8 First Nations plain Quality of Life talk · First Nations Quality of Life 93 plain talk 8 Because there is no uniform and consistent approach to describing the components of the

plain talk

First Nations Quality of

Life

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First Nations Quality of Life

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The phrase “Quality of Life” has become quite common, and is used in both formal and informal ways. The fact that there is no commonly accepted definition does not detract from its utility or usefulness.

Suppose we start by defining “Quality of Life” as the description of the experiences and activities that are part of the normal enjoyment of living. That is, quality of life is multidimensional. The next step would be to identify what those parts or categories are. We can then compare our own quality of live to the quality of life of others. This comparison can be made between individuals, families, societies, nations, or any other grouping you choose.

There are many possible ways to identify the possible dimensions of a quality of life. In an international context, nations could be compared according to the following dimensions: • Materialwellbeing • Health • Politicalstabilityandsecurity • Familylife • Communitylife • Climateandgeography • Jobsecurity • Politicalfreedom • Genderequality

Another approach looks at quality of life in terms of dimensions framed from a different perspective: • metaphysics(self-esteem,self-determination,cognition,purpose,optimism,life satisfaction) • spirituality(prayer,worship,fellowship,meaning) • biology(functionalcapacity,physicalcomfort,healthpromotion,health maintenance) • interpersonalrelationships(socialsupport,interpersonaldynamics,cultural dynamics) • environmentalfactors(transportation,assistivedevices,safetyandaesthetics) • socialfactors(socioeconomicstatus,one’spersonalsocialsystem,theglobal societal system)

Animportantpointaboutqualityoflifeisthatoneperson’sdefinitionmaybeverydifferentaboutsomeoneelse’sdefinition.Forexample,foroneperson,beingconnectedtohercultureiskeytoherqualityoflife.Forsomeoneelse,havingasuccessfulcareerandmakingadecentincomeisimportanttoherqualityoflife.Forsomeoneelse,again,spendingalotoftimewithhisfamily is a basic element of his quality of life.

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Because there is no uniform and consistent approach to describing the components of the conceptofqualityoflife,FirstNationscancreatetheirownframework.SupposeweidentifythefollowingaspectsorcomponentsthatcontributetotheoverallqualityoflifeofFirstNations:

1. Housing 2. Education 3. Health 4. CulturalConnection 5. Family 6. Employment 7. Language 8. Sports 9. Arts 10. Wellness

It’simportanttonotethateachofthesecontributorscanaffectqualityoflifebyinfluencinganyoftheothercontributorsinthelist.Forexample,limitededucationlevelscanhaveprofounddetrimental effects on employment prospects.

Using these categories or components, we can assemble whatever information is available to makesomeconclusionsaboutFirstNationsqualityoflife.Someoftheinformationisbasedontheresultsofasurvey—FirstNationsRegionalHealthSurvey(RHS)2008/10.

ThislistofcontributorstoFirstNationsqualityoflifeisnotexhaustive—itcanbeaddedtoatanytimetoformamorecompletepictureofFirstNations’evolvingqualityoflife.Theorderofthislistis random.

1. Housing

• FirstNationsareexperiencingahousingcrisiswithapproximately85,000housing unitsrequiredacrossCanada.Inmanycasesmultiplefamiliesliveinoneandtwo

bedroom homes.• Almosthalfoftheexistinghousingstockneedsmajorrepairsandanotherfifteen

percent require outright replacement.• Abouttwenty-fivepercentofFirstNationsadultsliveinover-crowdedhousing,

comparedtolessthantenpercentofadultsinthegeneralCanadianpopulation.• AlmostfortypercentofFirstNationsadultsreportthattheirhomeisinneedofmajor

repairs.• Ofthe88,485houseson-reserve,5,486arewithoutsewageservices.• MouldandmildewcontaminatehalfofallFirstNationhouseholds.• OvertenpercentofFirstNationcommunitieshavetoboiltheirdrinkingwater,


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impacting about 75,000 citizens.• Morethanone-thirdofFirstNationsadultsdonotconsidertheirmainwatersupplyin

their home to be safe for drinking year round.• FirstNationsyouthreportedlivinginhouseholdswithanaverageofabout6people,

comparedtoanaverageofabout3peopleinthegeneralCanadianhousehold.

