative of how Native people in Canada scrutinize the last four centuries of contact. It also highlights, within the context of the 14 chapters, the socio-political and socio-economic challenges impacting Native leaders and their communities nationally. Belanger avoids historicizing Native people. Rather the larger historical narrative is contextualized within the 14 chapters while also demonstrating how history continues to inform the evolution of self-government, urban reserve development, literature, and health. Written in a narrative style that largely avoids technical language, this book is unique in that it is written for lower-division students being introduced for the first time to Native issues framed from an academic perspective.
Building on the success of the first two editions, this volume briefly recaps the historical deve... more Building on the success of the first two editions, this volume briefly recaps the historical development and public acceptance of the concept of Aboriginal self-government, then proceeds to examine its theoretical underpinnings, the state of Aboriginal self-government in Canada today, and the many practical issues surrounding implementation. Topics addressed include: justice innovations, initiatives in health and education to grant greater Aboriginal control, financing and intergovernmental relations, Aboriginal-municipal government relations, developing effective Aboriginal leadership, Métis self government aspirations, the intersection of women’s rights and self-government, and international perspectives. Various self-government arrangements already in existence are examined including the establishment of Nunavut, the James Bay Agreement, Treaty Land Entitlement settlements, the Alberta Métis settlements, and many other land claims settlements that have granted Aboriginal communities greater control over their affairs.
This book is an interdisciplinary guide for practitioners, policy makers, and students interested in learning about government policy and the aspirations of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. With the exception of three updated chapters, all of the material by the 31 contributors in this volume is new and original. Brief biographies of the contributors can be found on our web site.
First Nations run casinos and other gambling activities have become a visible part of the Canadia... more First Nations run casinos and other gambling activities have become a visible part of the Canadian landscape. Many people see such enterprises as an important tool of economic development for impoverished First Nations communities, while others view them with suspicion. Beginning with an examination of the role gambling and gaming played in pre-contact Aboriginal society, Yale Belanger traces the history of First Nations gaming institutions nationally. Early legislation designed to control gambling notwithstanding, First Nations leaders persevered and eventually capitalized on the gradual relaxation of the rules permitting lotteries, off-track betting, and the numerous forms of gambling that are legally available today.
At the heart of the book is an examination of the development of First Nations gambling across Canada, the resultant political battles fought in each province to establish Indian run casinos, and the kinds of agreements that were reached with provincial authorities to legally establish First Nations gambling institutions. Factors including the importance of casino location and management arrangements – which have led some casinos to become very successful and others economically problematic – are discussed in full. Finally, the author looks at challenges First Nations gambling institutions face in the future and the question of the extent to which such institutions are an important engine for economic development of First Nations communities.
This exciting volume includes 35 refereed chapters written by Elders, poets, artists, scientists,... more This exciting volume includes 35 refereed chapters written by Elders, poets, artists, scientists, politicians, and environmentalists. Chapters cover relationships to the land, Sacred places, traditional knowledge, Aboriginal imagination, therapeutic landscapes, identity and repatriation, ethics, Metis studies, historical interactions of Inuit, climate change, food webs,and literary works.
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2021
Canadian Public Policy, 2012
En 2001, l’Alberta a mis en place une politique, la First Nations Gaming Policy, qui permet aux A... more En 2001, l’Alberta a mis en place une politique, la First Nations Gaming Policy, qui permet aux Autochtones de construire des casinos dans les réserves, mais qui stipule que 30 % des revenus du jeu réalisés par ces casinos doivent être versés au gouvernement qui les utilise ensuite à des fins caritatives dans la province. Durant les six années qui ont suivi l’ouverture du premier casino sur une réserve, presque toutes les nations autochtones ont continué de subir un retard, sur le plan socio-économique, par rapport au reste de la population albertaine; et les organisations caritatives provinciales, pour leur part, dépendent de plus en plus des revenus des casinos des réserves. Dans cet article, nous analysons l’impact des cinq casinos autochtones provinciaux sur les communautés où ils sont implantés, ainsi que les sommes que les prétendus bénéficiaires de ces casinos perdent en fait chaque année à cause de la règle qui leur impose de verser 30 % des revenus au gouvernement.
