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English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

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LANGUAGE GROUP NAMES AND NATIONS IN ONTARIO<br />

The <strong>Ontario</strong> government describes the First Nations people in <strong>Ontario</strong> based on their<br />

original language:<br />

Algonquian-speaking Cree, Oji-Cree, Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa,<br />

Potawatomi, and Delaware, plus the Iroquoian-speaking Six Nations<br />

(Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora).<br />

In 2006, 12,255 First Nations people spoke Ojibway, 6,235 spoke Oji-Cree, and 3,495<br />

spoke Cree.<br />

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR FIRST NATIONS CHILDREN DIFFER FROM<br />

NON-ABORIGINAL POPULATION<br />

“Compared with the non-Aboriginal population, First Nations children (14 years <strong>of</strong> age<br />

and under) were more likely to live with a lone parent, grandparent or other relatives”<br />

(Gionet, 2009).<br />

Aboriginal<br />

Identity<br />

First Nations Children Living Arrangements in 2006<br />

% <strong>of</strong> First Nation<br />

Children living<br />

on reserve<br />

% <strong>of</strong> First Nation<br />

Children living<br />

<strong>of</strong>f reserve<br />

% <strong>of</strong><br />

non-Aboriginal<br />

children<br />

Live with a lone parent 37% 41% 17%<br />

Grandparent or other relative 8% 10% 1%<br />

Statistics Canada. (2008). Aboriginal peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Métis and First Nations - 2006 Census:<br />

Highlights. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada.<br />

PRACTICE REFLECTION<br />

When you are assessing a child’s living<br />

situation, the Western viewpoint <strong>of</strong> an<br />

“average” living arrangement based on<br />

non-Aboriginal families (primarily twoparent<br />

households) will not necessarily<br />

be accurate. In some cases,<br />

overcrowding or living in a substandard<br />

housing is a condition <strong>of</strong> living on<br />

reserves (home communities). At times,<br />

the only way to ensure that Aboriginal<br />

families have sound housing would be<br />

for them to move out <strong>of</strong> their<br />

community. As a child welfare<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional, you need to challenge<br />

your assumptions about family living<br />

dynamics.<br />

50<br />

FIRST NATIONS HOUSING IS LIKELY TO BE CROWDED<br />

AND IN NEED OF REPAIR<br />

In 2006, First Nations people were five times more<br />

likely than non-Aboriginal people to live in crowded<br />

homes — 15% versus 3%. While this was an<br />

improvement from the 1996 census (a decrease in<br />

crowding <strong>of</strong> 5 percentage points since 1996), it<br />

continues to be in sharp contrast to non-Aboriginal<br />

people. The highest rate <strong>of</strong> crowding was reported<br />

among First Nations people living on reserve (26%).<br />

Overall, this was nearly four times higher than the rate<br />

<strong>of</strong> crowding for First Nations people living <strong>of</strong>f reserve<br />

(7%).<br />

The quality <strong>of</strong> one’s living conditions is also reflected by<br />

the state <strong>of</strong> repair <strong>of</strong> one’s home. In 2006, 28 percent <strong>of</strong><br />

First Nations people lived in homes that needed major<br />

repairs versus seven percent <strong>of</strong> the non-Aboriginal<br />

population. Of First Nations people living on reserve, 44<br />

percent reported having a dwelling in need <strong>of</strong> major<br />

repairs in 2006, up from 36 percent in 1996.

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