2. Education

• In2006,sixty-onepercentofFirstNationsyoungadultsaged20to24hadnot completedhighschool,comparedwiththirteenpercentofnon-Aboriginal

Canadians.• AboutfortypercentofFirstNationsadultsdidnotgraduatefromhighschool.• TheK-12completionrateforFirstNationsstudentslivingon-reserveisforty-nine

percent.• FirstNationsstudentsaremorelikelytoendupinjailthangraduatefromhighschool.• Thereare40FirstNationscommunitieswithoutschools,andthereareFirstNations

communitieswherechildrenhaven’tbeentoschoolinmorethantwoyears.• FirstNationsstudentsattendingon-reserveschoolsarefundedatarateof$3,000to

$7,000lessthanstudentsattendingotherschoolsinCanada.• OnlyfivepercentofFirstNationsadultsreportcompletingauniversity

undergraduate,graduateorprofessionaldegree,comparedtoabouttwenty-threepercentofthegeneralCanadianpopulation.

3. Health

• TuberculosisamongFirstNationcitizenslivingon-reserveis31timesthenational average.

• OneinfiveFirstNationsisdiabetic–that’sthreetofivetimesthenationalaverage.• Approximatelytwenty-fivepercentofon-reservewatertreatmentsystemsposeahigh

health risk.• ThelifeexpectancyofFirstNationcitizensisfivetosevenyearslessthannon-Aboriginal

Canadians.• Infantmortalityratesare1.5timeshigheramongFirstNations.• TwentypercentofFirstNationsadultsreportedcuttingthesizeoftheirmealsorskipping

mealsbecausetherewasn’tenoughmoneyforfood.• MorethanhalfofFirstNationsyouthwhoreportedfairorpoormentalhealthhadnever

received counseling or mental health services, suggesting a potentially high level of unmet needs.

• FirstNationsadultswhowerehighschoolgraduatesweremorementallybalancedand experienced less psychological distress than those who did not graduate.


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4. Cultural Connection

• FirstNationsadultssawfamilyvaluesasthecoreofcommunitylife,followedbyEldersandtraditional ceremonial activities such as powwows.

• FirstNationsadultswhoparticipatedintraditionalactivitiessuchashuntingandtrapping,fishing, hiking, canoeing or kayaking, snowshoeing, or berry picking or other food gathering were more likely to report physical or spiritual balance than were those who did not.

• AlmostninetypercentofFirstNationsyouthfeltthattraditionalculturaleventswere“veryimportant” or “somewhat important” in their life.

• FirstNationsyouthwhoparticipatedinculturalorextracurricularactivitiesonaregularbasisdemonstratedincreasedlevelsofpersonalresourcevariables,suchasself-esteem,socialsupport,andmastery,andreportedfeelingbalancedmoreoftenthanFirstNationsyouth who did not participate in such activities.

• NearlyhalfofallFirstNationsyouthidentifiedtraditionalceremonialactivitiesasacommunity strength.

• Athirdofyouthidentifyschoolteachersassignificantplayersinculturaltransmission.• Ineachofthefourfacetsofwellbeing—physical,emotional,mentalandspiritual—about

three-quartersofFirstNationsadultsreportedfeelingbalanced“most”or“allofthetime.”• Two-thirdsofFirstNationsadultsreportedthattheyparticipatedincommunitycultural

events at least “sometimes.”• MorethanhalfofFirstNationsyouthreportedlearningculturefromtheirgrandparents.

5. Family

• FirstNationschildren,onaverage,receivetwenty-twopercentlessfundingforchildwelfareservicesthanotherCanadianchildren.

• OverhalfofallFirstNationsyouthidentifiedfamilyvaluesasacommunitystrength.• AlmosthalfofFirstNationsyouthlivewithbothoftheirbiologicalparents;almosthalflive

with their biological mother but not their biological father.• In2006,theaveragehouseholdincomeforFirstNationslivingon-reservewas$15,958,

comparedto$36,000(beforetaxes)fornon-AboriginalCanadians.• OneinfourchildreninFirstNationscommunitiesliveinpoverty.That’salmostdoublethe

national average.• AlmosthalfofFirstNationschildrenliveinahouseholdwithanannualhouseholdincome

oflessthan$20,000.• SixteenpercentofFirstNationsadultsstrugglefinanciallyonamonthlyormorebasisto

pay for food and transportation.• SuicideratesamongFirstNationyoutharefivetoseventimeshigherthanyoungnon-

AboriginalCanadians.• Therearealmost600unresolvedcasesofmissingandmurderedAboriginalwomenin

Canada.


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• FirstNationsadultswithgreaterabilityintheirFirstNationslanguagehadcontemplatedandattemptedsuicidelessoftenthanthosewithlessabilityintheirFirstNationslanguage.

• Self-esteem,self-mastery,andsocialsupportweregenerallyhighamongFirstNationsyouth and were associated with a range of positive outcomes in various aspects of wellness.

