Why am I poor? First Nations Child Poverty in Ontario

Transcription

1 Why am I poo? Fis Naions Child Povy in Onaio

2 Advisoy Mmbs Acknowldgmns Bs Sa Rsouc Cn hanks Nancy Sagmis fo saching and wiing his po and Alic Baudoin fo h phoogaphs conaind in h po unlss ohwis nod. This po would no hav bn possibl wihou h conibuions, houghs, insighs and xpincs shad by h ky infomans who agd o paicipa in his pojc. Thi yas of xpinc as fon-lin povids, sachs and lads povidd valuabl insighs on h bais and challngs facd in suppoing Fis Naions childn and familis. Th ky infomans includd fon-lin povids fom a ang of Fis Naions and Aboiginal-spcific agncis, pogams and svics suppod by boh h fdal and povincial lvls of govnmn, acadmics wih backgounds in Fis Naions issus, and Aboiginal advocas woking o addss sucual imbalancs ha limi oppouniis fo Fis Naions childn and familis o succd. Thanks oo fo h suppo fom h advisoy commi, wih psnaivs fom govnmn, Fis Naions communiis, and fon-lin svic povids. Thy povidd ky inpu houghou h dvlopmn of his po. Exp viws povidd a ciical viw of h x of his po, fuh snghning h infomaion. Chi-miigwch o ou Eld, Jacqui Lavally fo h consan suppo of his pojc. Thank you all fo aking h im o paicipa in his wok. Jacqui Lavally - Eld Tammy Albs - Noojmowin Tg Halh Cn Lyndia Jons - Indpndn Fis Naions Angla Mashfod-Pingl - Univsiy of Toono Elizabh Rich - Noh Sho Tibal Council Byanna Sco - Public Halh Agncy of Canada Piscilla Souhwind - Noh Sho Tibal Council Ky Infomans Ens Bck, Payukoayno Cindy Blacksock, Fis Naions Child & Family Caing Sociy of Canada Chamain Bug, Naiv Womn s Rsouc Cn Cali Chas, Wabano Cn fo Aboiginal Halh Tammy Cowls, Rd Lak Indian Findship Cn Gloia Daybuch, Noh Sho Tibal Council Candi Edwads, Onaio Naiv Womn s Associaion Jacki Hookimaw, Manal Child Ca Coodinao Lynn Lavall, Ryson Univsiy P Mnzis, Cn fo Addicion and Mnal Halh Moniqu Lavall, Niwasa Aboiginal Hadsa Onaio Fdaion of Indian Findship Cns Shy Plli, Bndign Sacy Taylo, Onaio Naiv Womn s Associaion Angla Wassgijig, Makonsag Aboiginal Hadsa Fancs Wsly, Thund Bay Uban Aboiginal Sagy Exp Rviw D. Pamla Palma, Associa Pofsso, Chai on Indignous Govnanc, Ryson Univsiy Lay Chaand, Associa Pofsso, Faculy of Law, Univsiy of Oawa D. Cyndy Baskin, Associa Pofsso, School of Social Wok, Ryson Univsiy Bs Sa Rsouc Cn lads fo his pojc: Yoland Lawson, Alison Bndic and Wndy McAllis

3 Tabl of Conns Chap 1: Inoducion Chap 2: Masuing Child Povy Chap 3: Hisoical Foundaions Chap 4: Cun Conibuing Facos Chap 5: Oucoms Chap 6: Suppoing Fis Naions Familis Chap 7: Rcommndaions Chap 8: Assssing You Svics Chap 9: Concluding Rmaks Rfncs Appndix A: Ky Rsoucs and Svics Appndix B: Ky Infoman Qusions Us of his Rsouc Th Bs Sa Rsouc Cn hanks you fo you ins in, and suppo of, ou wok. Bs Sa pmis ohs o copy, disibu o fnc h wok fo non-commcial puposs on condiion ha full cdi is givn. Bcaus ou soucs a dsignd o suppo local halh pomoion iniiaivs, w would appcia knowing how his souc has suppod, o bn ingad ino, you wok (bssa@ halhnxus.ca). Ciaion Bs Sa Rsouc Cn. (2012). Why am I poo? Fis Naions Child Povy in Onaio. Toono, Onaio, Canada: auho. This documn has bn ppad wih funds povidd by h Govnmn of Onaio. Th infomaion hin flcs h viws of h auhos and is no officially ndosd by h Govnmn of Onaio. Th soucs and pogams cid houghou his guid a no ncssaily ndosd by h Bs Sa Rsouc Cn o h Govnmn of Onaio. Whil h paicipaion of h advisoy commi and ky infomans was ciical o h dvlopmn of his Bs Sa souc, final dcisions abou conn w mad by h Bs Sa Rsouc Cn.

