REFLECTION DOCUMENT. First Nations and their relations with the Quebec network and its public services

Transcription

1 REFLECTION DOCUMENT First Nations and their relations with the Quebec network and its public services Document submitted to the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Quebec: listening, reconciliation and progress September 20, 2017 by

2 Authors Michel Deschênes Patrick Bacon Richard Gray Marjolaine Siouï Graphic design Mireille Gagnon, FNQLHSSC Note to the reader This document was prepared in relation to the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Quebec: listening, reconciliation and progress. All rights reserved by the FNQLHSSC. Any reproduction, translation or dissemination of all or part of this document by any means without prior authorization of the FNQLHSSC is prohibited. Reproduction or use for personal, noncommercial purposes is nevertheless permitted provided that the source is acknowledged. FNQLHSSC

3 THE TRAGIC AND BRUTAL STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO US, ESPECIALLY AT THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENTS, IS WELL KNOWN. BUT TODAY, WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW BEGINNING, FOR ANOTHER KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH STATES IN NORTH AMERICA AND INDEED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. Statement of Indigenous Representatives from the North American Region, September 13, 2007

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. About the FNQLHSSC Introduction Historical context Social determinants of health Social and economic conditions The housing crisis among the First Nations The consequences of overcrowding The phenomenon of migration Language and education Organization of services Competing jurisdictions and organizational gaps POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS An approach strengthened through effective and sustainable partnerships Raising the awareness of the Quebec network to First Nations reality Access and continuum of services Support for interveners Research and development Social determinants of health Recommendations TABLES

5 1. ABOUT THE FNQLHSSC The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC) is a non profit organisation that is responsible for supporting the efforts of the First Nations in the planning and delivery of culturally appropriate and preventive health and social services programs. The FNQLHSSC s mission is to promote and monitor the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being of First Nations and Inuit people, families and communities while improving access to comprehensive and culturally sensitive health and social services programs designed by First Nations organizations that are recognized and sanctioned by local authorities, all the while respecting their respective cultures and local autonomy. The FNQLHSSC also assists communities that so desire, to set up, develop and promote global health and social services and programs that are adapted and conceived by First Nations organizations. More specifically, the FNQLHSSC ensures that First Nations in Quebec freely exercise their inherent rights in order to take control of the provision of health and social services to the citizens of their respective nations, and serves as technical advisor to First Nations communities and organizations and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador (AFNQL) on matters relating to health and social services. 2. INTRODUCTION On December 21 last year, the Government of Quebec set up the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Quebec: Listening, reconciliation and progress, to investigate, address facts and conduct analyses in order to make recommendations concerning concrete, effective and lasting remedial actions to be implemented by the Government of Quebec and Aboriginal officials to prevent or eliminate, regardless of their origin or cause, all forms of violence, discriminatory practices and differential treatment in the delivery of the following public services to Aboriginal people in Quebec: police, correctional, legal, health and social services, as well as youth protective services. 1 The creation of this commission took place in the context of a crisis characterized by several events that occurred within a few months. These events further revealed the extent of racism and systemic discrimination against First Nations and Inuit people by some public services in Quebec and Canada. Repeated requests from representatives of Indigenous organizations in Canada resulted in the National Enquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which began its work on September 1, This enquiry, initiated by the federal government, must address the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls across Canada. In Quebec, in October 2015, abuses and discriminatory practices against Aboriginal women by police services in the Val d Or region were revealed by the media. As a result of these revelations, investigations were conducted by the Service de police de Montréal into allegations of criminal acts committed by Sûreté du Québec police officers against Aboriginal women in Val d Or and 1 See GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC, Décret , December 21,