6. Employment

• FirstNationspeoplelivingon-reservehavethelowestlabourforceparticipationrate(52%)ofanyAboriginalgroup,comparedto67%fornon-AboriginalCanadians.

• In2006,theunemploymentrateforFirstNationpeoplelivingon-reservewastwenty-fivepercent—approximatelythreetimestheratefornon-AboriginalCanadians.

• Canadawillfacealabourshortageby2017asbaby-boomersretireandtherearefewerworkers to replace them.

• WithmorethanhalfoftheFirstNationpopulationundertheageof23,FirstNationsyouthcan fill this gap.

7. Language

• Severefundingshortagescreatebarriersforcommunitymemberstoteach,learn,use,and maintain their languages.

• TheproportionofFirstNationsadultswhoreportedthatFirstNationslanguageisthelanguage they use most in daily life increased from 2002 to 2010.

• Morethantwo-thirdsofFirstNationsadultsreportedbeingabletounderstandorspeakaFirstNationslanguage.

• Morethanone-thirdofFirstNationsadultsusedaFirstNationslanguagedaily.• TheproportionofadultswhounderstandandspeakaFirstNationslanguageincreases

with age.• Morethanone-fifthofFirstNationsyouthusedaFirstNationslanguageintheirdailylife,

andthemajorityunderstoodorspokeaFirstNationslanguage.• Morethanthree-quartersofFirstNationsyouthfeltthatitwaseither“veryimportant”or

“somewhatimportant”tolearnaFirstNationslanguage.• Amajorityofyouthaged12to17yearsoldindicatedthatitwasveryimportantor

somewhatimportanttolearnaFirstNationslanguageandthatgrandparentsandparents helped them the most to understand their culture.

• AlmosthalfofallFirstNationschildrenwerereportedtobeabletospeakorunderstandaFirstNationslanguage.

• HavingFirstNationschildrenlearnaFirstNationslanguageandparticipateinculturalactivities are highly valued by primary caregivers.

• FamilymembersweretheprimarytransmitterofcultureforFirstNationschildren,supported by community members like Elders, friends, and teachers.


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8. Sports

AnumberofFirstNationsindividualshavedemonstratedtheirathleticprowessandserveasrolemodelsforFirstNationsyouthandcontributetotheirmotivationandqualityoflife.Forexample,theIroquoisNationalshavecapturedtheworld’sattentionbydemonstratingtheirskill,powerandsuccessinLacrosse.FirstNationssportsrolemodelsinclude:

• Fred Sasakamoose,thefirstAboriginalandTreatyCreepersontoplayfortheNationalHockeyLeagueasaChicagoBlackhawkin1953-1954.

• Reggie Leach,thefirstFirstNations(Ojibway)playertoreachsuper-starstatus,playing14seasonsintheNHL.

• MoreinformationaboutprominentFirstNationsathletesisavailableinPlainTalk17:RoleModels.

9. Arts

AnumberofFirstNationsindividualshavedemonstratedtheircreativeabilitiesasmusicians,actors,writers,paintersandplaywrights.TheirenergyandtalentserveasrolemodelsforFirstNationsyouthandcontributetotheirmotivationandqualityoflife.FirstNationsrolemodelsinthe arts include:

• Adam Beach, Lake Manitoba First Nation, actor, producer and political activist.• Norval Morrisseau, Ojibway,agrandshamanandagreatartistknownasCopper

ThunderbirdandthePicassooftheNorth.• Daphne Odjig, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, honoured and renowned artist.• MoreinformationabouttheseandotherprominentFirstNationsartistsisavailableinPlain

Talk 17: Role Models.

10. Wellness

The concept of wellness refers to the condition or state of the four traditional indigenous dimensionsofpersonaldevelopment:mental(mind),physical(body),emotional(emotion),andspiritual(spirit).

Wellnesscanbeaffectedbyallthecomponentsthatcontributetoqualityoflife.Forexample,poorhousingcanhaveanegativeeffectonone’sphysicalandmentalwellness.Ontheotherhand,strongculturalconnectioncanhaveaverypositiveinfluenceonone’semotionalandspiritual wellness.

