Good morning, everyone.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the ancestors—the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people—of the unceded territories that we are meeting on today. I thank them for allowing me to be a visitor to their territory to carry out this important work that we will be discussing today.
I would also like to thank the standing committee for extending an invitation to me and President Morin Dal Col to be here this morning to speak to the issue of suicide among indigenous peoples and communities. I bring regrets from President Morin Dal Col who is feeling under the weather this morning. She was planning to be a part of this presentation this morning so she could address this important subject on behalf of Métis people in British Columbia. She did want me to convey to you her deep concern for many families—Métis, first nations, and Inuit—right across this country, who have experienced the loss of a loved one or loved ones through the taking of their own lives, and she offers her praise to this committee for undertaking these hearings and looking for the solutions to address this very serious issue.
My name is Cassidy Caron. I am Métis. My families come from St. Louis and Batoche, Saskatchewan, and I'm the provincial Métis youth chairperson and minister of youth for Métis Nation British Columbia. I am honoured to be here today. The work that is being done and the stories that are being shared across the country are incredibly valuable and it is necessary that they are heard so that action can be taken.
First, I want to offer a brief background of the Métis people here in British Columbia. Métis are recognized under section 35 of the Constitution Act as one of three distinct aboriginal peoples in Canada. Métis have been documented in B.C. as early as 1793 and nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis people reside throughout British Columbia. Métis Nation British Columbia is recognized by the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council as the official governing body representing Métis in B.C., including more than 14,500 Métis people who have applied for and been granted Métis citizenship.
I would like to share with you the story of Nick Lang—noting we have received special permission from his family to do so—to underscore how gaps in cultural support, and not having a responsive system, led to the devastating end to this young man's life. Just last month, the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth in British Columbia released its investigative report detailing the circumstances leading up to the death of Nick Lang.
Nick was a 15-year-old Métis youth. Nick's mother described him in the RCY report as a child who was extremely kind, happy, generous, and sensitive to other people's feelings and emotions. His father described Nick as someone who made friends easily, with his older brother remaining his closest friend throughout his life. From a young age, Nick identified as Métis, and came to learn about and experience his culture. Nick was a proud citizen of Métis Nation British Columbia. He was connected to his culture through the love of being outdoors and fishing. He enjoyed cultural ceremonies, and his parents described him as being both curious about and proud of his identity.
Nick struggled through his early teen years, becoming addicted to marijuana and escalating to the use of methamphetamines. Nick's parents spent many years reaching out for assistance, beginning with the local Ministry of Children and Family Development office, hoping the social worker would offer support services or resources. None were offered as all non-protection-based MCFD services are voluntary. They then researched mandatory treatment options for Nick, however they could not find any public options that they felt were appropriate for him and the private programs that they looked at were beyond their reach financially.
His parents reached out to a director from Métis Nation B.C. to ask if she knew of any Métis-specific programs or financial assistance for a private program. However, she was unaware of any appropriate substance use programs for Métis youth in B.C. She genuinely wanted to help Nick's family, but did not have the access to funding or services to do so.
Nick's substance use and negative behaviour escalated to the point where he assaulted his mother and became involved with the youth justice system. While waiting for his sentencing, police were notified when Nick posted on Facebook that he would be “dead by sunrise”. Nick was located in possession of a concealed weapon and was brought to the local hospital to have his mental health assessed, considering his post, which hinted at suicidal ideation. However, Nick did not receive a mental health assessment when he denied that he was suicidal. Nick was sentenced for assault with a weapon and placed on an intensive support and supervision order with extensive conditions.
After many years of his parents desperately seeking for services to support Nick, he began attending a full-time attendance program as ordered by the youth justice system. Tragically, even this support did not come soon enough for Nick, who after less than one week in the program was found hanging in a bedroom closet of the care home where he was staying while attending this program.
Nick's experiences highlight gaps in available and appropriate support services and a complete lack of provincial resources focused on supporting the development of appropriate Métis-specific services. The McCreary Centre Society recently released a Métis-specific profile on youth health in British Columbia. This disaggregated data is the first of its kind and reports on some sobering statistics on Métis youth health, including mental health. The data comes from the 2013 B.C. adolescent health survey administered to youth aged 12 to 19; and from the 2013 data, 32% of aboriginal youth identified as Métis.
In the report, it states that 35% of Métis youth in British Columbia report having at least one mental health condition. The most common were depression and anxiety. In 2008, over a quarter, 27%, of Métis girls aged 12 to 19 had deliberately cut or injured themselves. In 2013, this number increased for Métis girls to 36%.
Females were more likely than their peers five years ago to consider suicide and twice as likely to attempt. Métis youth were more likely than their non-Métis peers to consider or attempt suicide. Among Métis youth, females were more likely to have missed out on needed mental health care than medical care. Many Métis youth were concerned about the lack of cultural awareness within the health care system and were cautious about approaching health care professionals for fear of encountering racism.
They felt that culturally specific services and the availability of professionals who identify as Métis would help to reduce their reluctance to seek help. It was also reported that strong, community-based relationships were considered key for success and wellness of Métis youth. Both youth and adults have told us that cultural connectedness plays an important role in the wellness of Métis youth. Taking part in cultural practices was particularly linked to positive mental health for youth.
One of the challenges in building services for Métis people is that the unique history and heritage of Métis people may not necessarily fit into the traditionally held understanding of what it means to be indigenous. As a result, we as Métis people have struggled to have our rights and our unique identity recognized. Recently, the Government of Canada announced its mental wellness helpline for indigenous peoples. This helpline, however, does not meet the needs of Métis people as it is specifically the first nations and Inuit hope for wellness helpline.
As a 24/7 hotline, this would have been an amazing opportunity to offer Métis people in distress. This is one example of our Métis people being excluded from safe and responsive services for indigenous people, which is why we urge the standing committee, moving forward with your studies, to be inclusive of Métis people and not merge them into the umbrella of indigenous or aboriginal people in Canada.
The need to work with Métis communities to develop Métis-appropriate services is even greater when one considers the number of Métis people in B.C. and Canada, as I earlier stated. Currently, MNBC is not sufficiently resourced to fulfill its mandate to develop and enhance opportunities for Métis communities by implementing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services.
There is need for sustainable and sufficient funding for Métis governing bodies to work with our communities to take ownership and control over mental wellness programs and over suicide prevention and intervention.
One example of taking ownership was the blue ribbon suicide prevention campaign launched by Métis Nation – Saskatchewan in 2014. It created a tool kit to educate those involved in front-line positions who may come into contact with Métis youth in distress. The campaign was also designed to share teachings and traditions with Métis youth so that they have a stronger sense of belonging and know they are part of a larger community.
We strongly recommend that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, implement a national strategy for suicide prevention and intervention and to ensure the inclusion of Métis people; that there be meaningful collaboration and consultation with Métis communities in developing and implementing the plan; and that the strategy include a plan for the development and delivery of culturally responsive services for Métis children and families.
I want to thank you so much for your time and for considering these points as well as Nick's story, and for moving forward with your study on suicide among indigenous peoples and communities.