4 - Chap 1: Inoducion - Whn a Fis Naions child asks, Why am I poo? wha is h answ ha w, as a sociy, will giv? Lik all poo familis in Onaio, Fis Naions childn a poo bcaus pans a unabl o wok o canno g wok, bcaus social suppos do no povid nough fo h family o liv on, o bcaus pans can only an vy low wags. Th is no nough subsidizd housing availabl o hav a dcn and saf plac o liv fo familis on low incoms. In addiion, fo childn living on sv, h isn funding fo dcn housing, accss o halhca povids, saf dinking wa o quiabl funding fo ducaion. Fis Naions childn hav h addd budn of acism, assimilaion policis and funding inquiis. Thy a wo and a half ims mo likly o nd up in child pociv cusody fo nglc. Y, onc movd fom hi familis, h is funding o pay a las $10,000 p ya fo ach child in ca as long as hy a no wih a family mmb, and $80,000 p ya fo ach child in a spcializd goup hom. As hy g old, h govnmn pays $55,000 p ya o incaca ach pson, no including adminisaiv, cou o ovhad coss.

5 Th dph and badh of povy in Fis Naions childn and familis in Canada is sagging. Fis Naions childn und 6 yas of ag living off sv a mo han wic as likly o liv in low incom familis as compad o oh Canadians. Fo childn living on sv, high lvls of unmploymn coupld wih low incoms pu hm a a significanly high isk of bing poo as compad o oh Canadian childn. As a sul, Fis Naions childn hav: a high isk of bing akn ino h child pocion sysm an incasd chanc of poo ovall halh an incasd liklihood of going hungy on a gula basis a low lvl of physical aciviy an incasd isk of living in ovcowdd and pooly mainaind homs an incasd isk of low school adinss an incasd liklihood of bcoming involvd in h ciminal jusic sysm onc hy ach adulhood (RCAP, 1996) Th lvl of povy xpincd by Fis Naions childn is all h mo disubing givn ha Canada has a high sandad of living and has bn idnifid as on of h bs counis o liv in h wold by h Unid Naions. A cn Sna po, Childn: Th Silncd Ciizns, fd o a bif h commi civd fom Wold Vision Canada ha nod Canada s sanding would dop o 78h on h Unid Naions Human Dvlopmn Indx if h analysis lookd a h conomic and social wll-bing of Aboiginal popl. Accoding o an aicl in h Novmb 27, 2010 Economis magazin, whn counis a ankd accoding o child povy, Canada as among h boom hid of h ichs counis in h wold, a 22 ou of h 31 mmb counis in h Oganizaion fo Economic Coopaion and Dvlopmn. Th cos of Fis Naions child povy affcs vyon - fom h child who has significanly fw oppouniis o liv a balancd and fulfilld lif and lss oppouniis fo psonal gowh and dvlopmn - o h singl moh who is suggling o ais h childn in a nw ciy fa fom h hom communiy and culu - o all Onaians who xpinc h coss and h loss of human ponial suling fom h impac of povy. Accoding o h Royal Commission on Aboiginal Popl, h cos of poo wags and unmploymn in ms of los incom in h fom of axs and social assisanc was 7.5 billion dollas in Tha amoun is xpcd o gow o 11 billion by 2016, no accouning fo inflaion, h coss of childn in ca o incacaion. Phil Fonain, fom Naional Chif of h Assmbly of Fis Naions, nod ha boh h 1996 Royal Commission on Aboiginal Popls and h Klowna Accod had h goals of ducing h socio-conomic gap bwn Fis Naions popl and oh Canadians. H xpssd his concns ha Canada had no y dvlopd a plan o m his ag. A h oo of h incom gap, is h impac of colonizaion, lack of cogniion of Fis Naions collciv ighs and inss, h ingnaional impac of h sidnial school sysm, an oudad lgislaiv and policy famwok govnd by h Indian Ac, and ov a dcad of budg caps fozn a lvls blow populaion gowh and inflaion (Fonain, 2007). Why am I Poo? - 3

