Issue Facing Indigenous Peoples

Medicine Walk Presentation Assignment (AOL)

You will give a presentation on an issue facing Indigenous peoples in Canada. You will need to find 3-5 current news articles that represent Indigenous issues, and state statistically why this is the case. You will also need to provide possible solutions to this issue.

A portion of your presentation must also relate back to the novel. Themes from the novel may include:
● Family dynamics
● Heritage/culture
● Storytelling
● Connection to nature and spirituality
● Cycles (generation abuse/ ptsd/ war)
● Other themes presented in the novel

Your presentation must be 10-15 minutes in length and contain both a visual AND a creative/ interactive element. You should be prepared to answer questions from your instructor. You will provide a copy of your slideshow, complete with notes with your presentation.
Your presentation must be presented to your Instructor over Google Meet. Please contact your teacher to book this presentation when you are ready.

TOPICS:
1) Poorer health: Aboriginal people remain at higher risk for illness and earlier deaths than non-Aboriginal people. Chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are on the increase. There is a higher rate of respiratory problems and other infectious diseases among Aboriginal children than among non-Aboriginal children
2) Lower levels of education: Colonialism accounts for many bitter, demoralizing legacies, the most pervasive of which is education.
3) Inadequate housing and crowded living conditions: Three words – Attawapiskat First Nation.
4) Lower income levels: In 2010, the median income for Aboriginal peoples was $20,701, whereas the median income for non-Aboriginal people was $30,195.
5) Higher rates of unemployment: Aboriginal peoples have historically faced higher unemployment rates than non-Aboriginal people.
6) Higher levels of incarceration: The proportion of the prison population of Aboriginal background increased to 20.9 percent between 2009-10 and 2013-14, rising from 4,019 to 4,860.
7) Higher death rate amongst children and youth due unintentional injuries: Children in Aboriginal families also have high rates of unintentional injuries and early deaths from drowning and other causes. According to Health Canada statistics, Aboriginal children are three to four times more likely to die from unintentional injury than non-Aboriginal children of the same age.
8) Higher rates of suicide: And the most tragic of all is the higher rate of suicide among First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth. A 2016 Statistics Canada report found that more than one in five off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults reported having suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives.
9) Substance abuse: The use of illicit drugs is a serious problem among First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Often, because youth are most vulnerable to the temptation of drugs, addiction can begin.