The First Nations of today still bear the trauma of european colonization. They were stripped from their homes, discriminated against, assimilated by force and had their culture suppressed resulting in them losing their native language, their identity, their traditional values and their families. Their tragic stories were passed down through the years and as of this day, these events still haunt them. This has caused a phenomenon of suicidal contagion, where very close members of the same Nation are exposed to suicide and or suicidal behaviours and tend to have higher chances of experiencing similar situations.

However, we talked about the First Nations rate, and not the rate in each specific clan. If we take a closer look, the rate among Métis is around 14.7 deaths per 100 000 person at risk, which is about twice as much as non-indigenous people, and within the Inuit clan, their rate is about nine times higher than the non-indigenous population, 72.3 against 8 death per 100 000 person at risk. 

Now, what are the possible ways to solve this problem? First, the government should start by creating more in-depth reports about this issue. We should also increase the number of suicide prevention programs in indigenous schools as well as suicide prevention lines for First Nations to help prevent this rate from getting any higher. Finally, it is essential that the federal government works in cooperation with the First Nations to negotiate an economic and social based plan to help keep this issue under control as much as possible.

Dear Canadians, it is our job to help out the First Nations to feel safer in their homeland. Is it our duty to raise awareness about this issue among our population and to influence the government into taking action. We can start by raising awareness amongst our people and encourage the federal authorities to follow up on this social problem. You can start making a difference today, whether it’s donating to a charity or talking about this issue to your family or your friends. It might seem trivial, but keep in mind that your actions could potentially save a person’s life.