6 Th issu of Fis Naions child povy canno b undsood wihou undsanding h hisoical and cun social conxs fom which i aiss. I is impoan fo svic povids o hav an awanss of individual livd xpinc in h conx of social policy, funding inquiis and acism. This po povids a had look a h livd xpincs and oucoms of Fis Naions childn in Onaio who a poo, h facos ha div Fis Naions child povy and h ways ha svic povids can mak a diffnc. Pupos Th pupos of his po is o hlp svic povids undsand h conx and hisoy of Fis Naions child povy. I also povids infomaion on how o wok wih and advoca fo Fis Naions familis. Pacical, culually lvan and ffciv sagis o suppo familis hav bn includd o hlp svic povids duc boh h impac and h a of Fis Naions child povy. Infomaion is also povidd on ways o suppo fon-lin saff woking wih vulnabl Fis Naions familis. Mhods Infomaion was collcd fo his po hough ky infomans and fom a viw of cun liau, pos, aicls and nws bullins fom Fis Naions oganizaions, govnmn and oh oganizaions. An advisoy goup guidd h dvlopmn of h po. Th ky infoman inviws includd qusions (s Appndix B) gading ffciv appoachs, challngs, impac of culu, subsanc us, mnal halh concns, issus paining o childn in ca, sagis o duc h a of child povy and h challngs facd by fon-lin woks. Th commndaions and sagis in his po a basd pimaily on infomaion shad by h ky infomans. Thi convsaions w insighful, inspiing and somims unsling. Th inviws ook plac a a im whn h ovall a of child povy was ising in Onaio. Th sach has mad all amps o main u o h voics of ky infomans and o flc hi ugncy o mov fowad in suppoing vulnabl Fis Naions familis. In addiion, h daf x of h po was viwd by opic xps o povid addiional insighs. Saus I is govnd by h Indian Ac. Fis Naions popl a gisd und h Indian Ac basd on blood quanum and hisoical policy. Th Indian Ac impacd saus, du o h loss of saus fo Fis Naions womn maying non-naiv mn and hi dscndans fo 150 yas. Som popl gaind hi saus wih Bill C-31 and Bill C-3. Thoughou colonial hisoy, policis movd saus fo vans, popl who aaind a univsiy dg and fo hos who w mployd. Fis Naions popl may liv in Fis Naion communiis boh on and off sv, in uban o ual aas. Why am I Poo? - 4

7 Common Tms Aboiginal popl A cognizd in Canada s Consiuion and includ Fis Naions, Méis and Inui popl. Biish Noh Amica Ac 1867 Laid h foundaion fo h Th Indian Ac 1876 hisoical laionship bwn h indignous popl s of Canada This Ac fuh dfind h govnmn and ongoing fdal policy. In i, laionship wih Canada s fis popl, Indians and hi lands bcam by dmining who was Indian, wh cown wads. Indians could liv and wha Indians w nild o. Though his Ac, Aboiginal popl los all auonomy, including slf-dminaion, slf-idnificaion, adiional culu, halh and ducaion. Th Ac was goundd in assimilaion, hough h oulawing of adiional pacics, adiional govnmns and nfanchismn. Fis Naions Th is no lgal dfiniion fo his m. I placd h usag of h m Indian in h la pa of h las cnuy. I can f o a communiy o an individual. Popl may f o hmslvs as Fis Naions wih o wihou having saus. Méis Thos of mixd ancsy o Fis Naions popl who do no hav saus as dfind by h Indian Ac. Th Méis popl hav a disinc culu and hisoy. Inui Th popl who adiionally occupid h mos nohn pas of Canada. INAC Indian and Nohn Affais Canada has now bn changd o Aboiginal Affais and Nohn Dvlopmn Canada. Why am I Poo? - 5

8 - Chap 2: Masuing Child Povy - How is Povy Dfind? Povy can b masud in many diffn ways. Povy is ofn dfind on h basis of incom. Sandad masus of povy do no masu non-sandad familis, such as xndd familis and mulignaional familis, which a sn mo fqunly in Fis Naions familis. Th Onaio Dpivaion Indx (ODI) is o capu al lif nds and aks ino considaion issus such as food qualiy, abiliy o m halh nds and housing. I was dvlopd wih inpu fom communiy goups and fom popl living in povy.

