Introduction: Indigenous Youth, Resilience, and Decolonizing Research

From the Introduction, Page 1:

"The impact of colonization on First Nations and Métis families has led to an over-representation of Indigenous children and youth in the child welfare system (Saskatchewan Child Welfare Review Panel, 2010, p. 19), and in the youth criminal justice systems (Department of Justice, 2004). Across Canada, Indigenous youth are at a significantly greater risk of addiction (Health Canada, 2003b; Dell, Chalmers, Dell, Sauve, & MacKinnon, 2008) and suicide (Health Canada, 2003a) than are non-Indigenous youth. Moreover, Indigenous youth are less likely to complete high school (Statistics Canada, 2010). Unfortunately, the opportunities available to Indigenous youth are still limited in comparison to those available to other groups their age, in part because of entrenched structural violence and racism (Waller, Okamoto, Miles, & Hurdle, 2003; Tousignant & Sioui, 2009, pp. 57), and because the general Canadian population continues to think of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth as a growing burden on society rather than as a national resource to nurture and to develop (Libin, 2008). This attitude has prevailed for decades. Unfortunately, in an ever harsher, neoliberal political climate, Canada’s government is choosing to build more prisons and to take a “tough-oncrime” approach rather than a “tough-on-poverty” approach in addressing the negative fallout from colonial policies that shape the lives of too many of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth." Pg 1 [footnotes ommitted].