First Nation’s leaders not in sync with all of Stats Canada's findings

Statistics can tell many stories, the interpretation of data recovered a handy guide to the level or state of a particular focus group, but when it comes to a recent collection of observations and conclusions from Statistics Canada, some suggest that more attention and interpretation of the details is required.

The latest statistics from Statistics Canada suggest that those First Nations residents that live off of the reserves and in urban settings are content with their situation.

It’s a trend that some First nation’s leaders are having a bit of trouble accepting or agreeing with, the Daily News outlined the interpretation of the numbers and how different sets of eyes might see different results, and how simple numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

OFF-RESERVE ABORIGINALS HAPPY WITH LIVES: REPORT
But Statistics Canada researchers find that only 17 per cent get enough cultural input
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Pages one and two

A report out this week from Statistics Canada suggests aboriginals living off-reserve are generally happy with their lives, even though they are not seeing their cultural and traditional values met. But one BC First Nations leader is not convinced.

According to First Nations Summit executive board member Grand Chief Doug Kelly, regardless of what the report says, aboriginals in B.C. are suffering whether they are on or off reserves.

"A common concern amongst our families is that we do not have adequate incomes to provide for the needs and that is an issue and I think it will continue to be an issue," said Kelly.

Kelly said that there is considerable discussion about poverty and how it has a significant impact on the life that children, regardless of race, are able to achieve.

“There are certain missed opportunities for them that (others) take for granted,” said Kelly.

According to a BC Stats report from 2006, 22.5 per cent of aboriginal men living off-reserve in the province were unemployed, while 18.2 per cent of women had no job.

Kelly added that poverty in First Nations communities has produced more aboriginal children going into foster care.

“When you look at the children who are put into care, there is a statistical increase of the likelihood of those children in care not graduating from high school,” said Kelly.

The StatsCan report claimed that just over half the respondents thought that off-reserve First nations children lived in a community that their parents rated as “excellent” or “very good” in terms of “good schools, nursery schools and early childhood education programs.”

They also rated “adequate facilities for children such as community centres, rinks, gyms, parks” as either “excellent” or “very good.”

But the report went on to add that only 17 per cent of the respondents claimed that their off-reserve communities provided enough cultural and heritage opportunities for aboriginals.

In Prince Rupert, options like Friendship House and Wap Sigatgyet exist to help bring knowledge about North Coast First Nations history to those who want to learn ore, especially Tsimshian youth.

“Our traditional way is built through our language and it’s happening with School District 52. The long-term results is that we are doing First Nations art in our schools, native language in our schools and we are having native dance groups in our schools,” said Friendship House Community Worker George Sampson.

Sampson said that the priority is to put programs together that provide children in Prince Rupert with access to local First Nations cultural and traditional practices.

“It’s my job to promote through Friendship House (heritage and culture) that is equal to that on the reserve,” said Sampson.