So what now?

Finding a cure-all  solution is impossible. The issue of inequality manifests itself in every aspect of Aboriginal life with many different symptoms and effects. To better see all possible solutions  we should look at each problem individually and see what the government and its programs and systems can do, what NGOs can do, and what we, as Canadians do.

Poverty and Reserve Life

Government: The government has a lot of power to improve the poverty rates for Aboriginals and the living conditions on reserves.

• Provide clean water for all reserves: There are a total of 85 reserves under a boil-water advisory in Canada today. Unclean water leads to illness and child and infant mortality. Providing a life necessity should be a priority.
• Finance infrastructure: Ottawa has given more than 3 billion dollars to fund housing but the UN still says it is an embarrassment. The government should send in top quality companies to go in and use durable materials and fix up existing homes and build new homes. They should also hire locals as laborers to train so they will have a job skill. To add economy Aboriginals should have more access to natural resources on reserves so they can have more jobs. Since unemployment is so high on reserves the government should be providing job training and financing small businesses so the locals can have somewhere to work. 
• Finance and support NGOs who are already doing something about poverty.
• Build hospitals, doctor's offices, post offices, and social services building in reserves or nearby reserves. Many reserves are very isolated from other communities and do not have access to simple commodities. There should be help available to youth, women, children, and elderly people in all communities. 

NGOs: Non-governmental groups also have the power and willingness to make change in reserves.

• Raise funds and awareness to job training and housing initiatives.
• Put pressure on the government to follow through with its promises and to make Aboriginal rights a topic of discussion in parliament. Right now, one of the few Native NGOs, the Assembly of First Nations, is too shy to bring up the real issues and only talks about benefiting the band leaders, instead of the members.
• Keep doing what they are doing! There are so many organizations that are striving to make change in Native People's lives. To see a good list of National Aboriginal Organizations see this link: National Aboriginal Organizations

Canadians:  We have quite a bit of power these days but since we are told that Canada is the best place on earth we tend to not voice our opinions unless it affects us directly. There is a lot we can do though to combat poverty.

• Write letters to our MPs.
• Donate to local foundations that support Aboriginal infrastrutue.
•  Volunteer for a foundation that supports Aboriginal rights and helps the poverty issue.

Crime

Government:

• Reevaluate how Aboriginals are treated in the justice system. They should not be treated as failures or without the dignity that non-aboriginals are given.
• Make sure that Aboriginals are given the same opportunities as non-aboriginals when it comes to programs, parole, cultural food, and parole officers. 
• Put in place after-school programs and social services for at-risk youth to lessen the chances of crime.
• Use alternative justice courts for Aboriginals that focus on their beliefs and values, all while still giving them the benefits that Canada's court system holds.

NGOs: Unfortunately there are not very many NGOs that focus on Aboriginal offenders. 

• Run half-way houses. Some Indian bands, like in Osoyoos, run their own half-way houses for offenders from their community. 
• Run programs in prisons that focus on emotional well-being and help prepare them for a successful life after their release.
• Visit Aboriginal inmates. Lots of Aboriginals do not have family that can visit them and do not have a support system.
• Run job training programs and help offenders find healthy places to live when they are released.

Canadians:

• Demand change! Like I mentioned earlier, we should write letter to the government or our local penitentiaries and demand that Aboriginal rights are being met.
• Support organizations or people who help inmates.
• Volunteer at after-school programs for at-risk Aboriginal youth.

Racism

Government:

• Hire more people with Aboriginal ancestry as correctional officers, government workers, and other important and influential jobs. 
• Put policies in place that protect Aboriginals from bullying or racism and put harsher punishments on people with authority who are racist.
• Ban media that places stereotypes on Aboriginals and place them in better light. 

NGOs:

• For this one there isn't much NGOs can do except encourage the government to act and to encourage others to be accepting.

Canadians:

• Be kind to everyone! :)
• Do not use stereotypes. 

Education

Government:

• Give reserve schools the same funding as non-aboriginal schools.
• Offer more scholarships to youth on reserves and to Aboriginal youth off-reserve.
• Fix up all esixting schools in reserves. Lots of them are full of mice or the structure is not safe.
• Finance school programs, clubs, and leadership training.

NGOs:

• Run after-school programs.
• Encourage the government to treat Aboriginal schools with dignity and to support them.
• Raise funds for books and supplies for schools that cannot afford books.

What about our children's future? source: CBC

Canadians:

• Volunteer at after-school programs.
• Write letters to the government.
• Educate yourself about the issue. 

Domestic Violence and Social Issues

Government:

• Provide social services to Aboriginals, whether they are in reserves or not. (ex. pregnancy crisis centers)
• Help NGOs run different programs for the community. 

NGOs:

• Provide support and safe havens for victims of violence, megligence, abuse, and addictions. 
• Run parenting workshops.
• Run support groups for single parents, foster parents, and parents who are struggling raising their children.
• Run anger management classes.
• Provide support for victims of residential schools.

Canadians:

• Stand up against bullying and domestic violence.
• Support NGOs who help Aboriginal communities.

In conclusion, there are organizations that are helping Aboriginals, whether it be through building houses, supporting reserve schools, or visiting Aboriginal inmates. There is still so much that can be done though, especially from the government. They have tried to pay Aboriginals off but money has never solved anything. We need more long-lasting ideas that will help generations to come. 

To be one of the Gang

source: google images

Native gangs across Canada, especially in the Lower Mainland and Western B.C., have been expanding. The issue of Native gangs is completely ignored and unknown. Just like rebel groups pluck children to recruit as child soldiers in poor countries, gangs are plucking and enticing poor and lost Aboriginal youth to join their gangs. These gangs intimidate youth with violence and convince them to be part of a 'family', something that a lot of them do not have. A gang looks welcoming when the youth's own family life in shambles. The gangs are involved with the drug trade, prostitution, and theft. "They are certainly increasing in numbers and becoming more sophisticated in how they do business," said Carpenter, who is a member of the Inuvialuit settlement region in the Western Arctic. Gangs use prisons as recruiting grounds and a lot of Aboriginal inmates enter prisons not as gang members but leave as one.  To make matters worse the aboriginal matters conference in Ottawa said in 2010 that aboriginal youth gang membership could double in the next ten years. Also, many female gang members are traded among other male members and as initiation are asked to have sex with many members.The issue of Native gangs is an unseen one but one that needs to be addressed.