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- Out of all the children in foster care more than half are from indigenous communities, about 25 000 children.

- the residential school is where most of the parents of this generation's children went as kids, where they got separated from their parents. Before the kids were taught by their grandparents, but they got separated long ago from their children due to the residential school. So the children are sent to foster care.

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The indigenous people's housing conditions are in dire need of change.
- First the size of the houses, they are not adequate to house the large number of people that live in them. In many cases the houses of overcrowded, about 7 times more crowded than non-indigenous houses.

- Secondly, the conditions of the houses themself are not living conditions. There's no running water, the toilets are not enough for the number of people living and they have infrastructure problems. 43% of houses in reserves need renovation while only 7% of houses outside the reserves need urgent renovations.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/shacks-and-slop-pails-infrastructure-crisis-on-native-reserves-1.1004957

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Quebec may have its crumbling overpasses and Ontario its aging power plants, but there is no doubt that many of Canada's most glaring infrastructure problems are on aboriginal reserves.

From roads to water to housing, First Nations' infrastructure troubles run the gamut.

In Wasagamack First Nation, a remote northern Manitoba community, the majority of residents have no indoor plumbing and rely on outhouses, slop pails and frequent trips to a communal water station. The same is true across the border in Pikangikum, an Ojibwa community in northwestern Ontario where 70 per cent of the population is under 25 and which has had an alarming number of suicides among youth.

First Nations infrastructure

The CBC News series The Big Fix examines Canada's crumbling infrastructure and what's needed to repair it. Stories that look at infrastructure challenges facing First Nations include:

Housing: Nearly half of the houses on Canadian reserves require major repairs, and overcrowding rates are six times greater on reserve than off. Read the article

Water: Bringing water and sewer systems on reserves up to standard and maintaining them that way for the next 10 years would cost about $10 billion. Read the article

Pikangikum: Watch Coleen Rajotte's report on the troubled Ojibwa community and visit the 8th Fire Facebook site to get a preview of 8th Fire, an upcoming CBC-Radio-Canada documentary series on aboriginal peoples in Canada.

Three northern Ontario reserves off of James Bay declared a state of emergency in late September because of a housing shortage.

One of them, Attawapiskat, about 500 kilometres north of Timmins, Ont., has resorted to housing people in uninsulated sheds, wood-frame tents heated by wood stoves and donated construction trailers, where some families have been living for two years already.

"Even newborn babies are residing in these sheds, and there's no water hookup and no hydro hookup," Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence said.

Of the roughly 500,000 people who live on Canada's 3,117 reserves, thousands are still without indoor plumbing and a quarter rely on water systems that pose potential risks to health, safety and the environment. More than 120 native communities were under a drinking water advisory as of Oct. 31.

Infrastructure gap

Housing on reserves is generally substandard, dilapidated and overcrowded.

Portables, not buildings, are the norm for schoolchildren in many First Nations communities.

Remote reserves depend on ice roads and have only a two- to three-month window to bring in building supplies for the year.

The infrastructure problems, which bring with them a host of physical and social ills, have persisted for many years, and even the government officials responsible for Canada's 631 First Nations admit there has been little to no improvement in recent decades.

"The gap between First Nations and ...Canadians has, seemingly, over the last few generations just grown so deep," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo in an interview with CBCNews.ca. "A lot of it has to do with maybe even 'out of sight, out of mind' - not knowing what's happening in places like northern Saskatchewan or northern Manitoba.

"The images of communities where there's slop pails, no running water, no reliable power ... it's just not a story that is well understood. Nor [are] perhaps the underlying reasons, particularly, the policy reasons - the fact that we've all inherited an Indian Act that's 125 years old now that isn't serving anybody."

Since 2006, the federal government has spent about $1.4 billion on native housing and, by 2013, will have spent $2.5 billion on water and sewage systems. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), the federal department responsible for First Nations, said it is committed to improving the quality of life and provision of safe drinking water on reserves, but federal spending has not kept up with need.

The AFN estimates that capital expenditures on reserves are underfunded by $169 to $189 million annually and operations and maintenance expenditures by $11 million. It says 40 new schools, at a cost of $12.5 million each, and 85,000 housing units would have to be built just to meet current needs.

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The kind of infrastructure that many reserves lack is what is usually provided by municipalities or provinces and territories. But under the Indian Act, this is the federal government's responsibility.

But while most Canadians have provincial and municipal codes that guarantee minimum standards in areas such as water quality, First Nations are at the whim of policy, with no legislative framework to fall back on.

AUDIO: Life on reserve

Listen to CBC Radio's Karen Pauls report on life on two Manitoba reserves:

Gary and Darlene McDougall and their five children share a cramped, cold home with no indoor plumbing in Wasagamack First Nation. LISTEN

Three generations of the Harper family live in a home on the Wasagamack reserve with no running water and a slop pail for a toilet. LISTEN

The water problems on the Garden Hill First Nation have caught the attention of the Mennonite Central Committee, which usually works in developing countries. LISTEN

"As a result, the services delivered ... are not always well defined, and there is confusion about federal responsibility for funding them adequately," the June 2011 auditor general's report said.

"It is not always evident whether the federal government is committed to providing services on reserves of the same range and quality as those provided to other communities across Canada."

The whim of policy

Also, unlike cities or provinces, First Nations have no tax base and little independent revenue with which to fund infrastructure.

While some communities have access to revenue from natural resources or commercial ventures, many are not so lucky and struggle with high rates of unemployment and low individual incomes, which puts more financial responsibility on the bands themselves.

As well, the small size of many First Nations communities rules out the economies of scale that can help bring large infrastructure projects on line. Around 500,000 First Nations people live on reserves, but 79 per cent of these reserves have fewer than 1,000 residents, and 57 per cent have less than 500 residents.

The federal funding that reserves do get is allocated on a year-to-year basis, which makes the kind of long-term planning that is essential for building infrastructure difficult.

"Because these are simply policy line items in budgets and not fixed statutory long-term guarantees, there's an inability for a community to do the kind of planning that any community would expect to be able to accomplish," said Atleo.

What's more, when funding does come, it can be out of sync with community needs.

In remote northern communities, especially, the timing of federal budgets is not conducive to a construction window that is short and limited by weather and geography. Money often doesn't arrive until late summer, past the peak construction period, so projects get delayed and their costs rise.

The auditor general criticized the government's funding approach as piecemeal and not always in line with its policies. The strategy for dealing with the rampant problem of mould contamination in houses on reserve, for example, focused on educating people about the problem but didn't provide the funding to eliminate it, the audit said.

Atleo says such an approach leaves communities continually scrambling. When an injection of cash does come, it's often not enough to fully tackle a problem and usually comes out of the budget of some other community, which creates tensions between different First Nations and regions of the country.

"The moment a community gets a school, it's like winning the lottery," Atleo says. "There might be resources for only a few schools per year when 40 are needed. And then, when those few communities do get their schools, they'll be so far behind the eight ball, because the design and the resources to run their schools aren't there for the long run."

Buried under bureaucracy

Another obstacle to improving infrastructure on reserves is what the auditor general described as the "burdensome" reporting requirements that First Nations face when accessing federal funds.

In 2009-10, the AANDC required a total of 32,000 reports from 600 First Nations, the report found.

This cumbersome federal bureaucracy overwhelms what are often small communities with little administrative capacity.

A federal evaluation of First Nations housing found that when the Paul Martin government released $295 million in extra funding for housing in 2005, many First Nations said they didn't have the staff to figure out how to access the money and fulfill the additional reporting requirements and conditions.

Others say that even when they do supply all the right paperwork, they sometimes don't hear back for months.

"Basically, it can really get lost just by landing on the wrong desk," says Clint Barton, the 39-year-old housing manager of Gingolx, one of four villages that make up the Nisga'a First Nation on the northwest coast of B.C. "Sometimes, we'd wait a year to get an answer on an application - only after we had to resubmit it three or four times."