Addictive Behaviours, 2022
Introduction: Cannabis use frequently co-occurs with gambling, and evidence indicates that both a... more Introduction: Cannabis use frequently co-occurs with gambling, and evidence indicates that both acute and chronic cannabis use may influence gambling behavior. The primary aim of the present study was to further contribute to the literature on this relationship by examining data collected from a Canadian national study of gambling. Methods: Respondents consisted of 10,054 Canadian gamblers recruited from Leger Opinion's (LEO) online panel. In this study, gamblers who used cannabis were compared with non-users across a number of gambling as well as demographic and mental health variables. Results: Of the total sample, 25.4 % reported past 12-month cannabis use. Among the 2,553 cannabis-users, 21.3 % reported daily use, and 69.9 % reported using once a month or more. A total of 56.2 % indicated they had used cannabis while gambling in the past 12 months. Bivariate analysis found significant differences between cannabis use and non-use on numerous demographic, mental health, and gambling-related variables. Individuals with greater problem gambling severity scores, more hours gambling, and a larger range of gambling activities were more likely to endorse using cannabis. Hierarchical logistic regression revealed that tobacco use, and having experienced significant child abuse were predictors of cannabis use. Non-use of cannabis was associated with older age, less engagement in online gambling, and being less likely to consume alcohol. Conclusion: The present findings both corroborate previous studies and expand upon the relationship between cannabis and gambling.
Journal of Gambling Studies , 2021
This study analyzed the Responsible Gambling Check patron survey data from Canadian casinos and r... more This study analyzed the Responsible Gambling Check patron survey data from Canadian casinos and racinos collected from 2011-2019 (18,580 patrons and 75 venues). The results indicated increasing awareness and use over time of harm minimization tools among more frequent patrons. Despite these promising trends, it is concerning that a substantial percentage of gamblers are still unaware of the harm minimization tools available. Further, the actual impact of this awareness on responsible gambling behaviour is largely unknown. We suggest greater efforts are needed nation-wide to promote the awareness, utilization, and evaluation of these harm minimization tools.
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2021
The present study provides a profile of Canadian Indigenous gambling and problem gambling using t... more The present study provides a profile of Canadian Indigenous gambling and problem gambling using the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (n = 23,952 adults; 1,324 Indigenous) and an online panel survey of 10,199 gamblers (n = 589 Indigenous). The relative popularity of different types of gambling was similar between Indigenous and non-Indigenous samples. However, there was higher Indigenous participation in electronic gambling machines (EGMs), bingo, instant lotteries, overall gambling and a higher rate of problem gambling (2.0% versus 0.5%). Variables predictive of Indigenous problem gambling were EGM participation, gambling fallacies, having a mental or substance use disorder, sports betting, and male gender. Compared to non-Indigenous problem gamblers, Indigenous problem gamblers had higher substance use and lower impulsivity. In general, variables predictive of Indigenous problem gambling were the same ones predictive of problem gambling in all populations, with elevated Indigenous problem gambling rates primarily being due to elevated rates of these generic risk factors. Many of these risk factors are modifiable. Particular consideration should be given to reducing the disproportionate
concentration of EGMs in geographic areas having the highest concentration of Indigenous people and ameliorating the disadvantageous social conditions in this population that are conducive to mental health and substance use problems.
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2021
Objectives The purpose of this study is to provide an updated profile of gamblers and problem ga... more Objectives
The purpose of this study is to provide an updated profile of gamblers and problem gamblers in Canada and to identify characteristics most strongly associated with problem gambling.
Methods
An assessment of gambling participation and problem gambling was included in the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey and administered to 23,952 individuals 18 years and older. Descriptive statistics provided a demographic profile for each type of gambling involvement as well as category of gambler (non-gambler, non-problem gambler, at-risk gambler, problem gambler). A logistic regression identified characteristics that best distinguished problem from non-problem gamblers.
Results
Gambling participation and problem gambling both varied as a function of gender, income, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity. However, multivariate analysis identified electronic gambling machine (EGM) participation to be the primary predictor of problem gambling status, with race/ethnicity, presence of a mood disorder, male gender, casino table game participation, older age, a greater level of smoking, participation in speculative financial activity, instant lottery participation, lower household income, and lottery or raffle ticket participation providing additional predictive power. Provincial EGM density and EGM participation rates are also very strong predictors of provincial rates of at-risk and problem gambling.