6 elsewhere. Exceptionally, these investigations were carried out under the supervision of an independent civilian observer who stated in her report submitted in November 2016 that The events in Val d Or and elsewhere bring to the forefront the issue of discriminatory police practices and more specifically, the existence of systemic racism against Indigenous people in police forces. 2 At the same time, university researchers carried out a study in the Val d Or region on the judicialization of homelessness. 3 Their report, published on December 9, 2016, demonstrated the systemic nature of racial profiling of Aboriginal homeless people in police interventions, as well as the many social, economic and structural factors behind this phenomenon. Their analysis and conclusions therefore reinforced those of the independent civilian observer. 4 For First Nations, it is an illustration of only one of the many facets of the systemic discrimination that they have faced in their relations with public institutions in Quebec and in Canada for decades. 5 In this document, we present the historical, legal and social factors that led to this discrimination, and then illustrate the impacts on certain social determinants of health among First Nations. In particular, we address specific aspects of the organization of health and social services serving First Nations communities in Quebec. 6 Finally, we will present some solutions and conclude with our recommendations. 3. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Racism and discrimination against Aboriginal peoples are woven into the main foundations of Canada s colonial history. The development and application of the Indian Act 7 is, without a doubt, fundamental for First Nations. The Act is a special legal regime that places First Nations under the guardianship of the federal government. The Indian Act was and remains today a powerful tool in the hands of the federal government, giving federal civil servants the authority to manage band affairs, supervise Indigenous lands and trust funds, direct the personal and family lives of individual Aboriginal people, and deny basic Canadian civil and personal rights to hundreds of thousands of wards of the federal state. 8 2 Fannie LAFONTAINE, Independent Civilian Observer s Report, Evaluation of the integrity and impartiality of SPVM s investigations of allegations of criminal acts committed by SQ police officers against Indigenous women in Val d Or and elsewhere Phase 1 of the Investigations, November 15, Céline BELLOT and Marie Eve SYLVESTRE, The Judiciarization of Homelessness in Val d Or, Université de Montréal, Université d Ottawa and Observatoire sur les profilages, December 8, Ibid. p.52 5 See, in particular, GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Ottawa, October 1996; TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OF CANADA, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Ottawa, 2012; Patrick BACON, Racism and discrimination towards the First Nations Summary portrait and recommendations, FNQLHSSC, Wendake, 2013; Marie France HARVEY, Portrait of Homelessness in First Nations Communities in Quebec, FNQLHSSC, The Cree Nation and the Inuit benefit from a different service organization under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement; for the Naskapi Nation, it is the Northeastern Quebec Agreement. 7 R.S.C. (1985), ch. I 5. The initial version of this act was adopted in 1876 through the consolidation of the Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes in the Province and An Act for the gradual enfranchisement of Indians. 8 Ken COATES, The Indian Act and the Future of Aboriginal Governance in Canada, National Centre for First Nations Governance, May

7 It has been well established that the federal government s social welfare policies towards Aboriginal peoples have been designed with a specific objective in mind: the assimilation of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. 9 From the inception of Indian Affairs in the mid nineteenth century, the government s strategy was to offer the very minimum of services on reserves. The reserves were conceived of as simple places of transit, places of transition between traditional life and modern life in cities or rural agglomerations. By providing the bare minimum in communities by forcing people to survive in a state of dependence rather than living autonomously and independently the federal government acted on the firm belief that the people would eventually abandon their customs and traditions to adopt the way of living of citizens of European descent. History has repeatedly demonstrated the harm caused by these policies. The underfunding of many community based programs, compared to most services provided to non Aboriginals, stems from this assimilationist project. Many of the reports released by the Auditor General of Canada over the past 15 years have highlighted this reality. This situation was also criticized during the visit to Canada and Quebec by James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people (October 2013). Evidence from these reports indicates that the chronic underfunding of certain social programs including child and family support services, housing assistance and the education program has resulted in poor quality services provided to First Nations. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has recently ruled that underfunding of child and family support services by the Government of Canada constitutes a form of discrimination contrary to the Canadian Human Rights Act. 10 The association of the Indian Act with racism and structural discrimination can be clearly seen, as the systems put in place by the federal and provincial governments constitute a source of injustice and inequality. Understanding this, it is no surprise that there are significant gaps between First Nations and the rest of the Quebec and Canadian populations in terms of living conditions. 4. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 4.1 Social and economic conditions 11 Among the leading industrialized countries, Quebec is considered to be a nation with very good living conditions. Social and health services, the education system, housing support programs and the social protection system are all measures taken by the government to support citizens in their development. First Nations have a very different reality. Both levels of government have been frequently criticized for their inability to treat First Nations with respect and dignity, as evidenced by the reports of the Auditor General of Canada and the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations. Many First Nations live in conditions that are similar to those of Third World countries: unhealthy 9 Hugh SHEWELL, Enough to keep them alive: Indian Welfare in Canada, , University of Toronto Press, Toronto, (First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada et al v. Attorney General of Canada (for the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)) [2016] CHRT You will find in the appendix a series of tables which highlight the facts listed below, representing the most recent data we have. 7