9 Th Low Incom Masu (LIM) consids a family o b living in povy whn hi incom is lss han 50% of h mdian incom, adjusd fo family siz. A h naional lvl, Saisics Canada uss h Low-Incom Cu-Off (LICO) o idnify h povy lin fo Canadians. LICO is dfind as h incom lvl a which nucla familis wih childn und 18 o individuals spnd mo han 20% of h popoion of incom ha an avag family spnds on food, shl and clohing. LICO is adjusd by communiy siz and numb of childn in h family. I is no adjusd fo familis wih spcial nds o disabiliis. I is usd by mos govnmns and publicly fundd oganizaions o masu povy in Canada. Fis Naions Child Povy Ras in Onaio This scion shas infomaion abou h as of povy in Fis Naions childn. Daa spcific o Onaio is nod wh availabl. Wh povincial daa was no availabl, naional daa is povidd. In cass wh Fis Naionspcific daa was no found, Aboiginalspcific daa was povidd insad (i.. daa ha is inclusiv of Fis Naion, Méis and Inui populaions). Th a appoximaly 249,000 Aboiginal popl in Onaio accoding o h 2006 Aboiginal Populaion Pofil, of which abou 65% slf-idnifid as Noh Amican Indian, abou 30% as Méis, and 0.8% as Inui. Th balanc was du o mulipl idniy sponss as wll as oh Aboiginal. Aboiginal popl in oal accoun fo abou 2% of h Onaio populaion and Fis Naions popl abou 1.3%. Tabl 1 - Low Incom Cu-off Siz of Family Uni Minimum ncssay incom $22,229 $27,674 $34,022 $41,307 $46,850 $52,838 $58,827 $5,989 addd fo ach addiional pson Souc: Ciizn and Immigaion Canada (Effciv unil Dcmb 31, 2011) Why am I Poo? - 7

10 Family sucu also impacs h isk of povy. Fis Naions childn und 6 yas of ag, living off sv in Canada, w mo han h ims as likly o b aisd by young pans bwn h ags of 15 and 24 yas old han oh Canadians (27% compad o 8%). Thy w also mo han h ims mo likly o liv wih a singl pan as compad o oh Canadian childn (41% compad o 13%). Thy w Fis Naions popl coninu o lag bhind h gnal populaion in h aas of child povy, incom and ducaion. avag ag of nw mohs and hi incasd liklihood o b singl pans. Th saisics associad wih Fis Naions child povy, and wih h facos ha a linkd o his siuaion, a gim. Th 2006 Canadian Cnsus, which uss low incom cu-off, showd ha almos half o 49% of Fis Naions childn und h ag of 6, living off sv, w in low-incom familis, compad o 18% of non-aboiginal childn. Fo hos who liv in lag ciis, h Canadian saisics w wos: 57% of Fis Naions childn a living in low-incom familis compad o 21% of non-aboiginal childn (Saisics Canada, 2006). Accoding o h 2010 Rpo Cad on Child and Family Povy in Onaio, which uilizd h low incom masu, 15% of familis a living in povy (Maund, 2010). mo likly o hav lag familis han oh Canadians. Fis Naions familis living off sv in Canada a wic as likly o hav fou o mo childn as non-aboiginal popl (17% vs. 8%), (Saisics Canada, 2006). Young pans, and paiculaly young singl mohs, a mo vulnabl and fac challngs lad o ducaion and mploymn ha can lad o povy (Pohl, 2002). Fis Naions popl coninu o lag bhind h gnal populaion in h aas of child povy, incom and ducaion. In addiion, Fis Naions familis hav high isk facos fo povy basd on h young In , 25% of Fis Naions childn on sv livd in povy, compad o 16% of Canadian childn (Fonain, 2007). Mo cn saisics fom Indian and Nohn Affais Canada indicad ha incom was subsanially low and unmploymn subsanially high fo individuals living on sv. In 2006 h unmploymn a was abou fou ims high fo Fis Naions popl living on sv compad o oh Canadians. Fis Naions childn a a subsanially high isk of living in povy wih a mdian incom of lss han half ha and by h gnal populaion (Indian and Nohn Affais, 2009). Why am I Poo? - 8

11 49% of Fis Naions childn und h ag of 6, living off sv, w in low-incom familis (Saisics Canada, 2006) vs. 18% of non- Aboiginal childn 57% of Fis Naions childn in lag ciis a living in low-incom familis vs. 21% of non- Aboiginal childn Why am I Poo? - 9

12 - Chap 3: Hisoical Foundaions - Th high a of povy oday is linkd o h aumas xpincd by cun and pas gnaions [...] Disas also had a dvasaing impac on Fis Naions popl. Som communiis w complly dcimad. Th w many oubaks houghou colonial hisoy fom small pox, influnza, polio and ubculosis as wll as h cun HIV/AIDS and H1N1 pidmics. Fo xampl, duing h 2009 H1N1 pidmic, Fis Naions popl w a high isk of infcion. Accoding o D. Isaac Sobol, povy, ovcowdd housing and limid accss o unning wa w h main conibuos (Rabson, 2010).

