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Aboriginal People/First Nations

Aboriginal Peoples include people of Indian, Inuit and Métis ancestry, with diverse indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions¹ and represent approximately three percent of Canada's total population.² Over 50 percent of the Aboriginal population is under the age of 24, while 40 percent are under the age of 16.³

Aboriginal people experience a broad range of health issues, and have the poorest health levels in the country. Aboriginal people have shorter life expectancies, experience more violent and accidental deaths, have higher infant mortality rates and suffer from more chronic health conditions.⁴

Aboriginal people are also more likely to face inadequate nutrition, substandard housing and sanitation conditions, unemployment and poverty, and discrimination and racism, all important factors in maintaining health and wellness.

On- and Off-Reserve Housing

Chronic housing shortages on reserve and a lack of affordable housing off-reserve are a concern for many Aboriginal communities. Many homes are in need of repair or need to be replaced. In March 2003, 15,840 housing units were in need of major repair and another 4,937 units needed to be replaced, out of 93,474 housing units on reserve.⁵ Per year there is an existing shortage of 20,000 housing units and a requirement for 4,500 new units.⁶

Aboriginal people are more likely to live in crowded homes than other Canadians, although the situation has improved slightly over time. According to Statistics Canada, crowding is defined as one or more people per room. In 2001, 17 percent of off-reserve Aboriginal people lived in crowded conditions, down from 22 percent five years earlier. In comparison, about 7 percent of all Canadians lived in crowded conditions in 2001.⁷

Mental Health

Many mental health problems of Aboriginals arise from a long history of colonization, residential school trauma, discrimination and oppression, and losses of land, language and livelihood. Many families were deeply affected by the government's residential school policy. Children were taken from their homes and sent to residential schools, where some experienced violence and abuse and many others lost their language and connection to their traditions, culture and community.

Rates of mental health problems, such as suicide, depression, and substance abuse, are significantly higher in many Aboriginal communities than in the general population. The rate of suicide among Aboriginals is 2.1 times the Canadian rate.⁸ Similarly, the rate of suicide for Aboriginal women is three times the national rate.⁹

Aboriginal Concepts of Health and Mental Health

Traditional Aboriginal concepts of health are deeply embedded in a holistic approach focusing on the health and wellness of the body, mind, heart and spirit. Recovery may involve many different paths integrating both western and traditional approaches to health and wellness.

Facts and Figures on Aboriginal Communities and Mental Health

In 2000, the proportion of First Nations people under the age of 30 was 61.1 percent, compared to 38.8 percent for the Canadian population in 2001.
In 2000, life expectancy at birth for the Registered Indian population was estimated at 68.9 years (7.4 years lower than the Canadian average) for males and 76.6 years (5.2 years lower than the Canadian average) for females.
In 2000, the First Nations birth rate was 23.4 births per 1000 population. This is more than twice the Canadian rate.
In 2000/2001, 55.8 percent of homes on First Nations reserves were considered adequate.¹⁰
Suicide and self-injury were the leading causes of death for Aboriginal youths. In 2000, suicide accounted for 22 percent of all deaths among Aboriginal youth (aged 10 to 19 years) and 16 percent of all deaths among Aboriginal people aged 20 to 44 years.10
Suicide rates of Registered Indian youths (aged 15 to 24) are eight times higher than the national rate for females and five times higher than the national rate for males.¹¹
In 2005, there were 24 completed suicides in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory, one of the highest rates in Canada.¹²
Of the almost 1 million Aboriginal people living in Canada, over one-third have been affected either directly by residential school experiences or indirectly as family or community members linked to survivors.¹³
In 2000-2001, approximately 13.2 percent of the Aboriginal population living off-reserve had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. This is 1.8 times higher than the non-aboriginal population.¹⁴