Conclusion
Problem gambling has a biopsychosocial etiology, determined by personal vulnerability factors combined with the presence of riskier types of gambling such as EGMs. Effective prevention requires a multifaceted approach, but constraints on the availability and operation of EGMs would likely have the greatest single public health benefit.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020
Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of gambling and ... more Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of gambling and problem gambling in Canada and to examine how the rates and pattern of participation compare to 2002.
Method: An assessment of gambling and problem gambling was included in the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey and administered to 24,982 individuals aged 15 and older. The present analyses selected for adults (18þ).
Results: A total of 66.2% of people reported engaging in some type of gambling in 2018, primarily lottery and/or raffle tickets, the only type in which the majority of Canadians participate. There are some significant interprovincial differences, with
perhaps the most important one being the higher rate of electronic gambling machine (EGM) participation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The overall pattern of gambling in 2018 is very similar to 2002, although participation is generally much lower in
2018, particularly for EGMs and bingo. Only 0.6% of the population were identified as problem gamblers in 2018, with an additional 2.7% being at-risk gamblers. There is no significant interprovincial variation in problem gambling rates. The interprovincial pattern of problem gambling in 2018 is also very similar to what was found in 2002 with the main difference being a 45% decrease in the overall prevalence of problem gambling.
Conclusions: Gambling and problem gambling have both decreased in Canada from 2002 to 2018 although the provincial patterns are quite similar between the 2 time periods. Several mechanisms have likely collectively contributed to these declines. Decreases have also been reported in several other Western countries in recent years and have occurred despite the expansion of legal gambling opportunities, suggesting a degree of inoculation or adaptation in the population.
Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 2020
Rural homelessness is an emergent social concern in Canada but it remains overshadowed by urban h... more Rural homelessness is an emergent social concern in Canada but it remains overshadowed by urban homelessness policy and research agendas. Thus, it is rare to find extended academic discussions of rural homelessness and its causes. In this paper, we report on the findings of
a mixed-method rural homelessness study in a small Alberta prairie town (Canada). We explore the nature of transitions and how they place individuals at risk of housing risk and/or homelessness, particularly in a rural context. Findings reveal a complex interplay between external and internal resources and drivers that cast an individual into the liminal
space of housing risk and into homelessness, and that the rural context accentuates housing risk.
The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien, 2019
This paper examines indigeneity and spatial production in the city of Winnipeg, home to the large... more This paper examines indigeneity and spatial production in the city of Winnipeg, home to the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Using data from semi‐structured interviews with Indigenous inhabitants,
municipal officials, and Indigenous leaders, this paper argues that the right to the city and to difference are deradicalized for urban Indigenous communities. Indigenous engagement in processes of everyday urbanism occurs through broadly participatory public consultation and through mechanisms designed by City Hall to communicate with Indigenous communities about municipal initiatives. To arrive at a more robust and meaningful Indigenous urban visibility in Canadian cities, spatial production and programming mechanisms will need to be reconstituted. Guided by the perspectives of Indigenous participants, this paper considers some of what Indigenous urbanism might yet entail. Fulfilling coexistence and reconciliation is dependent on enabling Indigenous urbanism to guide the course taken in urban governance, spatial planning, and the built environment of Canadian cities.
In D. Long & G. Starblanket (ed.). Visions of the Heart: Canadian Aboriginal Issues, 5th Ed. pp. 34-58. Toronto: Oxford University Press. , 2019
Journal of Law and Social Policy, 2018
A fully edited version of this Work was first published by the Journal of Law and Social Policy (... more A fully edited version of this Work was first published by the Journal of Law and Social Policy (2018) Vol 30 (1), pp. 175-184.
Journal of Borderland Studies, 2018
Surface water access in northern Montana and southern Alberta is an historic political and econom... more Surface water access in northern Montana and southern Alberta is an historic political and economic concern that continues to spark contentious debate. It has however also led to several innovative attempts to reconcile differences through regional cooperation in management of transboundary rivers. One attempt—the formation of a Joint Initiative Team (JIT) in 2008 (to 2011) to investigate opportunities for each jurisdiction to improve shared water access of the St. Mary and Milk River systems—failed in its efforts to rescale the Alberta-Montana borderlands water management model. This paper explores this development, and adds to the literature by presenting a study evaluating the JIT’s attempt, and the factors leading to its demise. These lessons will be of interest to scholars interested in similar issues in other border areas.