Wellness can also be affected by the presence or absence of the different types of skills, knowledge, and attitudes in the following competencies:


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• Literacy:theabilitytoread,write,understandwrittenandverbalcommunication,anduseinformationtofunctioneffectivelyinthecontemporaryworld;

• Numeracy:theabilitytousenumbers;• Problemsolving:thecapacitytounderstand,dealwithandresolvenewsituations;• Physicality:thecapacitytomoveeffectivelyinawidevarietyofphysicalactivities;• Medialiteracy:thecapacitytoanalyze,evaluate,andunderstandthewaystelevision,

radio,commercials,advertising,andnewsprogramscanmanipulateandinfluencethewaywebehave.Apersonwhoismedialiterateisinformed;

• Financialliteracy:thecapacitytomanagemoneyandmakeconfidentandresponsiblefinancialdecisions;

• Healthliteracy:thecapacitytofindandusehealthinformationtomaintainandimprovebasichealth;

• Nutritionalliteracy:thecapacitytounderstandtheimportanceofgoodnutritioninmaintainingandimprovingbasichealth;

• Meditation:• Meditationisamentalexercisethatinvolvesfocusingontheinsideratherthanthe

outside.Thatis,focusingonthinkingratherthanonwhat’saroundyou.• Meditationhasbeenpracticedbypeopleallovertheworldforthousandsofyears.• Therearereligiousandspiritualfoundationsofmeditationinallreligions.Forexample,

prayerinChristianityisaformofmeditation.Meditationappearstobeabeneficialpractice with or without a religious or spiritual context.

• Researchhaslookedatthepotentialbenefitsofmeditation.Thedataarenotalwaysclear, but there is evidence that meditation produces reduction in stress and blood pressure, improvement in type 2 diabetes, improved blood glucose and insulin levels, and reduced absenteeism and improved academic performance in students.

• AnumberofstudieshavepointedtothebenefitsofmeditationforFirstNationsadultsand youth.

• ManyFirstNationspeoplehavefoundthatmeditationplaysanimportantroleintheirquality of life.

• Lotsofinformationaboutmeditationisavailableinprintandontheinternet:information about meditation techniques and methods, the role of meditation in differentworldreligions,andguidelinesforbuildingmeditationintoone’slifestyle.

• Trytomeditateforabout15minutesonceortwiceaday,atatimethatisbestforyou, with relative quiet and few distractions.

• Agenericguidelineformeditating: Sit in a comfortable position with the back straight and without back support, in a

quiet environment.

Closeyoureyesandtrytorelax. Pickaphraseorawordasyour“anchor,”repeattheanchortoyourself,silently—

if you find yourself thinking about something other than the anchor, go back to


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repeatingtheanchorsilently.Or,instead,thinkaboutrelaxingallofyourmusclesstarting at your neck, through your shoulders, and working your way down to your feet.Orbeawareofyourbreathingofthebeatingofyourheart.

Wheneveryoufindyourmindwandering(anditwillhappen),gobacktoyourmethod(anchor,musclerelaxing,focusonbreathing,oranyotherdeviceyoupick).

ThedataaboutFirstNations’qualityoflifeindicatethatanumberofconditionsadverselyaffectthequalityoflifeofindividuals,familiesandcommunities.FirstNationscitizensfacemuchhigherrates of chronic and communicable diseases and are exposed to greater health risks because of poor housing, higher unemployment, and contaminated water. At the current rate, it will take twodecadestoclosetheeducationgapbetweenFirstNationsandotherCanadians.Wecanand must do better!

At the same time, the data indicate that connection with their culture and their language promotes and strengthens quality of life, especially among the youth.

ThefutureofCanadadependsonstrongFirstNations.Ifweclosetheeducation,housingandemploymentgapandsupportculturalconnectionandFirstNationslanguageuseamongFirstNations,FirstNationsworkerswouldadd$400billiontoCanada’sGDPby2026andCanadawouldsave$115billioningovernmentexpenditures.


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References

AssemblyofFirstNations.FACTSHEET:QualityofLifeofFirstNations,June2011

IroquisNationalsmakehistory,beatTeamUSAforfirsttimeinInternationalfieldcompetition.http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/07/17/iroquois-nationals-make-history-beat-team-usa-for-first-time-in-international-field-competition-123973

TheFirstNationsInformationGovernanceCentre,FirstNationsRegionalHealthSurvey(RHS)Phase2(2008/10)NationalReportonAdults,YouthandChildrenLivinginFirstNationsCommunities.(Ottawa:TheFirstNationsInformationGovernanceCentre,June2012).www.rhs-ers.ca/sites/default/files/RHSPrelimReport.pdf

WatchtheIroquoisNationalstalkaboutbringingtheCreator’sGametotheworld.http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/07/18/watch-the-iroquois-nationals-talk-about-bringing-the-creators-game-to-the-world-123732

Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure.

Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to themmany things which older people miss.

Black Elk

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8 First Nations plain Quality of Life talk · First Nations Quality of Life 93 plain talk 8 Because there is no uniform and consistent approach to describing the components of the