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Canadian parliament to hold emergency debate on First Nation suicide crisis Canadian parliament to hold emergency debate on First Nation suicide crisis
(5 months later)
Canada’s parliament is to hold an emergency debate on a suicide crisis in a remote First Nation community after 11 people, nine of them minors, attempted suicide over the weekend and more than a dozen youths were overheard making a suicide pact.Canada’s parliament is to hold an emergency debate on a suicide crisis in a remote First Nation community after 11 people, nine of them minors, attempted suicide over the weekend and more than a dozen youths were overheard making a suicide pact.
Lawmaker Charlie Angus, who represents the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat, said in parliament that the crisis has shocked the world and people are asking how Canada can leave so many people behind. The full debate was set for later on Tuesday.Lawmaker Charlie Angus, who represents the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat, said in parliament that the crisis has shocked the world and people are asking how Canada can leave so many people behind. The full debate was set for later on Tuesday.
Related: Canada First Nation community in crisis amid 'almost nightly' suicide attempts
Attawapiskat, population 2,000, declared a state of emergency on Saturday. There have been about 100 suicide attempts since September and at least one death.Attawapiskat, population 2,000, declared a state of emergency on Saturday. There have been about 100 suicide attempts since September and at least one death.
Anna Betty Achneepineskum of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 aboriginal communities in northern Ontario, said police brought a nine-year-old and 12 others to a hospital on Monday for an evaluation after hearing them make a suicide pact.Anna Betty Achneepineskum of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 aboriginal communities in northern Ontario, said police brought a nine-year-old and 12 others to a hospital on Monday for an evaluation after hearing them make a suicide pact.
The crisis spotlights the often bleak conditions for Canada’s indigenous peoples. Chiefs have often complained about a lack of money for tribal education and the poor conditions of reserves. Indigenous people are angered by the disparities between their standard of living and that of the rest of the country.The crisis spotlights the often bleak conditions for Canada’s indigenous peoples. Chiefs have often complained about a lack of money for tribal education and the poor conditions of reserves. Indigenous people are angered by the disparities between their standard of living and that of the rest of the country.
“We need to move beyond these crisis situations and begin to work toward longer-term solutions. We have to look at the underlying issues,” grand chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation said in a telephone interview. “For example, 22, 23 communities on any given day are under some boiling water advisory. There needs to be access to cleaning drinking water, adequate housing and healthcare, the basic necessities of life.”“We need to move beyond these crisis situations and begin to work toward longer-term solutions. We have to look at the underlying issues,” grand chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation said in a telephone interview. “For example, 22, 23 communities on any given day are under some boiling water advisory. There needs to be access to cleaning drinking water, adequate housing and healthcare, the basic necessities of life.”
Aboriginal youth are five to six times more likely to die by suicide than others. Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has called the Attawapiskat news “heartbreaking” and said the government will work to improve living conditions for all indigenous peoples.Aboriginal youth are five to six times more likely to die by suicide than others. Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has called the Attawapiskat news “heartbreaking” and said the government will work to improve living conditions for all indigenous peoples.
“It is completely unacceptable that a country as rich in resources as Canada that young people should get to the point where their life seems worthless and they want to end it. We must respond to this,” the federal health minister, Jane Philpott, said in parliament.“It is completely unacceptable that a country as rich in resources as Canada that young people should get to the point where their life seems worthless and they want to end it. We must respond to this,” the federal health minister, Jane Philpott, said in parliament.
Philpott said 10 mental health workers had arrived in the community and said they are investing more than $300m a year in mental wellness in aboriginal communities. She said the Red Cross is also involved.Philpott said 10 mental health workers had arrived in the community and said they are investing more than $300m a year in mental wellness in aboriginal communities. She said the Red Cross is also involved.
The Ontario aboriginal affairs minister, David Zimmer, said fly-in communities, which can be reached only by air, present their own longstanding issues.The Ontario aboriginal affairs minister, David Zimmer, said fly-in communities, which can be reached only by air, present their own longstanding issues.
“They are very, very remote, they’re small, there’s no economy, there is a sense – especially among the younger people – of despair, a lack of opportunity and it leads to depression and anxiety and these sorts of things,” Zimmer said.“They are very, very remote, they’re small, there’s no economy, there is a sense – especially among the younger people – of despair, a lack of opportunity and it leads to depression and anxiety and these sorts of things,” Zimmer said.