The Reality of Indigenous Communities

 

Indigenous communities in Canada have been affected in many ways since colonization. From being forced on to moderated reserves, losing their language and placed into residential schools, it hasn’t been an easy life for those native to our country. Today, however, most people suspect that those days are over- but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Milly Squires has the story.

 

I spoke with Karren and Caitlyn McIntosh of McAdam, New Brunswick, who spent 2 years teaching on the indigenous reserve of Shamattawa, Manitoba. Their recollection of events was disappointing and disheartening.

They experienced countless amounts of arson, coming mostly from grade 2 and 3 aged students.

 

The couple soon realized how bad the reserve life was. The school just recently only went from kindergarten to grade 10, and to be eligible to graduate from there on they had to complete grades 11 and 12 away from the reserve. Some students didn’t have this opportunity, unfortunately, and weren’t able to get the education they needed. Luckily, after the McIntosh’s arrived the school moved up to grade 12 and they had their first graduates.

 

The conditions were so severe, that kids reported often seeing dead bodies on their way to school. Because the community had such lack of opportunity, many were without jobs and had suffered from substance abuse. Due to this, they would freeze to death, which, according to the students, was a normal occurrence.

The governments apparent solution to these problems is throwing money onto the reserves. However, some things can’t be bought. Members of the community who have received no formal training were forced to build houses, resulting in pipes not being far enough underground and freezing throughout the winter, leaving families with no running water. In attempts to live comfortably, families had to use the bathroom and buckets and couldn’t shower. When they did have water, it wasn’t drinkable, and people had to boil it just to brush their teeth.

Unfortunately, the indigenous communities of Canada are placed into third-world-like conditions and life isn’t easy. The hope is that awareness can be brought to this life and death issue.

 

This is Milly Squires, reporting from McAdam.