IDEAS Insights The transformative power of social enterprise | Page 3

Aboriginal communities are among the most socio-economically disadvantaged in
Canada. With a median income 30% lower than the national average, and higher levels
of unemployment, incarceration and abuse, indigenous Canadians suffer from a matrix
of cumulative inequalities [1]. These inequalities have come to define the colonial
legacy.
To put the scale of inequality into perspective: while Canada is ranked 4 th according to
the UN Human Development Index, its Aboriginal communities would rank 78 th when
judged by the same criteria [1]. Despite outlining the protection of indigenous rights as
a “national commitment” in the Canadian Constitution, government services often fall
short when funding basic services for indigenous communities, and when addressing
the legacies of colonial instruments such as the Indian Act and Residential schools [2].
Aboriginal rights and lands are inextricably linked; for many aboriginal nations land
encompasses culture, spirituality, social systems and law. As such aboriginal rights and
culture naturally flow from indigenous peoples’ occupation of and relationship with
their territories [3]. The widespread inability to protect Aboriginal rights and lands
obstructs indigenous people from preserving their culture. It denies them the
opportunity to achieve economic self-sufficiency, strengthen their communities, and
alleviate their socioeconomic circumstances. Despite these obstructions, there remains
a strong will among indigenous people to rebuild and elevate their communities from a
traditional, culturally-rooted foundation.
“This
is Indian
Land”
on a Garden
rail bridge,
Garden
River First Nation,
“This is Indian
Land”
graffito
on graffito
a rail bridge,
River
First Nation,
13 August 2005
13 August 2005
Picture:
Fungus
Guy
/Wikimedia.org
(CC-BY-3.0)
Picture: Fungus Guy /Wikimedia.org (CC-BY-3.0)
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