Indigenous Peoples are separate social and cultural groups that have collective ancestral links to the lands and natural resources where they live, inhabit, or from which they have been displaced. These people are sometimes referred to as First Peoples or Native Americans.
Their identities, customs, and ways of life, in addition to their bodily and spiritual well-being, are intricately tied to the land and natural resources on which they depend for their livelihoods.
They frequently adhere to the notion that their traditional leaders and organizations, which are different or diverse from those of the culture or society at large, are the best representatives of their interests.
5 Issues Faced By Indigenous People
Many Indigenous Peoples still speak a language that is distinct from the official language or languages of the nation or region in which they live.
However, many Indigenous Peoples have lost their languages or are on the verge of extinction as a result of being evicted from their lands and/or relocated to other territories, and in.
They can communicate in more than 4,000 of the world’s languages, even though several studies suggest that more than half of the world’s languages are in danger of dying out by the year 2100.
Less favorable health conditions
According to the findings of an inquiry into the factors that determine health conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), European colonialism is now considered to be a widespread and basic underlying factor in the health of Indigenous people.
Indigenous people continue to be at a higher risk for illness and death at an earlier age than non-Indigenous People, even though many Indigenous communities have made strides toward improving education around health issues.
Despite these improvements, Indigenous people continue to be at a higher risk than non-Indigenous People. The prevalence of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease is growing at an alarming rate. There are clear connections between health, social variables, and one’s level of money.
Inadequate housing and crowded living circumstances are significant factors that result in a greater incidence of respiratory difficulties and other infectious illnesses among Indigenous children compared to the incidence of these problems and diseases among non-Indigenous children.
Reduced educational achievement levels
Colonialism is responsible for many unpleasant and demoralizing legacies, the most ubiquitous of which is education. At the base of this specific legacy is the Indian Residential School system, which was the ultimate national experiment in assimilation.
In comparison to the 18.3 percent of the rest of the Canadian population who do not have a secondary (high) school or equivalency certificate, 33.65 percent of people who identified as an Indigenous person in the 2016 Canadian Census did not have a secondary (high) school or equivalency certificate.
Poor housing and overcrowding
Attawapiskat First Nation may be described in only three words. In 2011, a housing issue that far too many Indigenous communities contend with was brought to the attention of national and international media outlets, as well as the United Nations.
This attention was drawn to the conditions that existed in this community. Comparatively, just 6% of the non-indigenous population lived in homes that required substantial repairs, whereas 44.2% of First Nations people living on reserves lived in homes that needed such repairs.
Reduced amounts of financial gain
In 2015, the average total income of Indigenous Peoples was 75% of that of non-Indigenous people; this represents a disparity in income of 25%. When compared to the difference that existed in 2005, which was 27 percent, this is a minor improvement.
Higher overall unemployment percentages
Historically, the rate of unemployment among Indigenous Peoples has been significantly greater than that of non-Indigenous people. Between the years 2006 and 2016, there was no significant improvement in the employment rates of Canada’s Indigenous people.
Higher incarceration
In the school year 2015/2016, there was a disproportionate number of indigenous adults admitted to provincial and territorial correctional facilities.
They only made up roughly 3 percent of the adult population in Canada, but they were responsible for 26 percent of admissions. Indigenous individuals accounted for 28 percent of all admissions to incarceration in the federal penal system.
In the federal penitentiary system in the years 2015/2016, indigenous individuals accounted for 28% of admissions to detention and 26% of admissions to community supervision.
What Is Reconciliation?
Canada’s federal government is dedicated to building bridges of understanding and respect with Indigenous communities by reestablishing relationships with them based on a mutual acknowledgment of rights, respect, cooperation, and collaboration.
As a result of constitutional protections, indigenous communities enjoy unique legal status with the government. This connection is acknowledged and reinforced in section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982, which also affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights.
After a just and equitable reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the Crown, Indigenous countries shall be made partners in Confederation, as promised in Section 35.
Why Reconciliation Is Important?
The term “reconciliation” refers to an ongoing process in which Indigenous peoples and the Crown work together to develop and maintain a mutually respectful framework for living together, to create healthy and prosperous Indigenous nations within a thriving Canada.
If we are to move forward with reconciliation, it is essential that we recognize one another’s rights, admit the wrongs of the past, learn the truth about our collective past, and work together to ensure Indigenous people’s rights are respected in the present and the future.
As part of this metamorphosis, the Crown’s inherent rights, title, and jurisdiction are being asserted alongside recognition of Indigenous peoples’ pre-existing rights. Recognition-based reconciliation will call for everyone’s best efforts, new ideas, sacrifices, and trust in one another.
The Crown’s larger relationship with Indigenous peoples is guided by the principles of reconciliation, which in turn shape the Crown’s activities regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Canada’s constitutional principles, and partnerships with Indigenous communities and territorial and provincial governments inform the federal government’s approach to reconciliation.
5 Charities for Indigenous People in Canada
Indigenous peoples are a diverse and vital part of our society, and they can only thrive with the help of organizations that advocate their concerns.
In reality, when one learns about the many things indigenous charities do, how they work along with the government in certain cases, and how far their influence extends inside indigenous communities, one may conclude that indigenous charities are crucial to the very existence of indigenous people.
Here are the 5 charities for indigenous people in Canada:
Water First
Since its inception in 2009, Water First has been dedicated to improving the water situation in Uganda. After being repeatedly pushed and motivated to help Canadian communities with water issues, they finally started working with First Nations communities in 2012.
The First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis communities of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador have worked with Water First to develop educational and training programs to solve their water problems.
Honoring Indigenous People
Another organization with the noble goal of improving ties between indigenous and non-indigenous people is Honoring Indigenous People.
Its primary goal is to foster an atmosphere of cooperation in which all members of society may contribute to a more peaceful tomorrow.
Canadian Roots Exchange
The goal of Canadian Roots Exchange is to encourage positive interactions among adolescents of different cultural backgrounds.
The strong bonds of friendship that exist between these two groups serve as the foundation for a larger, more cohesive community. The organization hosts seminars and leadership programs where participants are encouraged to open up to one another.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The name of this organization suggests that it works to benefit the about 65,000 Inuit living in Canada’s four Inuit regions.
The nonprofit group researches Inuit-related topics for various organizations and helps Inuit communities convey their complaints to the Canadian and British governments.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami also hosts several workshops and seminars that aim to educate Canadians about Inuit history and culture while also encouraging participation in legislative efforts to address problems such as racism and territorial claims.
Their primary goal is to maintain the Inuit people’s political and cultural unity beyond geographic and temporal boundaries.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada
The Native Women’s Association of Canada is a powerful group whose mission is to promote equality for indigenous women.
This National Aboriginal Organization is particularly essential as it also helps raise awareness of numerous problems including aboriginal women’s LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, which currently lack enough representation in non-governmental circles.
This group is well-known for leveraging its influence in political and legislative spheres to advocate for measures that would make Canada a safer place for indigenous women.