13 Th Indian Ac had a pofound ngaiv impac on Aboiginal popl. Th Indian Ac dfins saus, which mans h Canadian govnmn has h compl pow o dcid who is and isn Indian. I was paiculaly dvasaing fo Aboiginal womn and hi childn. Fis Naions womn who maid nonsaus mn los saus fo hmslvs and hi dscndans. Fis Naions womn w movd fom h sv and familis hough hi loss of saus. In mailinal culus, his disupd h adiional balanc of pow and h ansf of adiional knowldg. Policis ha conibud o h loss of languag and culu includd h oulawing of adiional cmonis and focd locaions fom adiional huning lands. Th la suld in savaion and a lianc on govnmn handous of flou, suga and lad, laying h foundaions fo h halh poblms sn oday. Th Indian Ac cad svs and h band council sysm of govnmn dsignd o undmin adiional foms of govnmn. I gav compl conol and financial sponsibiliy of Fis Naions popl o h govnmn of Canada. A h sam im, Aboiginal popl had lss ighs and hi accss o basic svics was diminishd blow ha of oh Canadians. Fo xampl, Aboiginal popl w xcludd fom Old Ag Pnsions, Unmploymn Insuanc, Family Allowanc and Social Assisanc ino h 1950 s and byond (Hick, 2004). Th sidnial school a in Canada bgan in 1849 and ndd in 1996, whn h las school closd. This sysm movd Aboiginal childn as young as fou yas old and kp hm away fom hi familis and communiis wll ino hi In som sidnial schools h dah a was as high as 75% fom disas, savaion and abus (Milloy, 1999). Th childn who suvivd ofn had low liacy as and did no hav paning o lif skills. ns. Rsidnial schools w dsignd o assimila childn ino Canadian sociy. Childn w no allowd o spak hi naiv languags, hi hai was cu and hi adiional clohing Why am I Poo? - 11

14 discadd. I was mandaoy ducaion wih focd moval. Som sima ha 150,000 childn andd h schools a h high of h sidnial school a. Undfundd and un by chuchs, h impac on Aboiginal popl was dvasaing. In som sidnial schools h dah a was as high as 75% fom disas, savaion and abus (Milloy, 1999). Th childn who suvivd ofn had low liacy as and did no hav paning o lif skills. Many und o subsancs in od o fog h auma hy xpincd whil anding sidnial school. Duan (2006) agud ha h soul wound ha was cad hough h assimilaion policis lik sidnial schools cad a land hlplssnss and hoplssnss. In a sudy conducd by h Chifs of Onaio, 35% of Fis Naions aduls blivd ha hi pans andanc a sidnial schools ngaivly affcd h paning hy civd as childn. Addiionally, 67% of h aduls suvyd blivd ha hi gandpans andanc a sidnial schools ngaivly affcd hi paning skills (2003). Th high a of povy oday is linkd o h aumas xpincd by cun and pas gnaions bough abou by ffos o coloniz and assimila Aboiginal popl in Canada hough damaging govnmn policis. Fom h discussions wih h ky infomans, i is cla ha svic povids who undsand h impac of hs pas aumas a mo likly o b ffciv in poviding culually snsiiv and appopia svics o hi clins. Th po of h Royal Commission on Aboiginal Popl (1996) was sn by many as an oppouniy o bak wih h pas and o mbak on a nw pah buil on cogniion and undsanding of sponsibiliy of govnmns and Aboiginal popl. I was sn as an oppouniy o build a nw and b laionship wih h Aboiginal popl of Canada, basd on muual spc, cogniion, sponsibiliy and shaing. Sinc ha im h has bn som pogss wih spc o h cogniion of pas wongs. Mos noabl is h Jun 2008 fdal govnmn apology o Aboiginal popl fo h damag don by h sidnial school sysm o Aboiginal culu and languag and h lasing impac i has had on h social, conomic and culual wlfa of Fis Naion, Méis and Inui communiis. Mo cnly, on Novmb 10, 2010, Canada ndosd h Unid Naions Dclaaion on h Righs of Indignous popls. This non-binding documn idnifis h ighs of Indignous popls globally and was no suppod by Canada whn i was iniially adopd by h Unid Naions in Why am I Poo? - 12

15 Policis ha conibud o h loss of languag and culu includd h oulawing of adiional cmonis and focd locaions fom adiional huning lands. Th la suld in savaion and a lianc on govnmn handous of flou, suga and lad, laying h foundaions fo h halh poblms sn oday. Why am I Poo? - 13

16 os c a F g n i u b i n n Co u C : 4 p a h C - s o c a f l a c i o s i h o n o i In a ddi s n o i a N s i F o d u b i ha con s u o m u n a h, y child pov. s o c a f g n i u b i n o c n cu dpics This picu. on i Na iy of h an g Fis c. Th majo sh kgogam fa Mi o in v s ha s mbs and a no ouhou mmuniy m sandads mandaoy co g in h v us of s ho On gu la a on pa wih suggls h no up o h daily a g an am uh sh kgog Naions yo homs in Mi g wa. a - Fis in sh nn u ug hn h q uipd wi - Tna As

