English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies
English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies
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.