8 and overcrowded housing, problems with access to safe drinking water, outdated schools, underemployment, limited access to quality health care and services. In Quebec, First Nations are at even greater risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion. All the indicators we have point to the same conclusion: the existence of a growing socio economic gap between the First Nations and the rest of the Quebec population. Despite concerted efforts and the impact of economic growth in several communities, the proportion of households living in a First Nations community with incomes below $20,000 increased from 24.3% to 44.5% 12 between 2002 and Indeed, statistics on the rate of dependence on social assistance, unemployment and average income show that the social and economic conditions of First Nations are much lower than the rest of the Quebec population. For example, many communities have significantly higher social assistance dependency rates than the Quebec average. To illustrate this phenomenon, more than 25% of adults received social assistance benefits in We know very well that income from social assistance does not permit a person to live above the poverty line. This phenomenon, as in non Aboriginal communities, affects women in particular. In this respect, the situation of single mothers is of particular concern. According to our data, 53% of women earned less than $20,000 in The housing crisis among the First Nations The First Nations in Quebec are currently experiencing a serious housing crisis. This problem, which is found in most Aboriginal communities in Canada, is structural in nature, as government programs do not meet current needs. First Nations are experiencing significant population growth and constitute a growing population in Quebec, throughout the territory. Between 1999 and 2011, the First Nations population in Quebec experienced average annual growth of 2%, while that of the rest of the population was 0.9%. 15 During this period, almost half (45%) of the population listed in the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada registry was under 25 years of age. 16 From 65,000 in 2001, the population of First Nations in Quebec is expected to reach 93,000 by Over the next 5 years, the AFNQL estimates that some 10,000 dwellings must be built to meet the needs generated by this demographic growth. 18 While the need for housing is high in the communities, it is of equal concern for people living outside of the communities, as many First Nations people live below the poverty line. In addition to facing harsh living conditions, they face racism, discrimination and intolerance by many citizens, due 12 RHS and Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey, The rate was 26.4% for men and 26.3% for women. Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey, Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey, Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador. The Housing Needs of First Nations in Quebec and Labrador (2014). AFNQL, Wendake, 2014, p Ibid, p Government of Canada. Aboriginal Demography. Population, Household and Family Projections, INAC CMHC, Ottawa, 2008, pp Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador. The Housing Needs of First Nations in Quebec and Labrador (2014). AFNQL, Wendake, 2014, p. 1. 8

