ce Lux explains the creation of ‘Indian’ hospitals and the hardships that came along with it, she moves on to depict the conditions within these hospitals and the constant fight between the staff, patients, communities and government which ultimately prevented any meaningful health care from being administered (Lux, 2016). From the descriptions she provides, the conditions within these hospitals sound more similar to those of a prison than to an institution which is supposed to protect and care for its patients. One example is how Aboriginal patients, even children, were treated as prisoners, unable to leave the hospital until they were told they were allowed (Lux, 2016). Staff even went so far as to physically restrain children who they said needed to learn discipline. Young children were tied to their bed, however, many learned how to free themselves from these constraints. They were subsequently forced to wear leg casts that prevented them from moving or walking. At Fort Qu’Appelle children were even put in straightjackets when they were disobedient (Lux, 2016, p. 105). Harsh treatment like this continued for many years for children and adults. Fed up with their hospitals’ conditions, many Inuit patients began writing letters to the administrators, hoping to get in contact with their loved ones and ask for help with their situation (Lux, 2016, p. 106). Unfortunately, their concerns were largely unheard and the hospital environments only got worse (Lux, 2016).

The author then depicts the unfortunate turn of events as the patients’ lives and experiences were used by the government to portray a false image of what it was like to live in an ‘Indian’ hospital (Lux, 2016, p. 129). Despite the loud cries from Aboriginal patients that they were suffering at these hospitals, positive images and stories were curated to support the narrative that the government was doing great humanitarian work and that even the “Indian problem” could be cured (Lux, 2016). Many patients were angered that their words and stories were used against them, as “propaganda” used to assure Canadians that all was well inside ‘Indian’ hospitals (Lux, 2016, p. 129). This was far from the truth. Lux argues that by “pathologizing Aboriginality” and showing that it can be cured and controlled, the Canadian government effectively achieved their goal of assimilation of ‘Indians’ into white society (Lux, 2016, p. 129). Despite this, Lux argues, by continuing to provide free health care to Indigenous peoples, regardless of the pretence or consequence, what the government agencies did not realize is that they were paving the way for Aboriginal communities to co