Related Resources

Mental Health Services for Native Peoples: Mental Health Service Information Ontario listing of government-funded mental health services
Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy: The AHWS is a policy and service initiative that brings together Aboriginal people and the government of Ontario in a unique partnership to promote health and healing among Aboriginal people.
Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres: OFIFC is a provincial Aboriginal organization representing the collective interests of 27 member Friendship Centres located in towns and cities throughout the province. The OFIFC administers a number of programs which are delivered by local Friendship Centres in areas such as health, justice, family support, and employment and training. Friendship Centres also design and deliver local initiatives in areas such as education, economic development, children's and youth initiatives, and cultural awareness.
"The Mental Health of Aboriginal Peoples: Transformations of Identity and Community" Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (September 2000; 45: 607-616)
First Nations Chiefs' Health Committee: The FNCHC supports "the development of healthy and self-sufficient First Nations communities by promoting traditional and cultural approaches to health and community development. The CHC will advocate First Nations' self-determination when addressing policy and program issues with Canada and British Columbia."
Aboriginal Canada Portal: The Aboriginal Canada Portal provides information on addictions, mental health and spiritual health for Aboriginal people.
First Nations and Inuit Health: This section of the Health Canada website includes material on the health of First Nations and Inuit people.
National Aboriginal Health Organization: This organization, designed and controlled by Aboriginal people, uses knowledge-based strategies to improve Aboriginal health.
Information Centre on Aboriginal Health: The Information Centre on Aboriginal Health is "a database of information on bibliographic and Web-based resources, programs and services, health careers, and scholarships and bursaries."
National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization: This national not-for-profit non-governmental organization represents Aboriginal Community Health Representatives.
Health Links: Aboriginal Health, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: Links to the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and many other Aboriginal health-related websites.

Suicide

Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations: A Health Canada publication from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (2003).
Suicide Prevention: Inuit Traditional Practices that Encouraged Resilience and Coping: Published by the National Aboriginal Health Organization (September 2006).
Workshops for Aboriginal Communities, Centre for Suicide Prevention: This program of CMHA, Alberta Division, works with Aboriginal communities to offer training in suicide prevention and bereavement.
Honouring Life Network: A website developed to combat suicide among Aboriginal youth that targets both Aboriginal youth and suicide prevention workers in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Aboriginal Healing Movement

The Healing Dance, Network (Summer/Fall 2004): An article on how Aboriginal communities are recovering from trauma caused by residential schools.
Aboriginal Healing Foundation: The Aboriginal Healing Foundation's mission is "to encourage and support Aboriginal people in building and reinforcing sustainable healing processes that address the legacy of physical abuse and sexual abuse in the Residential School system, including intergenerational impacts."
Healing the Past: Addressing the Legacy of Physical and Sexual Abuse in Indian Residential Schools: A chapter in the Canadian government's response to a Law Society of Canada report on child abuse in institutions.
Indian Residential School Mental Health Support Program: This website provides information on services for Indian Residential claimants.
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada: "Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is the federal department dedicated to strengthening partnerships within government and with Aboriginal people, religious denominations, and other citizens to address and resolve issues arising from the legacy of Indian residential schools."
Indian Residential School Survivors Society: This British Columbian organization helps supports research, promotes awareness, establishes partnerships and advocates for justice and healing.

Notes

Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2004.) Canadian Populations Health Initiative. Improving the Health of Canadians. Ottawa: Canada Institute for Health Information.
Statistics Canada. (2003). Aboriginal Peoples Survey: Well-Being of the Non-reserve Aboriginal Population. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada. (2003). Aboriginals peoples survey: Well-Being of the Non-reserve Aboriginal Population. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative. (2003). Aboriginal Access to Health Care Systems. Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (2003). Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (2003). Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Statistics Canada. (2003). 2001 Census: Analysis Series. Aboriginal Peoples of Canada: A Demographic Profile. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Health Canada. (2002). A Statistical Profile on the Health of First Nations in Canada. Ottawa: Health Canada.
Health Canada. (2002). A Statistical Profile on the Health of First Nations in Canada. Ottawa: Health Canada.
Health Canada. (2002). A Statistical Profile on the Health of First Nations in Canada. Ottawa: Health Canada.
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada.
Cheechoo, Catherine, Serene Spence and members of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Decade Youth Council, Thunder Bay. (2006). The Seventh Generation Helping to Heal: Nishnawbe Aski Youth and the Suicide Epidemic. Toronto: Voices for Children.
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. (2006). Out of the Shadows At Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada. Ottawa.
The Health of the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Population. (2002). Catalogue 82-003. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.