9 in part to the language barriers between them. Many have difficulty finding affordable housing and employment, and encounter serious difficulties when they have to leave the community for medical reasons. In the face of such obstacles, some choose to return to their communities while others are forced into marginality: homelessness, delinquency, prostitution, crime, etc. 4.3 The consequences of overcrowding The overcrowding of houses and apartments in the communities has major social and cultural consequences. In 2015, more than 10% of homes were overcrowded. 19 Unfortunately, the proportion of families living in overcrowded conditions has been stagnant since 2002 and, for the time being, progress is minimal. The lack of privacy caused by overcrowding fuels and conditions social problems that compromise the social development of the individuals. This lack of privacy leads to the appearance of violence and fuels other social problems such as addiction to drugs and alcohol. Social and psychological problems are higher in a living environment where the problems are already well established. When the situation worsens, it is often the mothers and their children who are on the receiving end of the stress and anxiety caused by these difficult living conditions. In addition, lack of housing has a significant impact on communities when families experiencing difficult situations need services that cannot be provided within the community. For example, when children need to be placed in foster care, families are uprooted in a way that contributes to the loss of identity and culture. In this context, some choose to leave the community to go to another community, the city, or elsewhere. Others prefer to remain in their community by seeking refuge with relatives for a time. In other cases, people who commit undesirable acts are evicted from their homes, and become homeless. There is a growing risk that the phenomenon of hidden homelessness will increase. 4.4 The phenomenon of migration The high level of mobility among the Aboriginal population helps to better understand the poverty phenomenon. This mobility takes place at various levels: between the cities and the rural regions, between communities and within the cities. The geographic context and the conditions of life in the communities only serve to increase the complexity of this phenomenon. In 2008, 45.5% of the First Nations population in Quebec lived outside their community. The main reasons mentioned are in order of priority: employment, education, romantic relationships, housing, spouse s employment, marital or family problems, and health problems. The promise of a better life in the city actually comes true for a limited number of individuals and families. But for many, they leave one difficult living environment for another. 4.5 Language and education Another aspect that must be taken into consideration by the Government of Quebec is the linguistic reality of the First Nations. A number of public services offered in Quebec are available only in French, which is often a second language for First Nations people. This language barrier makes access to services and self help organizations difficult and can contribute to fueling 19 First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS),

10 misunderstandings between the representatives of the Quebec government and the citizens of various Nations. This is compounded by under education. Although the trend indicates a significant increase in the rate of people returning to school, only 47.5% of the adult population of First Nations in Quebec have a high school diploma. 20 Several interveners confirmed that it was difficult for someone with literacy problems to seek help from health services, social services and self help organizations. In some cases, people simply do not know where to go and to whom to turn. This only accentuates the level of vulnerability of these people. 5. ORGANIZATION OF SERVICES COMPETING JURISDICTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL GAPS In Quebec, the delivery and funding of health and social services to Aboriginal people is the responsibility of the federal and provincial governments, depending on the nature of the services offered and the place of residence of the clientele. These services therefore differ according to whether the individuals reside in agreement communities, 21 non agreement communities or outside communities. 22 For non agreement communities, funding for the health and social services that they have is provided by the federal government, specifically by Health Canada for health services and by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) 23 for social services. In the communities, first line services are mainly provided by nurses. 24 In order to obtain specialized care, most First Nations must leave their communities and go to institutions in the Quebec health network, which are often far from where they live. They have access to all services in these facilities like other Quebecers. Medical care in institutions is covered by the Régie de l assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Section 91 (24) of the Constitution Act, 1982 gives the federal Parliament exclusive jurisdiction over Indians and lands reserved for them. This federal jurisdiction is largely exercised through the Indian Act. A special feature of the Act is that provincial laws of general application apply to nonagreement communities to the extent that they do not interfere with federal legislation (e.g., the Public Health Act and the Youth Protection Act). 25 The Act does not provide for any responsibility for 20 Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey, The agreement communities Cree, Inuit and Naskapi that signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975 and the Northeastern Quebec Agreement in 1978 have their services integrated into the Quebec network. They are responsible for the deployment and management of health and social services in their respective territories and receive their funding from the Government of Quebec. 22 For a complete description, see: Odile BERGERON, Review of Health and Social Services Provided to Quebec First Nations and Inuit, Report produced by the FNQLHSSC with the collaboration of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec under the First Nations in Quebec Health and Social Services Governance Project, Wendake, INAC was recently replaced by two departments: the Department of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and the Department of Indigenous Services. 24 One exception is the Kateri Memorial Hospital, located in Kahnawake. It offers the services of a network institution with funding from the MSSS. 25 Indian Act, s

