Epidemic of injustice against First Nations People in Canada
In Canada, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people face systemic injustices, including poorer social, economic, and political outcomes, rooted in anti-Indigenous racism and the legacy of colonialism, leading to disparities in health, education, housing, and justice.
“The proportion of Indigenous people who experienced a serious problem with discrimination and/or harassment is notable - being approximately four times more prevalent among First Nations people, and Inuit, and two and a half times more prevalent among Métis, compared to non-racialized/non-Indigenous people (2.0%). Additionally, other research has shown that the reasons for this discrimination, and the location where one experiences discrimination are different for Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people (Savage & McDonald, 2022). For example, Indigenous people were more likely to experience discrimination in a variety of contexts, such as at school, at work, or online (Savage & McDonald, 2022). Relatedly, experiences of harassment were also significantly more likely among First Nations people and Métis compared to non-racialized/non-Indigenous people.”
Serious problems or disputes experienced by First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit living in the provinces, Statics Canada Report, 2023
It all began with the Doctrines of Discovery and Terri Nellius, colonization, land grabs, the institution of the Indian Act, Enfranchisement, Potlach Ban, Residential Schools, Day Schools, 60s Scoop, and everything else thrown at us to eliminate us from who we are, where and who we belong, why we are here (our purpose) and our future as the First Peoples of our territories. Each institution in this country was built on this way of being, doing and knowing…colonization and capitalism. Hence, why every institution today still upholds this as the only way of knowing, being and doing. Thus, racism and discrimination are at the heart of it and the foundation of dismantling us as a Peoples is still very much a part of these systems. We will skim the surface of these systems but deeper dives to learn more about them is required so you can truly know the impact on us as a people.
Health Care System
Indigenous (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) peoples in Canada face systemic racism and discrimination in the health care system, which is shaped by a colonial history that ignores their own uniqueness as the First Peoples of their territories. This systemic racism, both interpersonal and structural, contributes to widespread health disparities, with Indigenous peoples experiencing lower health outcomes than non-Indigenous populations. These disparities are worsened by limited access to quality health care, especially in rural and remote communities, and the socio-economic challenges faced by Indigenous peoples. Structural racism in health policies and practices, as well as broader societal discrimination, has profound negative effects on health access and outcomes. For example, Investigation finds widespread racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples in B.C. health-care system which is outline in the In Plain Sight - Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care. As well as many other reports, research and information being gathered about this in every province across this country known as Canada.
Criminal Justice System
There are numerous circumstances and explanations as to why Indigenous persons are significantly over-represented in correctional facilities. Colonialism, displacement, socio-economic and cultural marginalization, culture clash in society and police, and systemic discrimination are just a few of the factors that have frequently been implicated in public discourse and research as possible explanations for the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system overall as well as in the correctional system.
Incarceration rates for Indigenous persons in 2020/2021 for the five provinces was 42.6 persons in provincial custody on any given day per 10,000 Indigenous adults. For non-Indigenous persons, the incarceration rate was 4.0 persons per 10,000 non-Indigenous adults. Note that unlike the Over-Representation Index, these rates are unadjusted for age and sex differences.
In 1996, the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was released. It found that the greatest contributor to overrepresentation were the colonial values underlying Canadian criminal laws, policies and practices that have had negative impacts on Indigenous peoples. As a result of Canada’s colonial history, Indigenous peoples have been subjected to assimilation policies and practices that have created collective and individual intergenerational trauma resulting in negative impacts on social determinants of health for many. Their experiences, often compounded by inadequate housing as well as limited education and employment opportunities, have been identified in the literature as contributing to Indigenous people being in contact with the criminal justice system more often and for longer periods than non-Indigenous people.
Policing System
Decades of studies into policing and justice show that First Nations people are over-represented in the justice system. They suffer more systemic racism, over-policing, and experiences with police misconduct. First Nations, Métis and Inuit face higher rates of criminal victimization than non-Indigenous people. Trauma resulting from colonialism, systemic racism, and deeply rooted social and economic challenges have made Indigenous people more likely to be the victims of crime. Indigenous people are twice as likely as others to experience a problem with the criminal justice system. This is the case even after controlling for other factors, such as age, gender, and income. One-third of Indigenous people report experiencing discrimination. 15% of Indigenous people who experience discrimination are reported to be victims of a violent crime. Indigenous people are about twice as likely than non-Indigenous people to mistrust their local police service. The differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in this regard are greatest in Saskatchewan and in the territories.
In short, systemic discrimination and racial bias has attributed to increased interactions with the criminal justice system, leading to the overrepresentation of First Nations people in prisons. According to the Correctional Investigator of Canada, First Nations custody rates have accelerated while the overall inmate population has declined. Furthermore, many First Nations do not find justice as victims of crime.
