There is still much that needs to be done to improve Indigenous children’s access to education and contemporary research finds that educational attainment rates and income are directly related. In order to the break the cycle of Indigenous people in poverty, it is crucial to close the income gap between them and non Indigenous wage earners.
The history of Indian residential schools is well documented but what is rarely touched upon is the effect this has on oncoming generations. What if a home is made up of adults who are direct survivors of the residential system. There is lasting trauma and and in often, they did not graduate with a great standard of education. This means they can’t be the best support for their children especially when Indigenous families are isolated as is and not receiving the funding or resources needed to cope.
“Kids are the best investment any society can make and we’re not investing in these children in fact we’re under investing.” Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Cindy said it best when she pointed out the under investment in children and another quote by Thomas Mullar, really drives it home. This is not just the case for Indigenous children but for all Canadians. Canadians perspectives need to change from racist stereotypes often labeling First Nations as anti-development and non-tax paying freeloaders. This can also be done through an efficient education system.
“This is the fasted rising labour demographic in the country. This generation of young native people that are graduating is the most empowered, educated generation since colonization.”
Sources:
https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/a-snapshot-of-on-reserve-clean-water-issues
https://aptnnews.ca/2015/10/17/top-5-indigenous-issues-all-canadians-should-care-about
/https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-is-the-root-cause-of-aboriginal-education-issues
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/native-people-social-conditions
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-education