In Jason Lacharite & Tracy Summerville (eds.). The Campbell Revolution? Power and Politics in British Columbia, 2001-2011. pp. 61-87. Kingston & Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press , 2017.
In Julie Pelletier & Rebecca Gerken (eds.). Gambling on Authenticity: Gaming, the Noble Savage, and the Not-So-New-Indian. pp. 57-84. East Lansing, MI.: Michigan State University Press, 2017.
In the 1990s First Nations employed various strategies to convince provincial officials in Albert... more In the 1990s First Nations employed various strategies to convince provincial officials in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario that they could successfully operate large, corporate casino operations. These strategies were required to challenge Canadian Indian policy and national economic development ideologies that simultaneously failed to acknowledge First Nations as significant economic players, and marginalized them on the national and provincial economic periphery. A long and drawn out process ensued, which this paper argues forced First Nations leaders to variously reinvent how they approached and later engaged provincial officials assigned the task of negotiating reserve casinos into existence. Three specific approaches to securing the right to construct and operate reserve casinos developed, and each is explored to help determine how First Nations adapted their public image in response to governmental and to a lesser extent public resistance: (1) Aboriginal rights challenges in the form of aggressive and, by all government accounts, illegal attempts to operate casinos outside of provincial jurisdiction; (2) Aboriginal rights claims that compelled federal officials to respond to legal challenges citing the First Nations self-governing authority to operate reserve casinos; and, (3) negotiations with provincial agents to legally secure the right to operate reserve casinos according to provincial jurisdiction. These combined approaches led to success and the construction of 14 First Nations prairie casinos, something that could not have occurred had First Nations not forged specific strategies based on a fluidity of public personas.
Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 2017
In what has been touted as an age of reconciliation growing urban Aboriginal populations in Canad... more In what has been touted as an age of reconciliation growing urban Aboriginal populations in Canada are seeking greater political representation and influence over municipal policy-making. They however find themselves consistently denied access to local government operations, which occurs regardless of a growing coterie of local government officials nationally who claim they too are seeking to improve municipal relations with urban Aboriginal peoples. This paper in turn explores the barriers to realizing the preferred relationships. The key issue can be traced to what we describe as the municipal problem, which is a collection of ideas based on non-Aboriginal peoples beliefs about ‘Indians’ which are then used to rationalize why urban Aboriginal political, social, and economic involvement and local development remains constrained. The discussion concludes by identifying the fundamental elements undermining likely municipal-Aboriginal approaches to co-production and improved engagement from evolving.
The Canadian Geographer / Le Geographe canadien, 2017
Prairie cities have large and growing Indigenous populations. The great resurgence of strong Indi... more Prairie cities have large and growing Indigenous populations. The great resurgence of strong Indigenous cultures in Canada should foretell the impact Indigeneity will have over coming years across the full spectrum of urban geography. The article uses original 2014 survey data collected from seven prairie cities to examine the following question: What does the non-Indigenous majority public think about increasing the role of Indigeneity in the procedural and material approaches to urbanism in prairie cities? Based on our findings we suggest that public attitudes among the non-Indigenous populations of prairie cities are changing and becoming more positive toward trying new approaches to enabling Indigenous urbanism. Support is somewhat greater for municipal-Indigenous governance options than for specific actions to infuse Indigeneity into the design and naming of public spaces.
Key Messages
• Public attitudes in prairie cities are generally supportive toward trying new approaches to Indigenous urbanism.
• Reconciliation will require transformative change to the ways non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples produce urban space together in shared territory.
• City leaders can find widespread support for efforts to strengthen municipal-Indigenous governance and representations within public spaces, with little reason to fear public opposition.
In Evelyn J. Peters & Julia Christensen (eds.). Indigenous Homelessness: Perspectives from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. pp. 161-184. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2016. Co-authored with Gabrielle Lindstrom.
Homelessness as we conceptualize it (i.e., lacking shelter) did not exist prior to colonial settl... more Homelessness as we conceptualize it (i.e., lacking shelter) did not exist prior to colonial settlement, and many would argue that it could not exist due to the fact that in Creation one is never alone. This chapter seeks to provide context to better understand modern Niitsitapi homelessness in a particular context, specifically that of being homeless in one’s homeland. This chapter explores: (1) how being and becoming homeless informs one’s connection to the land; and, (2) whether this connection to a homeland obliges individuals to remain homeless in traditional territories rather than seeking shelter in foreign territories.