17 Inadqua Housing Aboiginal familis a significanly mo likly o liv in poo housing condiions han h gnal populaion. Acoss Canada, Aboiginal pans w almos wic as likly o b in co housing nd compad o oh Canadians (i.., mo han 30% of houshold incom is spn on finding suiabl local housing). Thy w also significanly mo likly o liv in ovcowdd housing o o liv in a hous ha nds majo pais (Naional Council on Wlfa, 2007). In Onaio, abou 15% of homs occupid by Aboiginal popl w in nd of majo pais (Saisics Canada, 2007). Twny-wo pcn of on sv housholds livd in inadqua housing and w in co housing nd, compad o 2.5% of non-aboiginal housholds. Off sv, 21% of Aboiginal housholds had poblms affoding housing and w in co-housing nd, compad o 14% of non- Aboiginal housholds (Canada Mogag and Housing Copoaion, 2009). Th housing shoag is acu on sv, and many young mohs a focd o liv in ov-cowdd and un-down housing. In 2006, almos 22% of Fis Naions housing was in nd of majo pai, compad o 7% of h non-aboiginal populaion. Off sv, Fis Naions popl w mo han wic as likly o liv in a hous ha nds majo pais (Indian and Nohn Affais, 2010). Many Fis Naions communiis lack poabl wa and swag sysms. Accoding o a naional assssmn by Indian and Nohn Affais Canada, almos 30% of wa in Fis Naions was ponially hamful (2003). As of Novmb 2011, h w 131 boil wa advisois in Fis Naions acoss Canada (Fis Naions Inui Halh Banch, 2011). almos 30% of wa in Fis Naions was ponially hamful (2003) Poo housing is also lad o poo child halh oucoms including high infan moaliy as, Suddn Infan Dah Syndom, and spiaoy disas (UNICEF, 2009). Oh impacs includ an incas in lif haning infcions, injuis, mnal illnss and chonic illnss (Naional Collaboaing Cn fo Aboiginal Halh, 2010a). Poo housing is on of h isk facos linkd o h high numb of Fis Naions childn in ca du o nglc (NCCAH, 2010b). Povy and housing issus a closly linkd, and h inabiliy of Fis Naions pans o obain suiabl accommodaion fo hi childn is a majo concn ha can lad o involvmn wih child pocion svics. Employmn and Incom Fis Naions popl, boh on and off sv, hav high as of unmploymn, compad o h non- Aboiginal populaion. Acoss Canada, in 2006, h non-aboiginal unmploymn a was 5.2% compad o 13% fo gisd Fis Naions popl living off sv Why am I Poo? - 15

18 75% did no bliv ha achs xpcd Aboiginal sudns o succd in school 70% of Aboiginal sudns didn fl wlcom in school 100% blivd ha acism was a faco fo Aboiginal sudns in school (Silv, Mall, Gn & Simad, 2002). Why am I Poo? - 16

19 and 22.1% fo hos living on sv (Saisics Canada, 2006). Abou 43% of h oal Aboiginal populaion 15 yas of ag and ov in Onaio wa ih unmployd o no in h labou foc (Saisics Canada, 2007). Accoding o a sudy conducd by h Canadian Council on Social Dvlopmn, acism had a significan impac on h abiliy o obain mploymn and onc mployd, on h abiliy o civ quiabl wags (Lock-Kunz, Milan & Schagn, 2000). Fuhmo, whn ducaion and xpinc a qual, h unmploymn a fo Aboiginal popl is sill highs among visibl minoiis. Incoms w low fo Fis Naions popl, as compad o h gnal populaion who had an avag incom of $26,000. Th mdian incom fo Aboiginal popl in Onaio ag 15 and ov was und $19,000 in This was 25% low han ha of h gnal populaion (Saisics Canada, 2007). In Canada, h mdian incom of Fis Naions popl living on sv was jus ov $11,000 and $17,000 fo Fis Naions popl living off sv (Indian and Nohn Affais, 2010). Accoding o h Royal Commission on Aboiginal Popl s, h is a significan loss of incom, 7.5 billion in 1996, which has gown ach ya fo Canada fom los vnu fom axs, ponial anings and h coss of assisanc suling fom unmploymn and undmploymn. Educaional Achivmn Educaional achivmn is low in Fis Naions populaions. Almos 24% of non- Aboiginal popl in Canada agd had a univsiy dg in 2006, compad o 4.3% of gisd Fis Naions popl on sv and 9.2% who livd off sv. Almos 40% of gisd Fis Naions popl in Canada did no hav a high school diploma, dg o cifica compad o appoximaly 15% of h non- Aboiginal populaion (Indian and Nohn Affais, 2010). Th ducaional pofil fo Aboiginal popl in Onaio is simila. Appoximaly 38% of Aboiginal popl in Onaio did no hav a cifica, diploma o dg and only abou 7% had a univsiy lvl ducaion (Saisics Canada, 2006). Som of h undlying causs fo ducaional undachivmn includ low and inadqua funding fo schools on sv. Funding fo Fis Naions schools has bn cappd sinc 1996, whil nd and inflaion has gown 6.2% (Fis Naions Educaion Council, 2009). Schools on sv civ lss funding p sudn han schools off sv. Funding fo schools on sv dos no includ building mainnanc, libay svics, chnology, spos, caion o languag svics, anspoaion coss, opaing coss, sudn daa managmn coss o mploy bnfis (Fis Naions Educaion Council, 2009). Why am I Poo? - 17