The failure of the current system has forced some First Nations leaders to look outside the sphere of government for help with their infrastructure needs.

Earlier this fall, Atleo addressed Canada's philanthropic community, urging it to focus its charity away from development projects in the Third World and toward First Nations communities, many of which have living conditions that aren't that far off from those in developing countries.

He has also encouraged partnerships with private industry, soliciting the advice of celebrity renovator Mike Holmes and groups like Habitat for Humanity.

Atleo says he's turned to these measures "only because the needs are so dire, they're so immediate."

"What's really required is an expression of political will," he said.

Breaking free of Indian Act

Some First Nations frustrated with the status quo have decided to break with the federal system altogether and signed self-governance agreements that will eventually make them financially independent.

Tsawwassen First Nation, a Coast Salish community 25 kilometres south of Vancouver, signed a self-governance treaty with B.C. and the federal government that took effect in 2009.

It's an urban community with valuable assets like proximity to a commercial port and revenue from private residential developments, so the transition was easier than it would be for more remote and poorer First Nations.

Still, it was not without its challenges. Tsawwassen is having to create dozens of new laws and government structures and take on financial burdens previously assumed by the federal government, including about $100 million in needed infrastructure upgrades - none of which Chief Kim Baird would trade for the old status quo.

"There isn't enough money through Indian Affairs to pay for major capital investment in infrastructure like local governments have," she said.

"The problem under the Indian reserve system is that the capital deficit is just so enormous.

"When we went into self-government, we knew we were taking on that responsibility, and it wasn't something we were too happy to take on ... but the federal government was really failing us in that regard."

Baird says one of her proudest moments post-treaty was when Tsawwassen was able to access $9 million in federal infrastructure funds through the economic stimulus program as equal partners with the province and the federal government (each contributed $3 million to develop Tsawwassen's industrial lands near the port).

"One of the big surprises to me is the fact that everyone recognizes us as another government now," she said. "Before, we were constantly asserting it, but no one treated us that way. Now, when we walk into a situation, it's a given, and that's really, really changed the dynamics in any number of situations."

Since moving to self-government and becoming part of Metro Vancouver, Baird has also witnessed what a benefit it can be to be integrated into regional and local government structures, which have legislation in place that enable communities to be able to pay for infrastructure and other needs.

"Even though municipalities are a creature of provincial government, it's integrated in a way that municipalities can succeed whereas there's this disconnect with the reserve system to reality," Baird said.

"What it has allowed me to see is just how inadequate the Indian Act system really is as far as having a separate legal, political system and structure for First Nations that are so not integrated with the rest of Canadian society in any way. It's quite alarming, actually, and really tells me why reserves are facing so many problems."

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Shacks and slop pails: infrastructure crisis on native reserves | CBC News

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Quebec may have its crumbling overpasses and Ontario its aging power plants, but there is no doubt that many of Canada's most glaring infrastructure problems are on aboriginal reserves. In the first of a three-part series, we examine the challenges facing First Nations struggling with housing shortages and a lack of clean water.

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https://cichprofile.ca/module/7/section/4/page/first-nations-housing-on-reserve/#:~:text=The%20average%20number%20of%20First,that%20of%20non%2DIndigenous%20people.

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First Nations Housing On Reserve – The Health of Canada’s Children and Youth

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https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/98-200-X/2021007/98-200-X2021007-eng.cfm

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Highlights

In 2021, over one in six Indigenous people (17.1%) lived in crowded housing that was considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there.

The share of Indigenous people living in crowded housing declined overall among all three groups (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) from 2016 to 2021, including among First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living on reserve. However, for Inuit living in Nunavut, the Inuvialuit region and outside Inuit Nunangat, the share living in crowded housing increased from 2016 to 2021.

Multigenerational households were the most common living arrangement among First Nations people living in crowded housing (34.5%), followed by couples living with children (21.7%). Among Métis and Inuit living in crowded housing, the most common living arrangement was couples living with children.

Indigenous people were almost twice as likely to live in crowded housing in 2021, compared with the non-Indigenous population (17.1% versus 9.4%). However, the gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population narrowed by 1.7 percentage points from 2016 to 2021.

In 2021, 16.4% of Indigenous people lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs.

First Nations people and Métis were less likely to be living in a dwelling in need of major repairs in 2021, compared with five years earlier. For Inuit overall, the share living in a dwelling in need of major repairs in 2021 was similar to 2016 levels, while Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat (+1.2 percentage points) were more likely to live in housing needing major repairs.

Indigenous people were almost three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs (16.4%) in 2021 than the non-Indigenous population (5.7%). Nevertheless, the gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population narrowed by 2.3 percentage points from 2016 to 2021.

Introduction

Adequate and suitable housing that provides residents with a safe environment to live and work in is essential for mental and physical well-being and a higher quality of life. Living in poor housing conditions, such as houses with overcrowding, mould or structural defects, is associated with the spread of infectious and respiratory diseases, chronic illness, injuries, and poorer mental health. ,

In 2019, the National Housing Strategy Act declared that "the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right affirmed in international law" and recognized that having an affordable and safe place to live gives individuals and families the environment they need to succeed, grow and live in dignity. However, many Indigenous people in Canada live in inadequate housing, particularly among those living in remote or northern communities.

Although the 2016 Census of Population revealed that housing conditions among Indigenous people had improved overall, they remained much more likely to be living in inadequate housing than the non-Indigenous population.

This article uses new data from the 2021 Census of Population to report on housing conditions among Indigenous people in Canada. In addition, it will examine how housing conditions have changed among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit since 2016.

Over one in six Indigenous people live in crowded housing

Over one in six Indigenous people (17.1%, or 309,345 people) lived in housing that was considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there, according to the National Occupancy Standard. Housing suitability is a measure of crowding, which refers to whether a dwelling has enough bedrooms for the size and composition of the household.

Crowded housing is categorized into dwellings that have a shortfall of one, two, or three or more bedrooms. Just over 1 in 10 Indigenous people (10.7%) lived in housing that had a one-bedroom shortfall, 3.7% lived in housing with a two-bedroom shortfall, and 2.8% lived in housing with a shortfall of three or more bedrooms.

Nevertheless, the share of Indigenous people living in crowded housing declined by 0.9 percentage points from 2016 to 2021.

While the share of Indigenous people living in crowded housing remained much higher than the non-Indigenous population (17.1% versus 9.4%), the gap between the two groups narrowed from 9.5 percentage points in 2016 to 7.8 percentage points in 2021.

Fewer Indigenous people live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with five years earlier

Approximately one in six Indigenous people (16.4%, or 295,745 people) lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs in 2021, down 2.7 percentage points from 2016.

Dwellings in need of major repairs include those that require major repairs such as defective plumbing or electrical wiring and those that require structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings.

Although Indigenous people were almost three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs (16.4%) than the non-Indigenous population (5.7%) in 2021, the gap narrowed by 2.3 percentage points from 2016.

First Nations people living on reserve are more likely to live in crowded housing

Over one in five First Nations people (21.4%, or 224,280 people) lived in crowded housing in 2021, with 12.9% living in housing with a one-bedroom shortfall, 4.8% living in housing with a two-bedroom shortfall and 3.8% living in housing with a shortfall of three or more bedrooms. Overall, the share of First Nations people living in crowded housing declined by 1.2 percentage points from 2016.

First Nations people who had Registered or Treaty Indian status under the Indian Act were over twice as likely to live in crowded housing, compared with First Nations people without Registered or Treaty Indian status (25.4% versus 11.2%).

First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living on reserve were almost twice as likely to live in crowded housing, compared with those who lived off reserve (35.7% versus 18.4%). However, the share of First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living in a crowded dwelling on a reserve fell at a faster pace from 2016 to 2021, compared with that of their counterparts living off reserve (-0.6 percentage points versus -0.2 percentage points).

Just over one-third (34.5%) of First Nations people in crowded housing were living in a multigenerational household, with at least one person living with a child and a grandchild. This share was higher (44.9%) among First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living on reserve.

