Aboriginal Issues in Canada

1. Aboriginal Issues in Canada Rotary Club of Guelph Saturday, January 21, 2012

2. First the Facts Library of Parliament Primer on Aboriginal Issues http://carolynbennett.liberal.ca/blog/primer-on-aboriginal-issues/

3. First Nations, Inuit and Métis make up 3.8% of Canada’s total population (1,172,790 people).

4. First Nation people (both status &non-status Indians) account for close to 60% of Canada’s Aboriginal people.

5. There are approximately 630 First Nation communities in Canada.

6. The Métis share of the Aboriginal population is approximately 30%. The Inuit make up 4% of the total Aboriginal population.

7. The Aboriginal population in Canada grew 45% between 1996 and 2006 – six times faster than the non-Aboriginal population.

8. Almost half (48%)of the Aboriginal population is age 24 and under, compared with 31% of the non-Aboriginal population.

9. The median age of the Aboriginal population is 27 years.

10. In 2006, 50% of the on-reserve First Nations population aged 25 to 64 did not complete high school, compared with 15% for other Canadians.

11. Overall, 34% of the Aboriginal population, aged 25-64 years, did not have a high school leaving certificate.

12. 8% of Aboriginal people have a Bachelor Degree or higher, compared to 22% of non-Aboriginal Canadians.

13. In 2004, the Auditor General found that, at current rates of progress, it would take 28 years for First Nations on reserves to reach educational parity with non-Aboriginal Canadians.

14. The high school graduation rate for students on reserve actually decreased from 35.6 percent in 2008-2009 to 33.3 percent in 2009-2010.

15. By 2026, 36% of the population 15-29 years old in Saskatchewan is expected to be Aboriginal. In Manitoba, this proportion is projected to be 28%.

16. In 2006, the median income for Aboriginal peoples was $18,962 – 30% lower than the $27,097 median income for the rest of Canadians.

17. Non-Aboriginal people working on urban reserves earn 34% more than First Nation workers. On rural reserves, non-Aboriginals earn 88% more.

18. 23% of Inuit households in Nunavut experience overcrowding, compared to 1.4% of non-Aboriginal households.

19. First Nations peoples are 5 times more likely than non-Aboriginals to live in overcrowded homes, and 4 times more likely to live in dwellings requiring major repairs.

20. The federal government estimates that there is a need for approximately 20,000 to 35,000 new housing units on First Nations reserve.

21. The Assembly of First Nations estimates that the need for housing on reserve is as high as 85,000 new units.

22. A federal assessment has found that 39 percent of First Nations water systems are at high risk of being unsafe.

23. As of July 31, 201, there were 126 First Nations communities under drinking water advisories.

24. Suicide rates among First Nations are 5 times higher than the general population.

25. Suicide rates among Inuit are 11 times higher than among non-Aboriginal Canadians.

26. Nunavut reports a suicide rate 40 times the Canadian average for young Inuit men.

27. The life expectancy of First Nation citizens is 5 to 7 years less than non-Aboriginal Canadians.

28. Among the Inuit in Canada, life expectancy is almost 15 years lower than the national average.

29. Nunavut’s infant mortality rate is almost 4 times higher than the general population.

30. Tuberculosis rates among First Nations living on-reserve are 31 times the national average.

31. The rate of tuberculosis among Inuit is 185 times the rate of non-Inuit Canadians.

32. According to a recent study, nearly 70% of Inuit preschoolers live in households rated as “food insecure.”

33. In addition to community governments and leaders, Aboriginal peoples are represented by five national organizations (NAOs):

34. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) represents First Nations in Canada, in particular “Status Indians” living on reserve. Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is National Chief of the AFN www.afn.ca

35. The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is the national Inuit organization, representing 55,000 Inuit living in Nunavut, Labrador, Quebec &the NWT. Mary Simon is ITK’s President www.itk.ca

36. The Métis National Council (MNC) represents the Métis of the historic Métis Nation. The MNC President is ClémentChartier www.metisnation.ca

37. The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) represents First Nations women across Canada. NWAC’s President is Jeannette Corbiere Lavell. www.nwac.ca

38. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) describes its constituency as including Métis, non-registered and off-reserve First Nations. Betty Ann Lavallé is CAP’s National Chief. http://www.abo-peoples.org/e

39. The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) manages and administers federal funding for friendship centers in urban communities. The President of NAFC is Vera Pawis Tabobondung. www.nafc.ca

40. On June 11, 2008, the Prime Minister offered a Statement of Apology to the former schools of the Indian Residential Schools on behalf of the Government of Canada.

41. The Indian Residential Schools education system saw more than 150,000 Aboriginal children taken to boarding schools, to be “civilized,” educated and converted to Christianity.

42. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN in 2007. Canada endorsed the Declaration on November 12, 2010.

43. CBC 8th Fire http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire/ http://ww3.tvo.org/video/171107/paul-martin-aboriginal-initiative http://ww3.tvo.org/video/171108/canadian-aboriginals-or-out UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf Shannen’s Dream http://www.fncfcs.com/shannensdream/ Jordan’s Principle http://www.fncfcs.com/jordans-principle Kelowna Accord http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/aboriginal-first-ministers-meeting I am a witness http://www.fncfcs.com/fnwitness/