20 Fis Naions sudns xpinc acism and low xpcaions houghou hi ducaional livs. Fom kindgan onwad, Fis Naions childn ncoun a dvaluing of hi culu and idniy. Th Biish Columbia Tachs Fdaion on Aboiginal Educaion wis, Fo yas, Aboiginal sudns, pans, and Aboiginal psnaivs hav complaind abou acism, bu hi complains hav bn dismissd. Thy go on fuh o say ha Aboiginal achs a also disciminad agains. A po lasd by h Canadian Tachs Fdaion confims ha no only do Aboiginal sudns xpinc acism in school, Aboiginal achs xpinc i as wll (S. Dnis, 2010). A sudy by h Canadian Cn fo Policy Alnaivs found ha 75% of h popl paicipaing in hi sudy did no Soyps abou Povy Ky infomans idnifid h sigma ha sociy and svic povids sill aach o h poo as an undlying caus of h high a of povy. Baking hough h sigma of povy, facing i, and bing abl o discuss i, wihou h impdimns of judgmn and vicimizing h family, a ciical o poviding ffciv assisanc. W as a sco hav don such a cappy job of aching ou o Canadians on povy. W hav no clu abou how o alk o popl abou povy and h imags w us a mdioc. Th ida ha vyon can pull hmslvs up by h boosaps and succd is fals. - Ky Infoman Mos sysms don suppo h povy issu and w sill lov o blam h vicim. - Ky Infoman Fo uban Fis Naions pans living in povy, issus of sigma and sham coninu o affc hi wll-bing. Pans a sill blamd if hy canno fd hi childn. Familis living in povy coninu o b soypd as spnding hi mony on dinking and subsancs, dspi vidnc ha shows a low a of alcohol us among pimay cagivs in hungy familis (Onaio Fdaion of Indian Findship Cns, 2003). bliv ha achs xpcd Aboiginal sudns o succd in school, 70% of Aboiginal sudns didn fl wlcom in school and 100% blivd ha acism was a faco fo Aboiginal sudns in school (Silv, Mall, Gn & Simad, 2002). Mos sysms don suppo h povy issu and w sill lov o blam h vicim. - Ky Infoman Why am I Poo? - 18

21 W as a sco hav don such a cappy job of aching ou o Canadians on povy. W hav no clu abou how o alk o popl abou povy and h imags w us a mdioc. Th ida ha vyon can pull hmslvs up by h boosaps and succd is fals. - Ky Infoman Why am I Poo? - 19

22 - Chap 5: Oucoms - Povy impacs child wlfa, accss o housing, halh and wll-bing, and accss o halhy food. Ths all hav an impac on child halh and dvlopmn. This chap discusss h sious consquncs of Fis Naions child povy.

