A look at life on Canada’s First Nations presents a disturbing image of poverty and poor health.
A national survey indicates nearly every indicator of the quality of life on reserves has gone down since the last First Nations Regional Health Survey five years ago.
Jane Gray, the national projects manager for the survey, presented the results to a group of politicians on Parliament Hill.
She says, by and large, life on reserves is getting worse, not better:
“That’s one of the most disheartening parts that I look at. Fifty-four per cent of our population reported having food insecurity issues — so they don’t have enough money to pay for food, and they go to bed hungry.”
About half the homes are contaminated by mold, and the number of those living on $10,000 or less has increased from five years ago.
However, the report is not all bad news.
It indicates the incidents of diabetes on reserves, while still high, has plateaued — and that First Nations youth with a strong cultural grounding tend to do better.
The First Nations Regional Health Survey for on-reserve living began in the 1990’s.
It is considered the most extensive and accurate snapshot in the country on reserve health and living conditions.