11 funding to implement Quebec legislation in the territory of the communities. Consequently, Quebec s view is that it is not responsible for the funding required for the application of these laws and invokes federal jurisdiction over Indians as justification. 26 In this way, it relinquishes its populational responsibility to First Nations in non agreement communities in Quebec. As a result, non agreement communities cannot rely on a level of funding adapted to provincial standards for the first line services they offer to their populations. 6. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS In everyday relationships, the persistence of many prejudices towards and stereotypes about First Nations people is reflected in discrimination in the areas of employment, health and social services, education and housing. Preconceived notions and other racist attitudes that impact daily on the lives of First Nations citizens, whether they live in urban areas or transit through them, reinforce socio economic isolation and marginalization. In addition to the recommendations and solutions proposed so far, we feel it is necessary to stress the following points. 6.1 An approach strengthened through effective and sustainable partnerships To address complex issues, interveners working within a community need to be able to identify and prioritize the most effective approaches. To do so, they must have the resources to respond to the demand and they must also be equipped to direct their clientele to accessible and quality specialized services as required. These actions require the close collaboration of all actors at the local, provincial and federal levels. Jurisdictional conflicts that may exist between the provincial and federal governments should in no way interfere with the actions taken to assist any person in a situation of distress. Efforts to strengthen this type of collaboration between governments, First Nations governance bodies and organizations, and service providers must continue. 6.2 Raising the awareness of the Quebec network to First Nations reality While progress has been made, there is still a lack of understanding of the history of First Nations and the realities they face. This is a phenomenon that should not be trivialized, let alone ignored. There is a need to increase awareness among the general public, organizations and the machinery of government. First Nations must exercise leadership and possess the necessary means to develop their own strategies for educating the public and to break down barriers. Awareness campaigns and workshops must be developed and offered to health and social service interveners and professionals, politicians, police officers, judges, teachers, etc. A better understanding of these realities will enable each party to design and offer culturally adapted services. 26 See the website of the MSSS: < et services/particularitesdes services aux communautes autochtones >. 11

12 6.3 Access and continuum of services Access to quality health and social services is a major factor in the health status and quality of life of individuals and communities. In situations of distress and vulnerability, health and social services, in all their forms, provide comfort and vital support for people with psychological and other difficulties. 27 There is a need to further promote the signing of agreements to ensure a continuum of quality services and access to them regardless of where clients live. Interveners must have concrete means to ensure the ongoing care of people who need access to the network to obtain specialized services. Due to the link between addiction and other social issues, it is recommended that safe shelters be available and accessible at all times for the homeless, abused, psychologically distressed, and others. This type of service could be developed in collaboration with the communities that so desire and the Quebec health and social services network. The consolidation, integration and adaptation of programs and services must serve all First Nations (urban, rural, and remote) and take into account the culture, needs, and realities of each community and organization. 6.4 Support for interveners Given that not all interveners working in the communities have received comprehensive training to work in the field of prevention, it is necessary to support them in strengthening their skills. Tools and training must be developed in collaboration with communities and other organizations with expertise in the field. 6.5 Research and development Given the scarcity of existing data, First Nations need access to data that concern them. This process can be facilitated by the signing of formal agreements with both governments and the various institutions that hold the data. The data obtained will enable First Nations to plan and establish local priorities and to provide a more accurate portrait of the situation. The data will also be used to monitor the health status of the population. 6.6 Social determinants of health As demonstrated above, all actors must work together on the social determinants of health: living environment, housing, education, employment, health, social services, political and economic autonomy, discrimination, racism, etc. The impacts of colonialism and the legacy of Indian Residential Schools are but a few examples that have left deep scars. It is necessary to restore the relationship of trust and to be able to count on the genuine commitment of all the actors. 27 Blueprint Quebec First Nations Health and Social Services , FNQLHSSC. 12