International Gambling Studies, 2016
North American Aboriginals have an extensive cultural history of gambling. The purpose of this st... more North American Aboriginals have an extensive cultural history of gambling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of modern western gambling on these traditional beliefs. This is the first large-scale study of this issue in Canada. A total of 1114 Aboriginals in 15 cities in Canada’s Prairie Provinces were surveyed, with recruitment occurring at Native Friendship Centres, shopping malls and other locations where Aboriginals congregated. Results showed that ‘gambling’ to most urban Aboriginal people refers to western commercial forms, something distinct from historical traditions. Attitudes toward gambling were negative, except whether Aboriginal provision of western commercial forms was good or bad for Aboriginal people, where opinion was divided. Primary motivations for gambling were the same as for non-Aboriginals: to win money and for entertainment. Although attitudes and motivations were quite similar to non-Aboriginals, overall level of gambling participation was higher, especially for electronic gambling machines, instant lotteries and bingo. It is concluded that Canadian Aboriginals have a largely westernized orientation to western forms of gambling. The policy implication of this finding is that the factors predictive of gambling benefits as well as the factors predictive of gambling harm among Aboriginals do not appear to be culturally unique.
Indian Gaming Lawyer (Autumn 2016)
This article provides an overview of the First Nations gaming industry in Canada in order to prov... more This article provides an overview of the First Nations gaming industry in Canada in order to provide some comparative explanation for the disparate scope, size, and impacts of the indigenous gaming industries in each country.
This presentation that explores First Nations and Aboriginal homelessness trends in Canada was on... more This presentation that explores First Nations and Aboriginal homelessness trends in Canada was one of five presentations to officially launch the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (COH). The COH builds on the work of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) and introduces a program of research that includes local, provincial and national monitoring activities, as well as original research that addresses key issues in homelessness. COH includes researchers, service providers, policy and decision makers, people with lived experience of homelessness as well as graduate and undergraduate students from across Canada with a passion for social justice issues and a desire to solve homelessness in our communities.
Acknowledging the fact that homelessness as the Niitsitapi conceptualize it (i.e., lacking shelte... more Acknowledging the fact that homelessness as the Niitsitapi conceptualize it (i.e., lacking shelter) did not exist prior to colonial settlement, and that many would argue that it could not exist due to the fact that in Creation one is never alone, the project in question sought to understand modern Blackfoot homelessness in a particular context, specifically that of being homeless in one’s homeland. This chapter expands on these findings and explores: (1) how being and becoming homeless informs one’s connection to the land; and, (2) whether this connection to a homeland obliges individuals to remain homeless in traditional territories rather than seeking shelter in foreign territories.
Executive Summary The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples does not spe... more Executive Summary
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples does not specifically identify or mention urban Indigenous peoples. Its focus is Indigenous peoples, writ large. Urban Indigenous peoples are nevertheless included in this definition, which decrees all Indigenous
peoples have the right to self-determination. This conceptualization challenges popular Canadian government legal and policy approaches to Indigenous issues that arguably remain path dependent and encourage Indigenous peoples to work within Canadian institutions that refuse to acknowledge their self-determination rights. Despite the fact that Bill C-15 is currently under evaluation, the version tabled in December 2020 suggests that Canada remains unwilling to expand its conception of Indigenous self-determination or Aboriginal self-government to
recognize urban Indigenous peoples. This report will juxtapose and evaluate the UN’s decolonizing approach with that of Canada’s embedded settler colonial approach to highlight the Declaration’s role in potentially mitigating settler colonialism’s impacts. By embracing the
Declaration’s spirit of decolonization, which requests state officials abandon their use of racial formation and inaccurate stereotypes to gauge urban Indigenous self-determination claims, and to reconsider the standing of Indigenous peoples without the aid of settler colonial
frameworks, I propose that this is the necessary first step in establishing the factual and relational foundation needed to foster transformative negotiations amongst political contemporaries based on common terms of reference.
UNLV University Libraries Special Collections & Archives and the Center for Gaming Research welco... more UNLV University Libraries Special Collections & Archives and the Center for Gaming Research welcomes our latest Eadington Fellow, Yale Belanger, professor of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge in the province of Alberta, Canada. Belanger is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists, author of the book Gambling with the Future, and editor of First Nations Gaming in Canada. Friday, May 31 at 3 p.m., Goldfield Room.
