The paper explores the historical and socio-economic context of Aboriginal women's lives that have so profoundly impacted their health and wellbeing. It provides an overview of some of the health disparities between First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women compared with non-Aboriginal women today, and of the barriers that must be overcome to address these disparities. The paper concludes by highlighting some promising examples of legal, policy and program initiatives that have been implemented to address some of these pressing health issues.