In multigenerational households, grandparents play an important role in raising children and passing on traditional values, knowledge and teachings to younger generations. In addition, living in a multigenerational household may be a family's solution to housing issues in their community, such as affordability or housing shortages.

Other common living arrangements among First Nations people living in crowded housing included couples living with children (21.7%) and one-parent families (18.2%).

Nationally, First Nations people were most likely to live in crowded housing in Manitoba (35.7%) and Saskatchewan (34.3%) and least likely to do so in Atlantic Canada.

Fewer First Nations people living in a dwelling in need of major repairs

In 2021, almost one in five First Nations people (19.7%, or 206,845 people) were living in a dwelling in need of major repairs, down 3.9 percentage points from 2016.

First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status were more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with those without Registered or Treaty Indian status (22.8% versus 12.0%).

Over one-third of First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living on reserve lived in a dwelling in need of major repairs (37.4%), almost three times the rate of their counterparts living off reserve (12.7%). Nevertheless, the share of First Nations people with Registered or Treaty Indian status living in a dwelling in need of major repairs on a reserve fell at a faster pace from 2016 to 2021 than the share of those living off reserve (-6.5 percentage points versus -1.4 percentage points).

Nationally, the share of First Nations people living in dwellings in need of major repairs was highest in the Northwest Territories (30.0%) and Manitoba (28.7%) and lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador (8.6%).

Approximately 1 in 12 Métis live in crowded housing

Approximately 1 in 12 Métis (7.9%, or 49,565 people) were living in crowded housing in 2021, down 0.6 percentage points from 2016.

In 2021, 6.2% of Métis were living in housing with a one-bedroom shortfall, 1.3% were living in housing with a two-bedroom shortfall and 0.5% were living in housing with a shortfall of three or more bedrooms.

Among Métis living in crowded housing in 2021, one-quarter were living in a household composed of a couple with children (25.6%). Other common living arrangements among Métis living in crowded housing included one-parent families (23.3%) and multigenerational households (22.0%).

Nationally, the share of Métis living in crowded housing was higher in Yukon (10.9%), the Northwest Territories (10.7%) and Manitoba (10.0%), and lower in Newfoundland and Labrador (4.4%) and Nova Scotia (4.9%).

In 2021, 335,350 Métis were living in a census metropolitan area (CMA) of 100,000 or more people. Métis living in a CMA were more likely to live in crowded housing, compared with their counterparts living outside a large city (8.3% versus 7.5%). Among those living in large cities, the highest share of Métis living in crowded housing was seen in Kingston (14.8%), Toronto (11.3%) and Winnipeg (11.1%).

Métis less likely to be living in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with five years earlier

In 2021, approximately 1 in 10 Métis (10.0%, or 62,640 people) were living in a dwelling in need of major repairs, down 1.2 percentage points from 2016.

The share of Métis living in a dwelling in need of major repairs was lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador (8.2%), British Columbia (9.0%), and Alberta (9.0%), and highest in the Northwest Territories (19.4%), New Brunswick (13.7%) and Yukon (13.2%).

Métis living outside a large city were more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with their counterparts living in a CMA (11.5% versus 8.7%). However, among Métis residing in CMAs, the share living in a dwelling in need of major repairs was higher for those in Trois-Rivières, Quebec (15.9%); Saint John, New Brunswick (14.6%); and Moncton, New Brunswick (12.5%).

Just over half of Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat-specifically Nunavut-live in crowded housing

Just over two in five Inuit (40.1%, or 28,260 people) lived in crowded housing in 2021, with 20.7% living in housing with a one-bedroom shortfall, 10.0% with a two-bedroom shortfall and 9.4% with a shortfall of three or more bedrooms.

This large share of Inuit living in crowed housing was mainly driven by those living in Inuit Nunangat, who were four times more likely to live in crowded housing than Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (52.9% versus 11.4%). Inuit Nunangat is the traditional homeland of Inuit, which includes Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (northern Quebec), Nunavut and the Inuvialuit region (Northwest Territories).

Among Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat, those living in Nunavut (60.0%) were the most likely to live in crowded housing, while those in Nunatsiavut (17.7%) were the least likely to do so.

Within Inuit Nunangat, the lack of access to appropriate and affordable housing is well documented. Inuit living in these regions face a number of challenges, including high construction, operation and maintenance costs. In addition, due to barriers such as higher costs of living, fewer employment opportunities, lower income levels and the lack of housing markets for resale, many Inuit rely on public or subsidized housing.

Among Inuit living in crowded housing in 2021, the living arrangements were mostly made up of couples living with children (36.3%) and multigenerational households (35.4%). Over one-third of Inuit living in crowded housing in Inuit Nunangat were couples living with children (37.2%) or multigenerational households (36.7%). Outside Inuit Nunangat, approximately one-quarter of Inuit living in crowded housing were couples living with children (27.6%) or multigenerational households (22.9%).

Overall, the share of Inuit living in crowded housing edged down 0.6 percentage points from 2016 to 2021. There were fewer Inuit living in crowded dwellings in Nunatsiavut (-2.5 percentage points) and Nunavik (-5.1 percentage points) compared with five years earlier, and more Inuit living in crowded housing in Nunavut (+3.6 percentage points), the Inuvialuit region (+1.9 percentage points) and outside Inuit Nunangat (+0.4 percentage points).

Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat are more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs

Over one-quarter of Inuit (26.2%, or 18,460 people) were living in a dwelling in need of major repairs in 2021. However, Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat were almost three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with their counterparts living outside Inuit Nunangat (32.7% versus 11.5%).

Within Inuit Nunangat, approximately one-third of Inuit in Nunavut (35.5%) and the Inuvialuit region (33.0%) were living in a dwelling in need of major repairs, compared with one-quarter of Inuit living in Nunatsiavut (28.2%) and Nunavik (26.5%).

Overall, Inuit were as likely to be living in dwellings in need of major repairs in 2021 as they were in 2016. However, Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat were more likely to be living in a dwelling in need of major repairs (+1.2 percentage points) compared with five years earlier, while Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (-0.6 percentage points) were slightly less likely to be living in a dwelling requiring major repairs.

Looking ahead

In the coming months, releases from the Census of Population will provide more comprehensive data for Indigenous people living in Canada. Upcoming data releases for the 2021 Census include education and labour force characteristics, which will provide a more comprehensive socioeconomic portrait of Indigenous populations in Canada.

Additional information

Additional analysis on First Nations people, Métis and Inuit can be found in the Daily article; in the Census in Brief article on Métis in Canada, Catalogue no. 98-200-X; and in the article on shelter costs on reserve.

Additional information on First Nations people, Métis and Inuit can be found in the data tables; the Census Profile, Catalogue no. 98-316-X; and the Focus on Geography Series, Catalogue no. 98-404-X.

For details on the concepts, definitions and variables used in the 2021 Census of Population, please consult the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

In addition to response rates and other data quality information, the Guide to the Census of Population, Catalogue no. 98-304-X, provides an overview of the various phases of the census, including content determination, sampling design, collection, data processing, data quality assessment, confidentiality guidelines and dissemination.

Acknowledgments

This report was prepared by Alexandria Melvin and Thomas Anderson of Statistics Canada's Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships, with the assistance of other staff members in that centre, and the collaboration of staff members of the Census Subject Matter Secretariat, Census Operations Division, Communications Branch, and Data Access and Dissemination Branch.

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Housing conditions among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada from the 2021 Census

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This Census in Brief article reports on housing conditions among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in 2021. It describes the share of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit living in crowded dwellings and dwellings in need of major repair, and reports variation by provinces, territories, and the regions of Inuit Nunangat.

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- 73 percent of First Nations water systems are at risk of contamination. This means that most of the water drank by indigenous people is probably contaminated, which is a vast amount. Water contamination can lead to many diseases and digestif problems.

- Most of the reserves are around a lack,river and a body of water, but they can't use it to drink. Seeing water every morning that you can't help your people with is frustrating, even for me.