13 7. RECOMMENDATIONS a) That the Government of Quebec implement the recommendations resulting from the report submitted to Ministers Charlebois and Kelley by the working group: Adapted solutions for First Nations and Inuit communities to support PL 21 implementation. 28 b) That the Government of Quebec recognize the right of First Nations to self government and support the implementation of their own governance systems. c) That the Government of Quebec recognize the significant impact that its laws of general application may have on the living conditions of First Nations, regardless of their place of residence. As a result, the Government of Quebec, in collaboration with First Nations, must develop permanent consultation mechanisms that will ensure the involvement of First Nations in the development of legislation, regulations, policies, and action plans which concern them. d) That the Government of Quebec support First Nations more effectively through funding agreements that enable them to develop their own programs and services in order to address the social determinants of health, while respecting their diversity and culture. e) That the Government of Quebec take the necessary measures to support First Nations in the development of training and awareness campaigns dedicated to the general population as well as to those who interact with First Nations in the course of their work. f) That the Government of Quebec, in collaboration with First Nations, implement restorative justice measures to avoid excessive judicialization of behaviors that pose no serious risk to public safety. g) That the Government of Quebec take the necessary actions to ensure that the measures in its Mental Health Action Plan are accessible to First Nations communities, more specifically from a clinical perspective and with a commitment to building the capacity of First Nations interveners. h) That the Government of Quebec, in collaboration with the federal government, support the creation of a regional mental health treatment center to support First Nations communities and organizations in the delivery of their services. i) That the provincial and federal governments work together to fund the hiring of human resources dedicated to the prevention of violence and suicide within communities. j) That the Government of Quebec increase its efforts to support the implementation of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 28 This report will be made public in the near future. 13

14 TABLES 29 Table 1 Employment (REEES, 2014) 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 % Employment, employment insurance and social assistance, by sex (REEES 2014) 51,9% 51,1% Employed at the time of the survey 20,4% 12,2% Received employment insurance in the year preceding the survey 26,4% 26,3% Received social assistance in the year preceding the survey Men Women Table 2 Household income (RHS and REEES 2014) Distribution of adults by household income 100 % 90 % 80 % 70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 % 8,4% 11,2% 14,9% 29,9% 19,2% 16,9% 35,4% 23,7% 37,4% 44,5% 24,3% 34,2% 2002 (RHS) 2008 (RHS) 2014 (REEES) The following tables are from the RHS 2015 (Phase 3) and the REEES These are preliminary results. 14

15 Table 3 Personal income (REEES 2014) Personal income (REEES 2014) Total Men Women Less than $ ,2% 5,7% 4,7% $5 000 $ ,3% 16,2% 16,3% $ $ ,2% 15,3% 18,5% $ $ ,8% 14,1%* 13,5% $ $ ,2% 17,0% 15,4% $ $ ,4% 11,2% 13,0% $ $ %* 10,1% 12.1%* $ $ %* 5.0%* 3.2%* $ $ %* 2.2%* 4.7%* $ $ %* 1.0%* 0.6%* $ and over 2.1%* 3.6%* 5.1%* Table 4 Housing 40 % 35 % 30 % 25 % 20 % 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 % 34,3% Housing conditions RHS 2002 RHS 2008 RHS ,4% 27,5% 23,5% 24,7% 20,8% 9,4% 8,8% 10,3% Mold Overcrowding Major renovations 15

16 Table 5 Migration 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 43,7% 41,7% 45,7% Main reasons for leaving the community (RHS 2015) Total Men Women 30,2% 38,6% 21,8% 16,9% 15,0% 18,7% 9,0% 8.5%* 9,6% 8,4% 8,4% 8,3% 4,5% 2.3%* 6.7%* 2.9%* 2.2%* 3.6%* 1.1%* 1.0%* 1.2%* Table 6 Migration Main reasons for returning to the community (RHS 2015) 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 51,3% 45,9% 56,7% 40,5% 38,5% 42,5% Total Men Women 31,2% 34,7% 27,7% 14,8% 12,3% 17,2% 9,5% 9,2% 9,7% 9,3% 8.6%* 9,9% 0% Family Community ties Employment opportunities Available housing Family culture To share my culture with my children 16

17 Table 7 Language (RHS 2002 and RHS 2015) 50 % 40 % Use of First Nations language as main language (12 years old and over) 39 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 % RHS 2002 RHS 2015 Table 8 Education (REEES 2014) 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % Level of schooling achieved by adults (REEES 2014) 41,9% 40,3% 41,1% 48,6% 46,4% 47,5% Men Woman Total 20 % 10 % 4.4%* 3.7%* 4.0%* 2.8%* 5.3%* 4.1%* 2.4%* 4.2%* 3.3%* 0 % Incomplete secondary school High School Diploma or equivalent Vocational school Diploma of College Studies University diploma or certificate 17