Over the past several years, there has been much discussion about Canada's North and protecting our sovereignty in the Arctic Archipelago. Much of this talk has focused on military and international diplomacy solutions.
Little attention has been paid to the region's inhabitants, the Inuit. Thirty-three thousand Inuit are spread across across the massive Nunavut territory, living in 25 settlements (accessible only by air). They face a myriad of challenges whose roots stem from the transition from a nomadic to sedentary lifestyle, forced relocation to the High Arctic (eg. Resolute and Grise Fiord), and the devastating effects of the residential school system.
In Nunavut, the suicide rate is 40 times higher than in the rest of Canada and the crime rate is more in line with South Africa than the southern provinces. As the territory passes its twelfth anniversary, it is faced with serious social issues that continue to compound.
The Globe and Mail's Patrick White wrote an excellent, in-depth portrait of trials and tribulations of Canada's largely forgotten northern people. It's a long, but extremely educational read about the struggles of our fellow citizens.
Badezimmer Bocholt
2 years ago
I met someone from a northern Manitoban reserve in December and talked about living conditions in the reserve. I think there's a lot about the reserves that people in Winnipeg, myself included, don't know about - how the way of living could be so different just a few hours north.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to visit a reserve possibly in the summer this year to see and gain a better understanding of the issues in the province and country I live in.