Federal government fails aboriginal children







Poverty among Indigenous Groups in Canada is much higher than anyone could have anticipated. The Center for Policy Alternatives which has existed since 1980 and described on its website as an “independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with social, economic, and environmental justice,” has released a study in partnership with Save the Children Canada.

Save the Children Canada, a branch of Save the Children International, describes itself on their website as an organization which

“Operates programs domestically and internationally that focus[es] on the issues of health and nutrition, education, HIV and AIDS, child protection, livelihoods and food security, emergency relief and child rights governance.”

The study released on June 12th illustrated a disturbing trend among our country’s Indigenous children. Four in ten Indigenous Canadian children live in poverty, which the report found was twice the national rate. The study cites a deficit in basic social services as the reason for the increase in poverty.

"Indigenous children trail the rest of Canada's children on practically every measure of well-being: family income, educational attainment, poor water quality, infant mortality, health, suicide, crowding and homelessness," the report explained.

The report also notes that these rates of poverty include ‘status’ First Nations living on reserves. In addition, the study finds children living in the prairies in provinces such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba experience the worst conditions- with two-thirds living bellow the poverty line.

The report estimates it would take about one billion dollars Canadian to ensure all Indigenous children would be living in conditions above the poverty line. The report underlines the importance of improving basic services for Indigenous people.

"Progress in providing basic services for Indigenous peoples such as safe water, good-quality education and adequate housing remains disturbingly slow."

Canada is a country which voted ‘no’ in 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a bill which aimed at protecting Indigenous people.

Four years later, Canadians and people around the world watched in horror as the horrendous living conditions of people on first nations reserves were discovered.  Attawapiskat was one of these largely publicized reserves, and is relatively isolated located in Northern Ontario where inhabitants live in tents without plumbing, electricity, or heating.

Clearly, a disconnect exists between the needs of these people, and the federal governments commitment to them. Indigenous rights are Canadian rights, and not only is it shameful to allow them to live in these conditions, it also damages Canada’s reputation abroad.

Human rights groups and the United Nations are so concerned, that they have requested to examine the living conditions of Indigenous people themselves.

Deepak Obhrai, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, has said on May 10th to the CBC "We are proud of our record, so there is nothing to hide, Canada has nothing to hide."

This response is almost worse, as there is clear evidence of neglect, yet the federal government seems to be owning its actions (or lack thereof).

The June 12th report warns that should the federal government fail to heed the warnings of the report, and make changes, Indigenous children will experience devastating consequences, including shorter life expectancy.

"Failure to act will result in a more difficult, less productive, and shorter life for Indigenous children."


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