OPINION
14 Obiter Dicta
Third World Canada
Scarcity, precarity, and the untenable living conditions
of our First Nations in the North
esther mendelsohn › staff writer
I
t is not without hesitation that I use the term
“third world”—a term long fallen out of favour.
In the next few lines, I hope to prove that my
choice was justified.
Dirty floors, little, if any, access to healthcare,
and food staples priced out of reach. This is the
reality for many rural Aboriginal communities in
Canada—and yes, even in the “have” province of
Ontario.
Food prices are reminiscent of post-W WI
Germany when inflation was at its highest. A head
of cabbage—which in Toronto can cost two dollars—
can be marked at twenty-eight dollars. Milk, bread,
eggs, canned goods, diapers, baby formula, and all
the other basics required for human sustenance are
simply too expensive for Aboriginal families living
in the North.
There is a food security crisis in the North. Fresh
fruits and vegetables as well as healthier options for
grains, meat, poultry, and fish are far too expensive
for families already living near or below the poverty line. What they can afford is mostly processed
food, which does not offer much in the way of nutritional value. Children cannot be expected to learn
and be active if what they are fed is full of sodium,
sugar, fat, and chemicals. Expectant mothers cannot
ensure their unborn children are developing properly if they themselves are not receiving proper
nutrition. Elderly people whose immune systems are
weaker are also at greater risk if they cannot access
healthful foods.
A recent report by the Auditor General of Canada
delivered a scathing review of the federal government’s food subsidy program. Government cuts and
seemingly arbitrary eligibility criteria are some of
the problems noted in the report.
The impact of this crisis is felt far beyond the
d i n ner tables
of t hese fa m ilies. Aboriginal
people—especial ly i n r u ral
Nor t her n communities—are at
greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other
chronic illnesses. Since there is also a scarcity of
medical professionals in the North—and Aboriginal
people often avoid seeking medical attention due
to discrimination—the problem is compounded.
Seeking medical attention for more serious conditions which have already progressed is detrimental
ê Photo credit: HuffingtonPost.com
to an individual’s health and is more costly for the
health care system.
I am proud of the excellent humanitarian work
Canada has done across the globe. We have been
on the ground, responding to nearly every major
humanitarian crisis over the last several decades. We
have sent medical supplies, food,
sh e lte r, wate r
purification kits,
and teams of military personnel
and volunteers to
lend a helping hand. We do not wait for the call but,
rather, readily offer our assistance. It is precisely
because of our enormous capacity and overall generous Canadian spirit that I am troubled by the crisis
unfolding in our very own backyard.
Aboriginal people have for too long been subject to unjust laws, profiling at the hands of police
“The impact of this crisis is
felt far beyond the dinner tables
of these families.”
t humbs down
Pushback from Starbucks’ attempt to bring
attention to social injustice.
and our judicial system, denied treaty rights, and
ignored when their interests seem to be at odds with
those of the government. Over-represented in our
prisons, under-represented on our juries, and more
frequently the victims of sexual assault and other
forms of gender-based violence, Aboriginal people
have been failed by our system. Poverty lies at the
heart of many of these problems; accordingly, ameliorating their situation will go a long way in resolving some of these systemic issues.
This will cost money. It will necessitate tremendous political will, cooperation from the private
sector, and the kindness and generosity of private
individuals. Cost alone cannot be determinative. It
is morally wrong to do nothing because doing nothing is tantamount to allowing these communities to
starve to death.
As community leaders, lawyers, and law students we must advocate for policy change while
also aiding efforts on the ground. If we are serious
about reconciliation, we can start by making sure
that Aboriginal families are able to access the basic
necessities of life. u