Over half of First Nations children live in poverty in Manitoba
July 9, 2019
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, MB. _ The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is demanding action from the federal and provincial governments following a study that confirms over half of First Nations children live in poverty.
“It’s unacceptable that over half of First Nations children in this province are living in socioeconomic conditions that are not comparable to the rest of the population. This should be considered a crisis,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas.
According to a new study by the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 47 per cent of First Nations children who live both on and off reserve live in poverty. The poverty rate for children living on reserve is roughly three times the national rate reported in 2016. In Manitoba, the study found that 62 per cent of First Nations children were living below the poverty line, compared with 15 per cent among non-Indigenous children in Manitoba.