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https://canadians.org/fn-water/

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Safe Water for First Nations

Nothing is more important than clean water.

Yet at any given time there are drinking water advisories in dozens of First Nations communities across Canada. The lack of clean, safe drinking water in First Nations is one of the greatest violations of the UN-recognized human rights to water and sanitation.

While there has been progress in recent years, there are still 28 long term drinking water advisories on reserves including some that have been in place for more than 25 years. There is also a deficit in funding for the maintenance and operation of drinking water systems on reserves, which the Parliamentary Budget Officer identified as amounting to $138 million per year.

Instead, the Liberal government has been promoting public-private partnerships (P3s) as a solution. History has shown that P3s not only cost more, but they also lead to the privatization of water and a loss of community control and jobs. P3s are not the answer to the drinking water crisis in First Nations.

The Council of Canadians fights for safe, clean water for everyone. We support Indigenous peoples' right to self-government and self-determination. Greater control by and for First Nations over water is a basic step toward reconciliation, a requirement of  the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and a necessary precondition to ending drinking water advisories in First Nations for good.

20+ years

Some of the advisories date as far back as 1995 - like Neskantaga First Nation.

July 2010

In 2010, the United Nations declared water and sanitation human rights, acknowledging they are essential to the realization of all other rights.

5,000

A single drinking water advisory can mean as many at 5,000 people lack access to safe, clean drinking water.

73%

73 per cent of First Nations' water systems are at high or medium risk of contamination.

Long-term drinking water advisories with public systems on reserves
First Nation Reserves with long-term drinking water advisories

View the Water Drops photo gallery
Sources:

Alternative Federal Budget, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, February 2019, policyalternatives.ca

Glass half empty? David Suzuki Foundation and Council of Canadians, February 2017

Indigenous Services Canada, Government of Canada, canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada.html

Read more analysis

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Safe Water for First Nations Nothing is more important than clean water. Yet at any given time there are drinking water advisories in dozens of First Nations communities across Canada. Th...

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/auditor-general-reports-2021-1.5927572

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The federal government has not done enough to ensure people in First Nations communities have reliable access to safe drinking water, says the federal auditor general.

In an audit report tabled in Parliament today, Auditor General Karen Hogan said many First Nations will continue to live without access to clean water without long-term solutions to address deficiencies in their water systems.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed during the 2015 election to eliminating all long-term drinking water advisories on public water systems on First Nations reserves by March 31, 2021.

The auditor general found that since the prime minister made that commitment, 100 advisories have been lifted. But 60 remained in effect in 41 First Nations communities as of November 2020, and some communities won't be able to get clean water out of their taps for many years.

"I am very concerned and honestly disheartened that this longstanding issue is still not resolved," Hogan told a press conference in Ottawa today.

"Access to safe drinking water is a basic human necessity. I don't believe anyone would say that this is in any way an acceptable situation in Canada in 2021."
WATCH | AG has strong words for Ottawa on First Nations drinking water:

The findings are in one of five audit reports issued by Hogan today. One of those reports raises concerns about Transport Canada's lack of progress in ensuring safety oversight of railway companies, while another concluded Canada's national shipbuilding strategy has been slow to deliver new ships.

The auditor's review of the First Nations drinking water crisis found Indigenous Services Canada's efforts to lift boil water advisories have been constrained by a funding policy that hasn't been updated in 30 years, and by the lack of a regulatory regime that includes legal protections comparable with other communities in Canada.

Delays predate COVID-19: AG

Last fall, a CBC News survey determined the Liberal government would miss its March 2021 deadline to lift all long-term boil water advisories - something that Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller acknowledged in December 2020.

The audit found that COVID-19 pushed the timeline back on some water projects, but Indigenous Services Canada was already behind schedule by the end of March 2020 - before the pandemic hit.

The problems persist despite the Liberal government allocating over $3 billion to resolve the issue.

Hogan recommended the department work with First Nations to proactively identify and address deficiencies in water systems, with a focus on long-term solutions that prevent recurring problems.

She also called on the government to commit sufficient funding to operations and maintenance of water infrastructure and pass legislation that includes legal protections comparable with other communities in Canada.

"Until these solutions are implemented, First Nations communities will continue to experience challenges in accessing safe drinking water," the report said.
WATCH | Indigenous Services minister responds to AG report criticizing First Nations water plan:

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said the federal government welcomes the auditor general's report and agrees with her recommendations. He said the government is committed to funding 100 per cent of the operations and maintenance costs for water and wastewater on reserves.

He said there are project plans in place to lift all remaining boil water advisories, but he couldn't say when he expects them all to be lifted.

"Despite the challenges, we're confident we're on the right path," said Miller.

Opposition politicians slammed the Liberal government for what they called a lack of progress.

"Government success isn't measured by funding announcements, it's measured by outcomes," said Conservative MP Gary Vidal. "The Liberals like to make eye-catching promises in order to win elections but their consistent failure to deliver on these promises is undermining trust and hurting reconciliation."

"Indigenous communities are no better off now after six years of the Liberals being in government," said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

Shipbuilding strategy slow to replace federal fleet

The auditor general's review of the national shipbuilding strategy - implemented in 2010 to manufacture combat and non-combat ships for the Canadian Navy and the Coast Guard - found that it has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.

"[The federal departments] did not manage the National Shipbuilding Strategy in a manner that supported timely renewal of the federal large vessel fleet during the audit period, but they did address issues that threatened the future renewal of the federal fleet," Hogan concluded.

The audit was conducted between Jan. 1, 2018 and Jan. 30, 2020. Only two of four ships scheduled for delivery during that period arrived, but both were late, the audit found. The delivery dates for some other vessels also were pushed back during the audit period - in some cases by several years.

Design and construction delays have added hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of procuring the ships and threaten to leave Canada ill-equipped to defend and patrol its waters, Hogan warned.

"The late delivery of ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard could put at risk Canada's ability to perform critical operations," the auditor's report said.

"These operations support the navy's peace, defence and security missions in Canada and around the world and the coast guard's search and rescue missions, icebreaking and other operations to ensure safety in Canadian waters."

Since the audit period, the COVID-19 pandemic has further delayed ship construction. Irving Shipbuilding and Vancouver Shipyards were forced to either temporarily shut down operations or operate at reduced capacities for periods of time because of public health restrictions.

The auditor general's report comes one day after Canada's budget watchdog predicted that construction of the navy's new frigate fleet could cost at least $77.3 billion - a number that could rise even higher if the frequently-delayed program faces any more setbacks.

Other findings

Among the other findings released by the auditor general on Thursday:

The Canada Revenue Agency was praised for its management of the Canada Child Benefit program, which the audit found paid out $24 billion promptly and to the right people during the fiscal year 2019-2020. But the auditors found that the government in some cases kept making payments based on outdated information - and the program's assumption that female parents are the primary caregivers isn't always correct, causing problems for some families.

A one-time top-up payment of $300 per child to help families during the pandemic, announced in May 2020, paid out $88 million to almost 265,000 higher-income families who wouldn't normally qualify for the benefit.

Transport Canada was criticized for failing to implement a number of recommendations included in a 2013 audit of its safety management practices. The most recent audit found that Transport Canada's checks on rail safety have improved to focus more on riskier areas and to better follow up on safety deficiencies in rail companies' practices. The department has not, however, examined the companies' safety management systems for effectiveness, according to the auditors - only for whether they tick the necessary regulatory boxes.

Staff who work in federal departments that buy complex information technology systems need better training. Public Services and Procurement Canada, Shared Services Canada, the Treasury Board and Employment and Social Development Canada are adopting "agile" procurement models that involve a lot more back-and-forth with potential vendors - something for which the officials doing the procuring aren't always equipped. The auditors also concluded procurement agencies should make more use of data analytics to spot cases of potential bid-rigging and other problems.

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Too many First Nations lack clean drinking water and it's Ottawa's fault, says auditor general | CBC News

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The federal government has not done enough to ensure people in First Nations communities have reliable access to safe drinking water, says the federal auditor general.

