People often claim the first step to rectifying a problem is acknowledging its existence; however, the mental health issues faced by members of the First Nation have been acknowledged-- and then swept away. This defines the issue, as multiple decades of studies and inquiries have produced the same results: a distinct lack of resource for mental health in the nations, further compromising this already vulnerable population.
This article primarily focuses on the major inequalities faced by peoples within Canadian first nations, especially with respect to mental health. There are a supremely disproportionate amount of suicides and attempts within many First Nation communities; these have, in turn, been met with little advancements or aid from the Federal government. It opens about the difficulties creating long-lasting change and working with programs that have funding cut in 2-3 years. Moreover, it highlights the distinct apathy displayed by the Canadian government to help or even discuss these issues-- to the point where even declaring a crisis is met with minimal reaction.
Attawapiskat First Nation: an isolated first nation located in the Kenora district of Norther Ontario along the James Bay. It is a highly remote reserve, with limited access to outside individuals
Caroline Tait: a professor of Psychiatry at University of Saskatchewan Medical School, who is utilized as a resource in this article.
Premier Peter Taptuna: Canadian politician currently serving as the premier of Nunavut, the largest territory in Northern Canada. Since his tenure began in 2013, Taptuna has specifically focused on education and training within the territories in order to gain long-term economic and social stability.
Aboriginal Healing Foundation: a non-profit organization focusing on building strong cultural ties and enabling community progress through rectifying social wrongs. This includes supporting youth and families in social well-being, training leadership and communities to respond to trauma, and sharing aboriginal stories with outside communities. This organization is cited several times as greatly progressing aboriginal communities while preserving culture, identity, and relationships with outside peoples. It is also cited as having a significant portion of its Federal funding cut, despite overwhelming positive results from initiatives and projects.
The article discusses the provocation for the declaration of a "Suicide Crisis" in the Attawapiskat First Nation, and how this is not the first time a crisis has been declared with little to no result. The idea of mental health is still highly stigmatized, with movement just now occurring in federal chambers; the news article seeks to highlight how the stigma and lack of response only amplifies when you look at vulnerable populations, such as North America's native communities. It also highlights how much of the supposedly shocking information coming from this inquiry and crisis (the high percentage of suicides and attempts, the proliferation of depression and mood disorders, and the the lack of productive action or conversation) has been known for at least 20 years when the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People was released.
The article includes multiple in-person interviews, including with Canadian officials (such as the Nunavut Premier), a professor of psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan, and several prominent figures in the Native community.
1) Attawapiskat: This First Nation region is described in the article as one of the most isolate and remote. Further research indicates not only is it geographically isolated, but it lacks significant resources, resulting in a high cost of living and a scarcity in certain goods. Moreover, the region is serviced by a nursing clinic (no physicians) and a team of 8 paramedics-- truly an under-served medical region.
2) Aboriginal Healing Foundation: Our Catholic high school curriculum involved an ethics class, which debated the mistreatment aboriginals in the name of evangelicalism. I chose to research the foundation and determine what made this special-- why were they able to be cited as making such progress, despite losing funding in a few years.
3) Sheridan: A young girl who came to symbolize the suicide epidemic in Attawapiskat, she was 1 of over 100 who attempted to commit suicide within the span of 7 months. The Vice article describing her life and circumstances shows hints of an adolescent wise beyond her years, quoted as saying "if there's no resources, there's not going to be any change" in her suicide recording.
1) "It's a community that's all too aware that declaring a crisis doesn't actually mean anything significant will change...Within the last 12 months, there have been multiple "crisis" states declared in Indigenous communities across the country, including even the entire territory of Nunavut—where 84 percent of the population are Inuit."
2) " "What do you find 20 years ago? The same conversations we are having now about suicide. The same conversations we are having now about the lack of mental health. The same conversations that we are having around socio economic development," Tait told VICE."
3) "One of the reasons Canada conveniently forgets the multiple recommendations and reports around youth suicide and mental health is that when it comes to Indigenous peoples they are considered "the other" "