Population Pyramids

Population pyramids are used to graphically illustrate the ages of a population. It shows the general life expectancy as well as whether a population is in growth or decline. The closer that a population pyramid resembles a barrel, with a wide middle, the more likely it is that the population has a growing life expectancy and lower birth rate, representing a developed country. A population that is very triangular represents a country that is still developing, and is typical of third world countries. (BBC, 2012)

Let's examine some countries' population pyramids and how they fit into the mix. First, third world or undeveloped countries. 

Here's Afghanistan:

And here's Rwanda:

Now developed countries, here's Sweden:

And finally, Canada:

(United States Census Bureau, 2012)

The shapes obviously differ from Rwanda and Afghanistan, adopting the mentioned triangle shape rather than the barrel shape. Now let's examine a population pyramid for Natuashish:

Which pyramid does the Natuashish one most resemble? And how does it compare to all of Canada? Why are there such serious discrepancies for a Canadian community?

BBC. (2012). Population Change and Structure. Accessed on November 14, 2012 at http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/population/population_change_structure_rev1.shtml

United States Census Bureau. (2012). International Database. Accessed on November 14, 2012 at http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/region.php

Human Rights Commission: Davis Inlet as a Toxic Space

In 2002, a second Human Rights Commission for the Innu of Labrador was written by Donald McCrae and Constance Backhouse. In the report was the follow statement:

The 1993 Report recommended that the Government “make a commitment to the expeditious relocation of the Mushuau Innu to a site chosen by them.” Details of the relocation of the Mushuau Innu in 1967 from the mainland to the site of the present village of Davis Inlet on Iluikoyak Island, the lack of running water and sewage facilities, the substandard conditions of the houses, the isolation from traditional caribou hunting grounds and the associated community dysfunction were set out in the 1993 Report. The conditions were later described in the Report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples as akin to conditions in the poorest of developing countries. Fatal fires, suicides, substandard living conditions, substance abuse and poor health brought the community to national and international attention and continue to do so. 

On 8 June 1993 the Mushuau Innu voted overwhelmingly in favour of relocation to Little Sango Pond (Natuashish), which is located on the mainland of Labrador 15 kilometres from their current island site at Davis Inlet. The 1994 Statement of Political Commitments endorsed relocation, stating that the Government was prepared to “support relocation of the Mushuau Innu to Little Sango Pond.”

Detailing the reports of the move from Davis Inlet to Natuashish, it illustrates the disparaging conditions at their previous settlement. It blames the community dysfunction on the substandard conditions and removal from traditional cultural activities, therefore making a move to the mainland about far more than just new homes, but a re-connection to their traditions.

The full 2002 report can be read at http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/reports/innureport2002.pdf

McRae, D. & Backhouse, C. (2002). Report to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the Treatment of the Innu in Labrador by the Government of Canada. Accessed online at http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/pdf/reports/innureport2002.pdf on November 14, 2012.

Assembly of First Nations - About AFN - Our Story

Assembly of First Nations - About AFN - Our Story

Above is a link to the Assembly of First Nations website, a Canadian organization aimed at raising awareness and supporting First Nations political campaigns. "Our Story" highlights important moments in Canadian Aboriginal history, particularly the structural oppression of their people through Canadian legislation and policing.

Davis Inlet: "I'll Never Stop Sniffing Gas"

This is a 16-minute documentary/news report from the CBC archives entitled Davis Inlet: "I'll Never Stop Sniffing Gas". It was published on November 29, 2000 just prior to the relocation of the community to Natuashish. This is about 2 years after the public scandal when information about the community began showing up in Canadian media. It features a number of one-on-one interviews with members of the Innu community, particularly children who identify as gas-sniffers. The documentary reveals some of the horrors of Davis Inlet, particularly suicide, substance abuse, poor living conditions, and lack of government support. 

    This blog is the product of an assignment to investigate a social justice topic from a critical criminologist view. I would like to start out by declaring my emotional and personal investment in the Natuashish community and explaining why I chose this topic; I would like to set it all on the table so my bias is evident and transparent.

    I attended Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario from 2008-2011 and received my diploma in Social Service Work. Although I completed placements in both a food bank and a mental health drop-in facility, I found no opportunities for employment upon graduation. I decided to go to university, centering on Trent in Peterborough, Ontario and looked for jobs I was qualified for in that area. I ended up getting hired at an organization that works with children in residential treatment, or foster care.

    At this point, I have decided not to disclose many details about the organization, including the name, to avoid any possible career conflict. I no longer work with this organization. From what I was made aware of, the organization had an agreement with Indigenous communities in both Northern Quebec (Inuit people from Kuujjuaq) and Labrador (Innu people from Natuashish) where specific at-risk children from these communities would be sent to this area to live in foster care and attend our school system. I was not aware of any details surrounding the agreement, other than that there were often discrepancies between what the parents were told about the agreement and what our foster parents were made aware of about the agreement. My knowledge of the policies and technical workings are sparse.

    I worked with children and youth from both of these places, but many of the horror stories I was faced with came from those who originated in Natuashish. Natuashish also caught my attention because I remembered their story from elementary school. I have a vague memory of an elementary school teacher showing us a news program featuring the atrocities at Davis Inlet, particularly gas huffing, alcoholism, drug abuse, and unsanitary living conditions. This memory was dug up after speaking with one particular youth about her experiences in her hometown and then doing some informal research on the subject. I was reunited with the same images of children huffing gas, news reports about suicide, and general social problems that would create much more anxiety for us in urban Canada than it was there.

    From speaking with youth from Natuashish, of which I was involved with about 4 personally and about 10 through my career network, I learned a few things. The first was that gas huffing was rampant and considered normal teenage activity. The youth often spoke about marijuana and alcohol as well, but gas was the preferred drug because it was cheaper and easier to find. I learned that teenage pregnancy was accepted, if not the norm of the community, and even some of the youth who were previously involved in our organization had gone home and gotten pregnant. I learned about the political climate of Natuashish, how they had been relocated and given new houses and were now a fly-in community. I learned about their policies on drugs and alcohol, and that their community was dry (I was also unwillingly taught about the prices of particular drugs and how alcohol and other substances were smuggled in). I learned a bit about their language, but mostly I learned about the disparity. The youth had no hope, no plans for the future, and barely any opportunity. I was made aware that most school-age children do not attend school (one youth told me that school was "optional") and many of them have no desire to learn. Many have learning disabilities or brain dysfunctions, or perhaps are assumed to have them. They speak of large families but hardly ever of grandparents or elderly people, mostly of other children and youth.

    I was interested in this because many of the stories I heard were shocking. I kept thinking, "People would be having a fit if that was happening here," and I couldn't understand why I was hearing this through the mouths of underprivileged youth and not through policy-makers and government officials who were doing their best to remedy an extremely unfortunate situation. I wanted to investigate this community. I would like to bring to light and heighten awareness on both the socially-created atrocities that are happening in our First World country, and also speak to the awareness of the Canadian Government. In particular, I will be focusing on the environmental justice viewpoint, of the space as being a toxic environment, and on colonialist ideology that paved the way to this point. I may also focus on other aspects as they appear to me, but I will be in conversation with The Indian Act and other relevant documents that historically set the tone for the current situation.