Reports & Publications

Statistics Canada: Risk factors & chronic conditions among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations

In Canada, the prevalence of behavioural risk factors and chronic conditions differs for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations, but little research has examined changes over time. This study compares several major risk factors and chronic conditions in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations not living on reserves in the North (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) and in southern Canada at two time points.

The Representative for Children and Youth: Honouring Christian Lee – No Private Matter: Protecting Children Living With Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is everyone's responsibility. The child welfare, criminal justice and family justice systems must all work together to provide effective support for victims and especially for children in these dangerous, and sometimes lethal situations. They are not working together now and the need for change is urgent.

INAC Discussion Paper

INAC Discussion Paper - Changes to Indian Act affecting Indian Registration and Band Membership

In April 2009 the Court of Appeal for British Columbia ruled in the case of McIvor v. Canada that the Indian Act discriminates between men and women in regard to registration as an Indian. As a result, the Act needs to be amended. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the federal Government plans to follow up on the McIvor decision, and to invite views from First Nations and other Aboriginal people.

Representative for Children & Youth: Housing, Help and Hope - A Better Path for Struggling Families, July 2009

The Representative's Investigation examines a case in which the system of support to vulnerable families failed, and the child protection system intervened in the most intrusive way – with shattering results. A young First Nations couple, willing and able to nurture their two-month-old boy, needed short-term assistance with housing. Despite discretion in the system to help them, they did not receive it.

MCFD Aboriginal Children in Care Report, October 2009

The Aboriginal Children in Care Quarterly Report is produced by the Research, Analysis and Evaluation Branch and it presents statistics and analysis of Aboriginal children in care and the steps being taken by the Ministry of Children and Family Development to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in care (CIC). Examples include: As of October 2009, 1,880 Aboriginal CICs were served by Delegated Aboriginal Agencies, representing 40.4% of the total Aboriginal CIC caseload.

Indigenous Children's Health Report: Health Assessment in Action

This report documents what we know about the health of Indigenous children (from birth to age twelve) and evaluates the quality of Indigenous child health data collection in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Striking Indigenous/non-Indigenous health disparities were identified in all four countries. This report was funded by Health Canada. It was conducted by a team of international Indigenous child health researchers, led by Dr. Janet Smylie.

Joint Special Report: Kids, Crime and Care

Health and Well-Being of Children in Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes: "We take a close look, in this report, at some of the most vulnerable children and youth in B.C., and how we can help them. Kids, Crime and Care is not only about children and youth in care, it is just as importantly about the responsibilities of those entrusted with caring for these children. This special relationship calls for government, guardians and child-serving agencies to be a kind, judicious – and caring – parent."

Moving Upstream: Aboriginal Marginalized and Street-Involved Youth in B.C.

Hunger, homelessness, homophobia, physical and sexual violence and racism. These are not our wishes for the lives of Aboriginal children and youth in British Columbia. A walk in their moccasins with the McCreary Centre Society, through a closer look at marginalized and street-involved Aboriginal youth, tells a grim tale of our service delivery system failing to reach Aboriginal youth and the cracks in our civil society which challenge the most vulnerable.

“Looking for Something to Look Forward to, …” A Five-Year Retrospective Review of Child and Youth Suicide in B.C.

By the Child Death Review Unit • BC Coroners Service • 2008

The death of a child by suicide is a profound and tragic loss to family, friends and the community. Although we will never know what went on in the minds of these children and youth during those last moments we do know that they loved and were loved by relatives, friends, partners, and countless others. Their deaths touched so many. This report is a review of the 81 children and youth who died by suicide in British Columbia in the five year period between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007.

Statistics Canada - Aboriginal Peoples Survey: Inuit health and social conditions.

Note to readers - This is the first of three reports presenting results from the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), conducted between October 2006 and March 2007. The2006 APS provides extensive data on Inuit, Métis and off-reserve First Nations children aged 6 to 14 and adults aged 15 and over living in urban, rural and northern locations across Canada.

The Road to Aboriginal Authority over Child & Family Services

In 2001, the Province of BC committed to establishing five service delivery regions for child and family services, each governed by a Regional Authority. In response, the Aboriginal community demanded the creation of five separate Regional Aboriginal Authorities (RAAs). This report documents the (as yet unfinished) process of establishing the RAAs, raises questions and concerns, and makes recommendations for change.

Wen: de We are coming to the light of day.

This multidisciplinary research project brought together experts in First Nations child welfare, community development, economics, management information systems, law, social work and management to inform the development of three funding formula options to support policy and practice in First Nations child and family service agencies in Canada.