23 Halh Oucoms Povy is a social dminan of halh, and is impacs - food inscuiy, subsandad housing, and poo wa qualiy - a linkd o halh dispaiis (Th Cn fo Rsach on Inn Ciy Halh, 2009). Fis Naions childn suff a ga budn of poo halh han oh childn in Canada. Th causs a lagly influncd by nvionmnal and socio-conomic facos, including hug diffncs in incom, ducaion and mploymn oppouniis bwn Fis Naions popls and oh Canadians. Compounding his issu a gogaphic isolaion and lack of accss o physicians and mdical spcialiss (UNICEF, 2009). Dspi a dcas in infan moaliy as ov h las dcad, Fis Naions childn living on sv sill hav a high a of infan moaliy han oh Canadians a 7.2% of liv bihs compad o 5.2% fo h gnal populaion (Indian and Nohn Affais, 2004). On of h lading causs of infan moaliy among Fis Naions childn is Suddn Infan Dah Syndom (SIDS). SIDS has no only bn linkd o nvionmnal facos such as h mold and mildw ofn found in subsandad housing, bu o cib safy, smoking and lack of basfding. Fis Naions babis agd 1-12 monhs a h ims mo likly o di han h gnal populaion in Canada (UNICEF, 2009). Hungy childn a mo likly o g colds and viuss, o hav a compomisd immun sysm, o hav anmia, so somachs and hadachs. Food inscuiy is also linkd o a numb of mnal halh issus including low slf-sm, inabiliy o concna, sham, moodinss and bhavioual poblms (Onaio Fdaion of Indian Findship Cns, 2003). Living in povy ov xndd piods is linkd o an incasd isk of bhaviou poblms, dpssion, moional poblms and family dysfuncion (Assmbly of Fis Naions, 2006). Th a high as of spiaoy ac infcions fo Fis Naions childn living on sv.g. 3.6% of Fis Naions childn on sv had bonchiis compad o 1.4% fo h Canadian populaion (Th Cn fo Rsach on Inn Ciy Halh, 2009). Povy is also linkd o lack of succss in school. On ky infoman pod ha abou half of poo childn hav aly liacy and spch dlay issus as wll as bhavioual issus. Ofn, saff do no hav h spcializd aining ndd o and o h nds of hs childn. Thi only opion is o f h child o anoh agncy. Howv, waiing liss a long. Living in povy ov xndd piods is linkd o an incasd isk of bhaviou poblms, dpssion, moional poblms and family dysfuncion (Assmbly of Fis Naions, 2006). Th impac of ingnaional auma smming fom h sidnial school sysm coninus o affc Fis Naions childn. Th many hamful impacs ndud by h suvivos and hi childn and gandchildn, including physical, sxual, moional abus, low slf-sm, dpssion, inabiliy o fom halhy Why am I Poo? - 21

24 laionships, c. Ths a all linkd o povy, homlssnss and oh ngaiv consquncs (Wsly-Esquimaux & Smolwski, 2004). Th is a cognizd associaion bwn povy and a ang of mnal halh issus, including sss, anxiy, dpssion and lack of slf-sm (NCCAH, 2010b). Povy, combind wih addicions and ov-cowdd housing, is a conibuing faco o family violnc, boh on and off sv. Childn a ofn h dic cipins of hi impac, and a a isk of paing h cycl of abus (UNICEF, 2009). Food Inscuiy Thiy-h pcn of Aboiginal housholds in Canada xpincd food inscuiy compad o 9% of non- Aboiginal housholds. A oal of 14% of Aboiginal housholds w affcd by sv food inscuiy, compad o 3% of non-aboiginal housholds (Willows, 2009). I is impossibl o liv on wha is povidd hough social assisanc, i ncouags popl o li and cha in od o suviv. If w ally valu childn in ou sociy, hn as a sociy w nd o povid pans wih h funding and suppo o nabl hm no o jus mly suviv, bu o b abl o hiv. - Ky Infoman Food inscuiy is a sious issu among uban Aboiginal popl. In a suvy of pans conducd by h Onaio Fdaion of Indian Findship Cns in 2003: 79% said hy woid abou unning ou of food o h mony o buy food 35% said hi childn had gon hungy bcaus hy had un ou of food and mony 11% had kp hi child fom school bcaus hy had no food o snd wih hm o school 7% said hy had bn involvd in h child pocion sysm bcaus of food shoags Mo han half of Fis Naions childn a ih ovwigh o obs and a a isk of dvloping diabs, ha disas and oh condiions as hy g old. In 2004, h a of obsiy among Fis Naions childn und 12 yas of ag was mo han fou ims h Canadian a. This is linkd o h high a of diabs among Fis Naions youh and aduls. Povy, panal ducaion and physical aciviy a linkd o incasing as of child obsiy (Th Cn fo Rsach on Inn Ciy Halh, 2009). Familis living in povy hav lss accss o halhy food and o caion oppouniis fo hi childn. Communiis hav sn incass in yp 2 diabs in childn (UNICEF, 2009). Child obsiy is a majo halh concn wih long m individual and social consquncs. Undfunding of Cun Svics Th nds in Fis Naion communiis a incasing a a fa ga a han h funding. An issu facing all oganizaions woking wih popl living in povy is h lack of sufficin and sabl longm funding. This funding is ndd fo pogams and svics ha addss povy. Ky infomans nod ha, basd on cun dmands fo hi pogams, hy could asily doubl hi clinl if hy had h soucs o suppo addiional pogamming. Fo xampl, funding fo h Aboiginal Had Sa pogam was simad o only ach abou 12% of ligibl childn on sv and 7.6% off sv (Naional Council of Wlfa, 2007). Why am I Poo? - 22