Child Care System
Indigenous children are vastly overrepresented in foster care, with 53.8% of children in foster care being Indigenous, while they make up only 7.7% of the general child population, data from Statistics Canada in 2021.
General factors that are considered as contributing to over-representation include:
Poverty and Socioeconomic Issues: Indigenous communities often face higher rates of poverty, poor housing, and substance misuse, which can contribute to children entering the child welfare system.
Intergenerational Trauma: The legacy of residential schools and other historical injustices has led to intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities, impacting family stability and child well-being.
Lack of Adequate Services: Indigenous communities often lack access to adequate social services, healthcare, and support systems, which can increase the risk of children entering care.
But this does not consider all the factors that have been imposed by government and through colonization, including racism and discrimination, through legislation on generations of families being affected by the above. Which is compounded by chronically underfunded systems of education, health, social, childcare, housing, clean drinking water, food security, extreme poverty on reserves, crowded housing, and so much more which is produced by settler legislation, policies, procedures, and rules. In a court case brought against the federal government in 2007, the court found that the Canadian Government “systemically racially discriminated against children” in this country. Of course, the Canadian government did not comply with the court’s rulings and as of 2024, there were 20 non-compliance and procedural motions against them by Indigenous leadership. In short, Canada is more concerned with saving money then doing not taking just actions but what our judicial system has asked of them, because we are of not the majority in this country. They do not want to invest into the well-being of our children today nor our future generations. Cindy Blackstock stated that the governments like to look at discrimination through the rear-view mirror, blaming past leadership for it rather own it as the truth today, whilst stopping the discrimination and take action to eliminate it in their system. Dr Eva Jewel shared that these conditions will continue until restitution and restoration of Indigenous nations, meaning land back, cash back, culture back, language back, and children back to their communities. There are so many reports outlining the issue and changes required, but the government continues to drag its heels in, under fund and not implement any recommendations towards this epidemic of our children in care.
Education System
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, are less likely to complete high school or post-secondary studies than Canadians in general. The gap is particularly stark for Indigenous students living on reserves, where high school completion rates are significantly lower than for those living off-reserve. This is due to access, funding, transportation, dominate colonial and capitalistic views to education which does not integrate with Indigenous worldviews, values, culture, language, land based learning, spiritual wellness, protocols, practices, natural law, traditional medicines, sovereignty, etc.
The legacy of residential schools, historical and on-going injustices has had a profound and lasting impact on Indigenous communities and their access to education. For example, my generation is the first to have access to post-secondary education as our parents and those before them were not enfranchised for attending Post Secondary and were forced into a handful of career choices by the government. My dad was the first Squamish youth to attend public high school after they closed the residential school he was forced to attend. He was forced to take carpentry training out of school with no choice of other educational options, even though this is not what he wanted to do.
Indigenous students face discrimination and racism in schools, contributing to poor performance and higher dropout rates. As an example, my husband and his extended family faced racism every day at school in small town BC, which led to a lot of fighting on the school grounds to defend themselves.
Educational systems often fail to cater to the unique needs and cultural contexts of Indigenous peoples, leading to feelings of alienation and disconnection. A lack of teachers who speak Indigenous languages and the absence of Indigenous languages in the curriculum can further marginalize Indigenous students. Indigenous communities, particularly those in rural and remote areas do not receive the same education funding resources. Poverty and lack of economic opportunities can also contribute to lower educational attainment among Indigenous peoples. Mental health issues, often stemming from historical trauma and discrimination, can also negatively impact academic performance. There is a lot interconnected spaces that impact this system and the fact that neither system (health, child welfare, mental health, social emotional intelligence, etc.) do not work collaboratively towards a human being well-being still is mind blowing to me.
Economic System of Wealth
This is another huge topic that requires much attention as poverty levels both on and off reserve are still staggering. I speak to this in my co-authored document: Step into the River: A Framework for Economic Reconciliation.
There is so much more I could share about historical and ongoing issues concerning First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples in Canada as it pertains to equity, equality, justice and reconciliation, especially with the Crown. For Canadians that don’t know, we are the responsibility of the government of Canada. We are literally wards of the crown; the land and people, through the Indian Act. So, when we add up all that is stacked against us, it becomes clearer for other outside of this space, to understand why things are the way they are. Things are not equal, there are spaces where the disparities are overwhelming. Yet we are amazingly resilient, agile and continue to prevail and thrive despite the challenges we face daily. This is not to say that we don’t have a lot of healing to do, so we can move through the intergenerational and compound trauma. But without increased funding to provide these supports, it two steps forward and one back consistently. So there is always ways to contribute through allyship, partnership and funding for addressing all these challenges today for tomorrow.
I am sharing this article as the starting point to other posts that will be coming to you throughout April and May and beyond. Weaved together they tell the story of our lived history and on-going constant challenges in every aspect of our humanity and well-being.
