Write@Home
Winter 2015

Canada

A First Nations Canadian wearing traditional clothing

Dear Minister of Aboriginal Affairs:

I am writing in response to a documentary which I watched with my LINC Instructor about the appalling conditions in some of Canada’s northern communities. In this documentary I learned that the First Nations people face many problems in those remote communities, so I would like to offer some advice on this issue.

First of all, I am concerned about the fact that more than half of the population is dependent on drugs. All these problems lead to a rise in crime so I would like to recommend creating a specialized police force to check for drugs in homes and in schools on the reserves. In addition, maybe you should establish checkpoints that will catch the perpetrators at the entrance to these villages. In my opinion, the enhancement of the police and special control checkpoints would help keep order and bring peace to these communities. I also believe that you need to create social and health services for people who are treated for drug addictions to help them rehabilitate and overcome their bad habits.

Secondly, many children live in appalling living conditions of parental homes and eat unsuitable food. They do not have equipped schools, and more often than not these buildings are without electricity, heat or water. I believe that Canadian government should work on creating better living conditions for Aboriginal children who deserve to have better schools and community centers that will help them achieve success. Also, these children do not have any recreational facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, cinemas etc. In my opinion, you should build leisure centers there, so that our Aboriginal youth can have the same opportunities as everyone else in this beautiful country.

I truly hope that your new Liberal government will take these problems seriously and fulfill your election promise of providing more funding for Aboriginal communities.

Concerned citizen,

Jenya M.