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/canada-first-nations-justin-trudeau-drinking-water

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Curve Lake First Nation, a forested community in southern Canada, is surrounded on three sides by fresh water.

But for decades, residents have been unable to safely make use of it. Wary of crumbling infrastructure and waterborne illness, the community instead relies on shipments of bottled water. The community's newly elected chief, aged 34, has lived her whole life without the guarantee of clean water flowing from the tap.

"The emotional and spiritual damage of not having clean water, having to look at all of the water surrounding us on a daily basis and unable to use it, is almost unquantifiable," said Chief Emily Whetung.

Amid mounting frustration, Whetung and other Indigenous leaders have launched national class-action lawsuits against the federal government. Arguing the federal government failed to provide clean water and forced communities to live in a manner "consistent with life in developing countries" they are suing the government for C$2.1bn (US1.7bn) damages - the costs associated with years of bottled water trucked and a water treatment system for the whole community.

Despite being one of the most water-rich nations in the world, for generations Canada has been unwilling to guarantee access to clean water for Indigenous peoples. The water in dozens of communities has been considered unsafe to drink for at least a year - and the government admits it has failed.

In 2015, Justin Trudeau, then campaigning for the country's top job, made an ambitious promise to end the scourge of unsafe water in more than 100 First Nations communities across the country. But today the federal minister overseeing the issue acknowledges the government has missed its March deadline on its own five-year promise, and says he has "no credible excuse" for how communities that have gone decades without clean water still lack access.

"It's unacceptable in a country that is financially one of the most wealthy in the world, and water rich, and the reality is that many communities don't have access to clean water," the federal Indigenous services minister, Marc Miller, told the Guardian in an interview.

The land surrounding Naskantaga First Nation as seen from a plane descending into the reservation. Photograph: Chris Donovan

Access to drinking water is something few Canadians ever have to think twice about. But the vast geography of Canada and the disparate locations of 630 First Nations communities - some accessible only by plane - makes setting up water treatment infrastructure a logistical challenge.

As a consequence of colonial-era laws, Indigenous communities have been barred from funding and managing their own water treatment systems, and the federal government bears responsibility for fixing problems.

"If you are anywhere else in Canada and you turn on the tap, then you are protected by safe drinking water regulations," said Amanda Klasing, a water researcher at Human Rights Watch. "If you live on reserve, no such regulations exist. There are no safe drinking water protections."

Certain communities, like Curve Lake, have issues with E coli in their water. Others, like Grassy Narrows, struggle with a legacy of toxic heavy metals, a remnant of negligent industry. In some cases, water is tainted by parasites and bacteria that occur naturally. In others, reactions between organic material and chemicals used to purify water can create unsafe water.

In consequence, the government issues advisories warning against using the water, and some have been in place for decades. The community of Neskantaga in northern Ontario, has been under a water advisory since 1995, researchers found, despite having a water treatment plant. In Manitoba, Shoal Lake 40's water advisory has been in place since 1997. Plans for a water treatment plant were scrapped in 2011 after the federal government balked at the cost of the project.

In those communities, children have sores and skin diseases like eczema. Others struggle with gastrointestinal disorders.

Tara Sakanee runs a bath at her home in Neskantaga. She says the water is usually varying degrees of yellow in colour and complains of itching and dry skin after showers. Photograph: Chris Donovan

For Whetung, Curve Lake's battle to get clean water encapsulates the struggles of many First Nations communities.

When Curve Lake's water treatment plant was built in 1983, it was intended to serve a population of only 56 and had a shelf life of 20 years. Despite quickly outgrowing the capacity of the plant, decades of bureaucracy have stalled the community's ability to upgrade their infrastructure. As a result, the community has dealt with multiple drinking water advisories over the years, including a recent boil-water advisory that lasted nearly two years.

An inspection of the plant by Ontario's ministry of environment found a filter that wasn't removing pathogens and malfunctioning ultra-violet treatment. While the ministry determined the community was in urgent need of a new plant, there was nothing the province could do: the plant was the responsibility of the federal government, which deemed the risk to be lower. The federal government has approved design plans for a new facility, but construction is still years away.

Until that plant is built, the shipments of bottled water will continue.

"Water is life," said Whetung. "It's what we grow our children in when they're in the womb. And we can't use any of what we have access to."

Since he first took office, Trudeau's government has made significant progress on the issue, investing more than C$2bn. In 2016, there were 105 communities with long-term drinking water advisories in place -meaning the water had been unsafe to use or consume for at least a year. As of late April, that number is down to 52 advisories in 33 communities.

A Curve Lake First Nation official, Richard Taylor, stands in a water treatment facility in October 2019. Photograph: Julien Besset/AFP via Getty Images

The federal government says the figure remains high because of delays arising from the coronavirus pandemic, and it has pledged another C$1.5bn in funding.

But a scathing report from Canada's auditor general at the end of February found that the federal government had failed to invest sufficient resources in the task and that much of the work was lagging even before the pandemic hit.

"I am very concerned and honestly disheartened that this longstanding issue is still not resolved," the auditor general, Karen Hogan, told reporters, warning it would be years before some communities have their advisories lifted. "Access to safe drinking water is a basic human necessity. I don't believe anyone would say that this is in any way an acceptable situation in Canada in 2021."

The auditor also found that a number of the drinking water advisories that the government lifted were the result of interim measures rather than long-term upgrades.

And the crisis may run deeper. Experts caution that federal monitoring does not include wells, even though 20% of First Nations communities rely on them to supply water to most homes. Nor does the government track waterborne illnesses in First Nations communities, or potential deaths that could be related to water quality.

"It seems unbelievable that there are communities that have dealt with drinking water advisories for more than two decades," said Charles Hume, an elder with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. "We're not looked at the same ... we're actually the last on the totem pole."

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Dozens of Canada's First Nations lack drinking water: 'Unacceptable in a country so rich'

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Indigenous leaders are suing the Canadian government for not providing clean water - and ministers admit they have failed

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- There are around 6000 killings and missing indegenous women in the U-S. The police department only reported around 100 of them. That proves that the police do not try hard enough or not at all to find the culprit and give a liable explanation for these death.

- Most of the women have experienced sexual assault, abuse, stalking and worst.

- Not only adults but many girls were found dead.

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https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/mmiw

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ALABAMA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

ALASKA
We Are Calling to You: Alaska's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn and Girls.
ARIZONA

Reducing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Arizona's Statewide Study in Partnership with the HB2570 Legislative Study Committee .

ARKANSAS

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

CALIFORNIA

To'Kee Skuy'Soo Ney-wo-Chek' - I Will See You Again in a Good Way .

COLORADO

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

CONNECTICUT

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

DELWARE

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

FLORIDA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

GEORGIA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

HAWAII

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

IDAHO
Idaho Summit on Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Report.
ILLINOIS

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

INDIANA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

IOWA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

KANSAS

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

KENTUCKY

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

LOUISIANA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MAINE

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MARYLAND

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MASSACHUSETTS

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MICHIGAN

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MINNESOTA
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature. Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota
MISSISSIPPI

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MISSOURI

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

MONTANA

Looping in Native Communities: Report to the State-Tribal Relations Interim Committee.

NEBRASKA

LB154 Report: Prevalence of Missing Native American Women and Children in Nebraska; Barriers to Reporting and Investigating; and Opportunities for Partnerships .

NEVADA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

NEW JERSEY

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.
NEW YORK

There is a current MMIWGT2S NYC+ Task Force Application . However, there are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

NORTH CAROLINA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

NORTH DAKOTA

Refer to South Dakota. However, there is no publicly available state-specific report or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

OHIO

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

OKLAHOMA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

OREGON

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Report. This report is preceded by the Oregon State Police Report on Missing and Murdered Native American Women: Listening and Understanding Tour House Bill 2625.

