Good morning, Madam Chair and the hon. members of this standing committee.
I extend greetings on behalf of the 17 first nation chiefs of Treaty No. 6 West. It is my honour to be invited to address the topic of suicide among indigenous peoples and communities.
This has been a primary concern of our first nation leaders for many years. Many of our communities have been devastated by the loss of members who have chosen suicide over life. Our cultural teachings inform us that life is the greatest gift of our Creator and that there will be consequences when someone terminates his or her own life.
Having had the opportunity to work on indigenous issues internationally for several decades, we are grateful that this critical issue that impacts the very future of our indigenous peoples is being highlighted internationally, but most importantly, by Canada.
We must work together in bringing hope to our peoples that not only do each of their lives matter, but that they do have a future worth living for.
When another life is lost to suicide, in desperation my leaders ask, "What more can we do or what could we have done?" We ask ourselves, “What is contributing to our people choosing to take their own lives?” Is it the loss of identity, or a sense of a loss of belonging, or losses resulting from intergenerational or historical trauma and dispossession? Is it mental health issues contributing to and compounded by the poverty that is prevalent in many of our first nation communities? Is it addiction to drugs and alcohol? Is it the stress and deep desperation of loss of hope? What has become very troubling is this new phenomenon of cyberbullying.
We do have hope, as there have been advances made in preventing youth suicide and self-harm. There is evidence available that cultural, spiritual, and linguistic revitalization and the provision of healthy, positive lifestyle choices, whether in the arts, sports, recreation, or leisure, all contribute to prevention. They provide youth an opportunity to choose life.
We are also seeing a growing trend in our first nations of Treaty No. 6 of suicide by our aging members. Further research and statistical data are required to aid us in addressing this cause. There is no clear reliable data from our first nations, and while we can understand the reluctance of reporting by our nations, we do need reliable data so we can work towards finding the solutions.
As mentioned, utilizing our indigenous culture as treatment is a good practice. Teaching relevant cultural practices and associated spiritual teachings in kindergartens and in homes is critical. Exposure to culture at a service level is not sufficient. Our teachings and beliefs have been and must continue to be the foundation that lifts up our first nation peoples in a good way and that will promote healthy, happy lives.
Our peoples must be reminded that asking for help must be viewed as a sign of strength, not weakness. Canada must reach out as our treaty partners. Take note of the treaty display that we see on our medallions, where there is a representative of the crown and the indigenous sovereign nation representatives are extending their hands in partnership and friendship. We must work together too. We owe that to those we represent, not only politically, but morally.
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues included the issue of self-harm and suicide at the 14th session and issued in its final report the following:
Indigenous peoples worldwide continue to suffer from intergenerational trauma and colonization, assimilation, loss of language, culture and traditional knowledge and the disintegration of families. Collectively, these problems are linked to the lack of recognition of and respect for the right of self-determination of indigenous peoples. Such trauma can lead to desperation and hopelessness, with indigenous communities frequently seeing suicide rates that are significantly higher than among the general population. This challenge affects indigenous peoples in all regions of the world.
The Permanent Forum urges States to recognize that suicidal behaviour, suicide and self-harm are directly related to the social and economic situation of indigenous peoples in specific countries and primarily linked to loss of self-identification and departure from the roots of traditional cultures and ways of life. This, in turn, is linked to the loss by indigenous people of their rights to their lands and territories, natural resources, traditional ways of life and traditional uses of natural resources.
The Permanent Forum welcomes information received from States and indigenous peoples on current initiatives and strategies to tackle self-harm and suicide among indigenous children and young people at the national level, as well as international efforts in the Arctic and Latin America. In particular, at the regional level, the Forum welcomes the information from the Pan American Health Organization on initiatives that are being conducted in Latin America. The Forum is, however, concerned by the lack of coordination at the global level.
The Permanent Forum therefore urges the World Health Organization to develop a strategy and programme to tackle self-harm and suicide among indigenous children and young people at the global level. The Forum recommends taking into account the indicatives that are being conducted at the regional level, in particular by the Pan American Health Organization, and using them as a basis for further expansion. As a first step, the Forum suggests that the World Health Organization gather evidence and initiate research on the prevalence of self-harm and suicide among indigenous peoples and prepare a compilation of good practices on the prevention of self-harm and suicide among indigenous young people, publishing the findings by 1 January 2017.
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' report on the right to health of indigenous people, with a focus on children and youth, also reported that:
Indigenous peoples continue to experience intergenerational trauma secondary to removal of children from families, and residential schooling. The health impacts of these practices are profound, including mental illness, physical and sexual abuse, self-harm and suicide, and drug or alcohol addiction. A correlation has been demonstrated between intergenerational effects of these events and suicide, and sexual abuse during childhood.
Indigenous children and youth are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, due to their age and the intersectional nature of discrimination experienced by indigenous peoples. Children and youth have not historically been recognized as holders of rights; this is especially the case for indigenous children, who are frequently deprived of fundamental rights concerning their families, communities and identity. The combined effect of intergenerational trauma and lack of progress towards realization of indigenous human rights has resulted in many indigenous children experiencing a multitude of early and traumatic life experiences, placing them at risk of ill health, mental illness, suicide and contact with the criminal justice system.
I'm going to skip forward to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action:
We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people as identified in international law, constitutional law, and under the Treaties.
We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal peoples, to establish measurable goals to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and to publish annual progress reports and assess long-term trends. Such efforts would focus on indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.
The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People noted the disproportionate representation of indigenous people in poor health statistics globally; discrimination against indigenous cultures within the health system; a vital need for culturally appropriate health care services; and direct and effective participation of indigenous people in health policy-making and decision-making.
Further, and most importantly, our position as treaty first nations gives our citizens the right to full health benefits as promised through the medicine chest clause of Treaty No. 6. It has been the teaching of our elders since the time our ancestors entered into the treaty with Her Majesty The Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
We hold Canada responsible to uphold the true spirit and intent of our treaties as a successor state obligated to implement those treaties made in good faith and through sacred ceremonies. We therefore make the following recommendations to Canada: substantially increase resources for all indigenous communities dedicated to prevention and holistic treatment and comply with general comment number 11 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Declaration and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and other relevant international laws, standards, and norms; ensure direct, meaningful, and equal participation of indigenous peoples at all relevant processes and mechanisms to focus on prevention and treatment of self-harm and suicide; and provide support to indigenous peoples, especially the youth, by ensuring direct engagement and participation in decision-making on matters that directly affect us.
Thank you for providing the opportunity to our organization to make this presentation on behalf of my chiefs and grand chief, who sends his regrets. He is currently in the air. We look forward to continue working together for the benefit of our first nation citizens. We will forward a full written submission for your review.
Thank you very much.
