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Aboriginal Canadians & the Suicide Epidemic

Spencer Wynn/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Spencer Wynn/Toronto Star via Getty Images

This past weekend, head chief and council for the Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay (Northern Ontario), declared a state of emergency, stating that they’re unable to handle the amount of suicides in the community.

 

Saturday night, 11 people of the community attempted to kill themselves. The council and chief voted to declare the state of emergency, and reach out to agencies like Health Canada, to bring additional support.

 

101 people have tried to kill themselves since September in the same community, including Saturday’s suicide attempts. One person died, and the youngest involved in the plan was only 11 years old. Just in the month of March, about 2,000 in the Cree community attempted to commit suicide. Health-care workers, who don’t have the proper mental health training, are unable to keep up with the attempts- let alone prepare for more to come.

 

Justin Trudeau weighted in the issue, tweeting Sunday that his government, “will continue to work to improve living conditions for all Indigenous peoples.”

 

In most suburban schools, a young person is still likely to attempt a suicide; only they receive a standard protocol that northern communities aren’t even aware of. This includes the proper resources and emergency team. They don’t have the mental health service dollars, or even close to the amount of resources a community should have.

 

When 14-15 people are living in one home, it can be very difficult. This means very debilitating and improper lifestyle to kids at such a young age. Bullying at schools is another big trigger in these circumstances, causing emotional damage and abuse. Drugs are another major issue in these communities, and are frequently used to numb pain caused by the same physical, and sexual abuse. The pill problem in these communities is major, causing staggering withdrawals, making the people using them feel that much more unwanted. Then, when you don’t have money to support your drug habits, that’s when people turn to suicide.

 

This past October, a 13-year old girl named Sheridan Hookimaw hanged herself. This caused a spur in the community because she left a voice recording on her phone stating that it wasn’t her families’ fault, but she had to leave them. Her health issues caused her to be bullied at school. She lived in a cramped two-bedroom space with about 20 family members. Jackie Hookimaw-Witt, Sheridan’s grandaunt told Vice Magazine that she was too overwhelmed with her own situation. She claims that she was always so stressed out because there was no space for her to complete her homework.

 

There’s no real explanation for these suicides, but it is obvious that the people of Attawapiskat are living in fear. These people need help, and support to allow the proper insurance in their own health-care. It seems hopeless to imagine such a vast amount of suicides in such a small place, with only air ambulances rushing in and out. Native Americans is the USA face a lower life expectancy that other populations as well. American Indians and Alaska Natives are expected to live almost 5 years less than other U.S populations, due to the same mental and physical health problems cause by poverty.

 

Canada’s population of 1.4 million indigenous people are living in sever impoverished conditions. Their life expectancy is also below the Canadian average.

 

The former chief of Attawapiskat, orchestrated a hunger strike in 2013 to protest to the Canadian government for not providing enough money, education and health-care for the tribe. The same tribe also had another state of emergency in 2011, due to low temperatures and insufficient housing. There is also speculation and accusations that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are right wing and racist.

 

The media coverage on this issue is also insufficient, and disgustingly non-existent. No one seems educated on the current situation, leaving these people only more suffer and depression. These communities are plagued with flooding, no running water and only accessible by air. Home repairs are merely impossible; there is no doctor at the local hospital, pregnant women have to be flown all the way to James Bay, and most non-aboriginal teachers and nurses do not stick around long.

 

Current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, promises to improve living conditions for all Indigenous peoples. There has been very little response from the government to these people, until now. Even now, the damage to these people is already done, and the mental state to the whole community is dwelling on their own mental epidemic. A national strategy has now been called for to help the Indigenous people’s mental health. We may be improving our actions on our inability to properly support our own people, but unfortunately these young lives won’t ever be brought back. In a country as free and equal as Canada, it is disheartening to hear that the same population is given such a different lifestyle.

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