PENNSYLVANIA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

RHODE ISLAND

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Zuya Wicayuonihan Honoring Warrior Women: A study on missing & murdered Indigenous women and girls in states impacted by the Keystone XL pipeline
TENNESSEE

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

There will be a Missing and Murdered Unit office located in Nashville at the BIA OJS Office.

TEXAS

There are no publicly available reports or statistics . If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

UTAH
The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Position Statement
VERMONT

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

VIRGINIA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

WASHINGTON
Missing & Murdered Native American Women Report
WEST VIRGINIA

There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

WISCONSIN

MMIW Task Force WI: Strategic Plan and Toolkit. Menīkānaehkem Inc. is a women's leadership cohort that addresses MMIW. They created a strategic plan and toolkit for Wisconsin. However, there are currently no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org.

WYOMING
Missing & Murdered Indigenous People: Statewide Report Wyoming
The state mandated reports illustrate a distressing reality for Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons. Underreporting and misclassification are prevalent challenges when diagnosing the problem of MMIWG2. However, Indigenous women and girls are at a higher risk of going missing and being murdered than the general population. Fortunately, there is more mainstream visibility about this issue now than in the past 40 years. While most of the western states in the United States of America have implemented a statewide study or are in the interim, Colorado and Nevada have yet to begin this critical conversation. As demonstrated by the statewide reports, violence does not stop at state borders. Given that Colorado is surrounded by several states with large Native populations and has a 1% Native population density in Denver, there is a practical need for Colorado to investigate the prevalence of MMIWG2 within its borders.

Information provided by: Felicia Bartley, Isleta Pueblo

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ALABAMA There are no publicly available reports or statistics. If this is inaccurate and you know of resources, please contact info@nativewomenswilderness.org. ALASKA We Are Calling to You: Alaska's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn and Girls. ARIZONA Reducing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Arizona's Statewide Study in Partnership with the HB2570 Legislative Study Committee .

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https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/

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These are the cases authorities say do not involve foul play

CBC News has looked into 34 cases across Canada which involve the death or disappearance of Indigenous women, but which authorities say were not due to foul play.

In every case, families of the women say they do not accept the findings of police. They suggest murder may be involved.

CBC News found evidence in many of the cases that points to suspicious circumstances, unexplained bruises and other factors that suggest further investigation is warranted.

Many advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women say these are exactly the kinds of cases requiring further scrutiny in a national inquiry.

We have created a profile for each person. You can view each one by choosing the profile in the bar above.

This project is part of CBC's investigation into missing and murdered Indigenous women. This page was last updated on September 26, 2018 and is no longer being maintained. To search more than 250 of those cases, use the Case Explorer below.

The statistics about missing and murdered Indigenous women are stark and staggering. Explore the cases of these women through filtering by age, their confirmed status, the last province in which they were seen, or the year of their last sighting. Alternatively, you may search for a specific case by name.

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These are the cases authorities say do not involve foul play CBC News has looked into 34 cases across Canada which involve the death or disappearance of Indigenous women, but which authorities say were not due to foul play. In every case, families of the women say they do not accept the findings of police.

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https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/indigenous-autochtone/mmaw-fada-eng.htm

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Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada face greater risks of violence and homicide. The health and safety of these women in our communities is a priority for the RCMP.

2022 Missing campaign
Let's work together in solving these cases of missing women!

Actions and initiatives

Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada is an ongoing national tragedy. The RCMP is committed to improving relationships with Indigenous communities, supporting survivors and families, and ensuring that investigations are robust, professional and result in justice for the victims and their families.

Our Vision 150 plan to modernize the RCMP is putting people first, so we can provide communities with the best service possible. We are focused on thoughtful action, based on what we're hearing in conversations with advisory groups, Indigenous communities and partners.

We continue to actively investigate unresolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. We fully support any action that will:

benefit Indigenous communities

address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

reduce violence

Examples of initiatives to raise awareness include:

Results and reports from the national inquiry

In September 2016, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began. The RCMP established a team based in Ottawa to support the National Inquiry.

In June 2018, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki attended the Institutional Hearings. She delivered a statement of apology to the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

In June 2019, following the release of the National Inquiry's, Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki issued a statement to thank the National Inquiry Commissioners for their important work. She also thanked the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and survivors, who courageously spoke their truths.

Since the release, the RCMP has taken action to:

attract Indigenous applicants,

deliver new training,

strengthen investigations, and

collaborate and consult with Indigenous leaders and Elders.

In June 2020, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki issued a statement to reaffirm the RCMP's commitment to improving relationships with Indigenous communities, supporting survivors and families, and ensuring that investigations are robust, professional and result in justice for the victims and their families.

The RCMP also contributed to the 2020 Federal Pathway and the 2021 MMIWG and 2SLGBTQI+ People National Action Plan that was co-developed with Indigenous organizations and provincial/territorial governments to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The RCMP continues to work with federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as Indigenous groups and advisory councils.

RCMP reports on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

In 2013, the RCMP Commissioner called for a report on these crimes. Our reports provided us, and all Canadians, with the most accurate accounts to date on the issue.

Television features

The television series "Taken" profiles cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women with the goal of generating more leads in these cases. RCMP Members have participated in several episodes.

Please help our investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

If you have any information about any RCMP case or investigation:

Date modified:

Secondary menu

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Missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

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Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada face greater risks of violence and homicide. The health and safety of these women in our communities is a priority for the RCMP. Let's work together in solving these cases of missing women! Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada is an ongoing national tragedy.

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The unemployment rate of indegenous poeple was as high as 14.2. That's around 1 in 7 people who don't have stable employment. This rate was constant through the years, the rate of unemployment is decreasing currently and is at its lowest. The rate of unemployment of non-indigenous has never been over 10%, while in the indigenous people, it has only been under 10% once and it was this year. This number is still extremely high compared to non-indegenous.

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https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1410036501&pickMembers%5B0%5D=3.6&pickMembers%5B1%5D=4.1&pickMembers%5B2%5D=5.1&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2006&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2022&referencePeriods=20060101%2C20220101

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Labour force characteristics by region and detailed Indigenous group

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Number of persons in the labour force (employment and unemployment) and not in the labour force, unemployment rate, participation rate and employment rate by Atlantic region, Central provinces, Western provinces, Indigenous population (First Nations or Métis) and Non-Indigenous population, sex, and…

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https://www.j2dw.ngo/2022/07/indigenous-unemployment-crisis/

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How many Canadian Indigenous voices will it take for us to remember that unemployment is an intersectional issue? Unemployment among Indigenous communities is definitely not rooted in a singular factor, but rather, is a quilt of a multitude of reasons spanning generations.

The Indigenous population comprises 4.9% of the Canadian population, totalling a rough estimate of 1.67 million people. Of this, the unemployment rate of Indigenous people is 11.6%, compared to that of non-Indigenous people is 7.6% from June to August 2021 (Bleakney et al., 2021). Why do Indigenous people have substantially higher unemployment rates? What barriers might they face in their pursuit of employment?

It is undeniable that Indigenous communities in Canada suffer from socioeconomic disparities fueled by a long, tragic history of mistreatment. Through the Residential School system, the 'cultural genocide' enforced by foreign settlers, as per the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established a deeply painful chain of generational trauma, the effects of which are still evident today. Generational trauma is passed down in the family through genetics, and is experienced through specific behaviours of family members and their treatment of a child during early development. These behaviours give rise to problems like self-esteem issues, loss of identity, depression, mistrust, fatigue, and imbalanced immune responses, as well as a family history of diseases (Gillespie, 2020).

With such an array of interpersonal conflicts, it is expected that the Indigenous population of Canada should also receive comparable assistance from the government. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Indigenous communities receive little to no mental health aid that is actually accessible, explaining its adverse impact on employment rates. How is it equitable to expect trauma-ridden individuals to focus on job stability when they are still striving for a chance at mental stability?

Along with intergenerational trauma, Indigenous communities face socioeconomic and environmental disparities, creating a gap between the resources accessible to Indigenous versus non-Indigenous populations. One significant example of that gap is the inaccessibility of funded educational services. Indigenous communities on reservations do have access to one or two schools on the reserve for children under 18, however, these educational institutions tend to be so remote (or rather, the Indigenous reserves are), that countless children are sexually assaulted, kidnapped, and murdered on their way to and from school and never make it home. And even out of those who get home safely, their dreams of pursuing post-secondary education are often crushed once tuition costs and location are factored into the picture.

In 2018, Indspire, a charity focused on making education financially accessible to Indigenous students in Canada, published a summary of an in-depth survey of the experiences of Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education (Post-secondary Experience of Indigenous Students, 2018). The most common message in the students' testimonies was the lack of funding and accessibility to financial aid in Canadian post-secondary institutions. Some students had no choice but to bring their children to class because they were unable to pay for childcare and were too far away from their family and community (Post-secondary Experience of Indigenous Students, 2018).

Stemming from this, another issue that the survey-takers mentioned is that without adequate financial aid for housing, childcare, food, and tuition, many students inevitably chose to drop out of school to work minimum wage jobs (if hired) to sustain themselves, and/or focus on their home life. Without a solid educational background and access to any external career-building resources, the youth remain unqualified for high-paying, stable jobs, and the unemployment rate increases.

Other major factors affecting Indigenous Canadians' employment struggles include environmental racism, mental illnesses - which often inform alcohol and drug usage - and poverty. An example of environmental racism would be strategic policies, creation and locations of institutions and houses surrounding a target community, which gives that population a specific disadvantage. Indigenous reserves often receive muddy, dark brown, contaminated water, a problem which issues the Boil Water Advisory, and the prey that they consume is ridden with dangerous contaminants, because of their proximity to mining rigs (Luo, 2021). This results in chronic illness, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer. Due to the remote nature of Indigenous reserves, most individuals don't have quick access to reputable hospitals, public transportation, and driving tests, and cannot afford a car or be eligible for insurance.

There is also a very limited selection of minimum wage jobs in nearby communities. As a result, job security is scarce. When you pile on drug and alcohol usage triggered by mental illness and physical health issues, it is evident that an individual cannot possibly ace a job interview, or work efficiently in these conditions.

These socioeconomic factors tie into self-esteem issues and the emotional and physical effects of intergenerational trauma. This is hardly a position conducive to job interviews and employment, is it? And the undeniable, glaring topic of racism in the hiring process and work environment has not even been touched upon yet.

It is clear that there are many hurdles that Indigenous job seekers in Canada must overcome to simply get a foot in the door. Most non-Indigenous Canadians have never had to, and may never will, think about these issues, further contributing to negligence from recruiting agents and coworkers. It is important for all of us to stay educated and aware, seek out ways to help, ensure we are not unconsciously contributing to the aforementioned negligence, and have compassion when amplifying Indigenous voices.

SOURCES Bleakney, A., Masoud, H., & Robertson, H. (2021, November 16).
This article uses data from the Labour Force Survey to examine trends in employment, unemployment and labour force participation among indigenous people in the 18 months following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. trends for indigenous and non-Indigenous people, by age group, sex, region and occupation, as well as for First Nations people and Métis, are presented. Labour market impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous people living off reserve in the provinces: March 2020 to August 2021. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2021001/article/00037-eng.htm

Luo, C. (2021, November 14). The water crisis in Canada's First Nations communities. ArcGIS StoryMaps. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/52a5610cca604175b8fb35bccf165f96

Gillespie, C. (2020, October 27). Generational trauma might explain your anxiety and depression-here's what it means. Health. https://www.health.com/condition/ptsd/generational-trauma Post-secondary experience of indigenous students following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (2018, September). https://indspire.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PSE-Experience-Indigenous-Students-Survey-Summary-Sept2018.pdf

This article was written by summer student Ilesha Prabhudesai and edited by summer student Cossette Penner-Olivera. This article was funded by the Government of Canada.

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The Unemployment Crisis of Indigenous People in Canada | Journey to Diversity Workplaces

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How many Canadian Indigenous voices will it take for us to remember that unemployment is an intersectional issue? Unemployment among Indigenous communities is definitely not rooted in a singular factor, but rather, is a quilt of a multitude of reasons spanning generations.

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https://globalnews.ca/news/7440640/unemployment-indigenous-coronavirus-economy/

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A new report from Statistics Canada shows unemployed Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting job losses from businesses being forced to close.

Figures from December 2019 to February 2020 show the Indigenous unemployment rate at 10 per cent while it was just 5.5 per cent for non-Indigenous people.

That jumped more than six percentage points for both groups between February and May.

Indigenous unemployment shot up to 16.6 per cent while non-Indigenous sat at 11.7 per cent.

When businesses started to reopen across the country, unemployment fell for non-Indigenous groups between May and August to 11.2 per cent but rose for Indigenous people to 16.8 per cent.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations ( FSIN) feels as if Ottawa ignored their concerns, especially a $9-billion funding request at the start of the pandemic only offering a fraction of that.

"When they were announcing COVID-19 relief funds for reopening the economy and things like that, we First Nations were at the bottom of the barrel," Chief Bobby Cameron told Global News, adding he thought the federal government failed First Nations.

Kelly Foley, a University of Saskatchewan economics professor, said disadvantaged people in the labour market disproportionately suffer in this kind of economic climate.

"I do believe they come from a lot of the same structural barriers that were preventing Indigenous people from finding employment even before the pandemic occurred," Foley said.

She added those hurdles include education levels, living in remote parts of the country and discrimination.

Cameron said all stakeholders, including the government, business community and Indigenous leaders, need to be involved in order to address the higher unemployment rates.

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Unemployed Indigenous workers disproportionately suffering from COVID-19 economy compared to non-Indigenous | Globalnews.ca

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A new report from Statistics Canada shows unemployed Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting job losses from businesses being forced to close. Figures from December 2019 to February 2020 show the Indigenous unemployment rate at 10 per cent while it was just 5.5 per cent for non-Indigenous people.

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The cause for this extremely high suicide is the really hard and often sad life/history of each person. The lack of guidance and help offered to the indigenous communities are lacking. They have been discriminated against, abused, assaulted, targeted and more. Even if they live right next to us, we can't image the struggles of each person, which often leads to suicide without acknowledgment of this problem. The rate is 3 times higher for non-indigenous, and we could help prevent these lost lives by offering our help.

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https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576089685593/1576089741803

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Suicide prevention in Indigenous communities

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Suicide prevention and mental wellness services for Indigenous communities. If you're experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310. It's toll-free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or connect online at hopeforwellness.ca.

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https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190628/dq190628c-eng.htm

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Previous research has extensively documented the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, forced placement of Indigenous children in residential schools in the 19th and the 20th centuries, removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities during the "Sixties Scoop," and the forced relocation of communities.

These actions resulted in the breakdown of families, communities, political and economic structures; loss of language, culture and traditions; exposure to abuse; intergenerational transmission of trauma; and marginalization, which have been suggested to be associated with the high rates of suicide.

Previous research has consistently indicated that First Nations people, Métis and Inuit die by suicide at a higher rate than non-Indigenous people. These suicides not only result in significant loss to family, friends and peers-leading to grief and bereavement-but also to the community and society at large, in particular when the deceased is a young person.

However, these national-level figures underestimate the variability in suicide rates. For example, previous reports have shown that suicide rates among First Nations youth in British Columbia range from 0 to 633 per 100,000 people when examined by tribal council area. In fact, the majority of these tribal councils had a zero or very low suicide rate.

Several representatives of Indigenous peoples and governments, communities and government agencies have developed programs, policies or strategies to address the high suicide rate among First Nations people, Inuit and Métis.

This article reports the rates of death by suicide for self-identifying First Nations people, Métis and Inuit from 2011 to 2016, comparing these to rates for non-Indigenous people.

Suicide rates among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit are significantly higher than among the non-Indigenous population

From 2011 to 2016, the suicide rate among First Nations people (24.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk, roughly understood as number of deaths per persons per year) was three times higher than among the non-Indigenous population (8.0 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk). Among First Nations people living on reserve, the suicide rate was about twice as high as that among those living off reserve.

The suicide rate among self-identifying Métis (14.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk) was approximately twice as high as the rate among non-Indigenous people.

Among Inuit (72.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk), the rate was approximately nine times higher than the non-Indigenous rate (8.1 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk).

Suicide rates and disparities were highest for youth and young adults (15 to 24 years) among First Nations men and Inuit men and women. Nevertheless, these national-level estimates underestimate the variability in suicide rates at the community level. When examined by First Nations band, just over 60% of bands had a suicide rate of zero.

The higher risk of dying by suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, compared with non-Indigenous people, is associated with several factors. In this report, the role of socioeconomic characteristics, including household income, labour force status, level of education, marital status and geographic factors such as living on or off reserve (First Nations people) and community size (Inuit) in risk of death by suicide was examined. These characteristics accounted for a notable percentage of the higher risk of suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, aged 25 years or older. Among First Nations people, 78% of the higher risk of death by suicide was accounted for by these characteristics, while it was 37% among Métis and 40% among Inuit adults aged 25 years and older.

The findings from this study could contribute further to the understanding of suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada, particularly the socioeconomic factors associated with higher risk of suicide in these populations and its variability across communities.

Mental wellness resources and crisis help for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit
The following mental wellness resources are available to First Nations people, Métis and Inuit:
Hope for Wellness Help Line
* Toll-free: 1-855-242-3310

* Live chat: www.hopeforwellness.ca
Kamatsiaqtut Help Line
* Toll-free 1-800-265-3333

* In Iqaluit: 1-867-979-3333
Kids Help Phone
* Toll-free 1-800-668-6868

* Text 686868 (no data plan, Internet connection, or app required)

* Live chat: www.kidshelpphone.ca
Indian Residential School Crisis Line
* Toll-free: 1-866-925-4419

Additional resources are available on the Government of Canada website on suicide prevention.

Products

The article " Suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit (2011-2016): Finding from the 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC)" is now available.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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Suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit (2011-2016): Findings from the 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC)

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The analytical study examined rates of suicide among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit during the 2011 to 2016 period, comparing it to the rate among non-Indigenous people in Canada by age group, sex and different geographies.

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https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576089685593/1576089741803

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Suicide prevention in Indigenous communities

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Suicide prevention and mental wellness services for Indigenous communities. If you're experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310. It's toll-free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or connect online at hopeforwellness.ca.

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https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1541187352297/1541187392851

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The Government of Canada has co-developed, with Indigenous peoples, provinces and territories, new legislation to reduce the number of Indigenous children and youth in care and improve child and family services.

The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families came into force on January 1, 2020.

On July 7 the Assembly of First Nations and Government of Canada signed a protocol co-developed by both organizations to establish a new structure to support discussions on the implementation of the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
Protocol regarding An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families in relation to the Assembly of First Nations

About the act

Co-developed with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners, the act:

affirms the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services

establishes national principles such as the best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality

contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

provides an opportunity for Indigenous peoples to choose their own solutions for their children and families

On June 21, 2019, the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families became an official law, and on January 1, 2020, its provisions came into force.

What did the act change?

Indigenous groups who wish to do so can design and deliver child and family services solutions that best suit their needs. Just as the act was co-developed with our partners, we will continue to work with them through the transition and implementation phases of the act.

As of January 1, 2020:

Indigenous groups who have developed their own legislation will have 2 options to exercise jurisdiction under the act.

Every service provider delivering child and family services to Indigenous children and families will need to follow the minimum standards found in the act.

Existing agencies will continue to provide services to Indigenous children.

Agreements related to existing delegated agencies will remain valid unless the parties decide otherwise.

Indigenous groups that choose to exercise their jurisdiction could continue working with delegated agencies or could create their own delivery service models.

The act provides that agreements such as treaties and self-government agreements in relation to child and family services between Indigenous groups and federal, provincial, or territorial governments that predate the coming-into-force of the act prevail in case of conflict.

To facilitate the work of those providing child and family services, information will be posted on the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) website related to notices of intent, coordination agreements and Indigenous laws as they are made available: Notices and requests related to An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

ISC will continue to work with Indigenous groups who wish to exercise their jurisdiction as they decide which option they prefer to use.

To access a list of service providers consult the First Nations Child and Family Services interactive map.

The Repository for notices under section 12 lists contact information for Indigenous governing bodies who have informed ISC directly that they are authorized by an Indigenous group, community or people to receive notice from service providers.

Information on Canada's approach concerning the implementation of the act is currently being updated following feedback received from partners. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Co-development of federal legislation on Indigenous child and family services

During the summer and fall of 2018, the Government of Canada engaged with national, regional and community organizations representing First Nations, Inuit and Métis as well as Treaty Nations, self-governing First Nations and Inuit, provinces and territories, experts and people with lived experience, including Elders, youth and women. 65 engagement sessions were held across the country, with nearly 2,000 participants. These sessions were part of the co-development of legislation that contributes to comprehensive reform of Indigenous child and family services.

Indigenous children in foster care

In Canada, 53.8% of children in foster care are Indigenous, but account for only 7.7% of the child population according to Census 2021.

Results from the 2011 National Household Survey also show that 38% of Indigenous children in Canada live in poverty, compared to 7% for non-Indigenous children.

If you need more information in relation to the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, please contact:

Please note that the phone lines and mailbox are not monitored outside of regular business hours. ISC cannot address specific child and family services delivery concerns, including concerns with service providers. Do not send personal information pertaining to specific service delivery matters.

If you have concerns or inquiries about the safety or well-being of a child, contact the appropriate authorities within your provincial or territorial jurisdiction.

Related links

Thank you for your feedback

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Reducing the number of Indigenous children in care

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We are making progress on the 6 points of action, including engaging with Indigenous partners on the co-development of potential federal legislation on Indigenous child and family services.

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https://globalnews.ca/news/9144729/statistics-canada-2021-census-housing-indigenous/

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Statistics Canada's latest release of 2021 census data shows Indigenous children continue to be overrepresented in the child welfare system.

Data collected shows Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 per cent of all children in foster care.

This number has gone up slightly compared to the 2016 census, when Indigenous children accounted for 52.2 per cent of children in care.

More than three per cent of Indigenous children living in private households in 2021 were in foster care, compared to the less than one per cent of non-Indigenous children.

Indigenous children accounted for 7.7 per cent of all children 14 years of age of younger in Canada.

The Liberal government instituted legislation in 2020 that sought to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in foster care and to improve child and family services.

he census said there were 1.8 million Indigenous people, making up five per cent of the total population in Canada.

The Indigenous population grew by 9.4 per cent from 2016 to 2021, which is faster than the non-Indigenous population but not as rapid as it has been in years past.

The Indigenous population was also 8.2 years younger, on average, than the non-Indigenous population.

The average age was 33.6 years old, compared with 41.8 for a non-Indigenous person.

Statistics Canada also found that Indigenous people were much more likely to live in a low-income household.

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More than half of kids in foster care are Indigenous: Statistics Canada - National | Globalnews.ca

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Statistics Canada's latest release of 2021 census data shows Indigenous children continue to be overrepresented in the child welfare system. Data collected shows Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 per cent of all children in foster care. This number has gone up slightly compared to the 2016 census, when Indigenous children accounted for 52.2 per cent of children in care.

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https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/the-bond-is-broken-data-shows-indigenous-kids-overrepresented-in-foster-care-1.6077389#:~:text=More%20than%20three%20per%20cent,years%20of%20age%20and%20younger.

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'The bond is broken': Data shows Indigenous kids overrepresented in foster care

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New census data suggests Indigenous children continue to be overrepresented in the child welfare system. Statistics Canada released data from the 2021 census showing Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 per cent of all children in foster care.