Thank you for speaking up.

Noone seems to care about this young ladies blog, as you can see by lack of comments.

Thank you for your well written piece on this very unknown topic. Keep up the good work.

I applaud on your display of courage. Thank you for educating me, and others who have read your story. Knowledge is power.

Thank you so much Megan for sharing your heart felt story with all us readers. What we in the Aboriginal community are dealing with is something nothing short of a national social disaster and what seems to be an indifferent and uncaring Canadian people.

Canadians just simply will not insist that their government act to address the terrible issues you so eloquently describe. I am proud of you and congratulate you on your courage to speak out and sincerely wish you all the very best life has to offer.

This was a good read, thank you for sharing your story. It´s admirable that you choose to act as a spokespeson.

We do care. It's just hard to write a comment when my mind is spinning after reading Meghan's story.

Canada's treatment of Aboriginals is Canada's shame. While I agree with Meghan's suggestions I believe the root causes need to be addressed in a concentrated, focused effort.CJ

Very well said, Megan. I hope to see you taking a leadership role in the next generation of politicians, because like it or not, politics is where the power for change is. We need more people like you front and center.

Thank You for having the courage to share your story. Where is the compassion in this great country that we share? Your blog has opened my eyes a little wider. Thank You.

You should be very proud of yourself for speaking out as you are. I think if more people did there would be less of a stigma surrounding depression and less suicides.

Megan, Thank you for you bravery in speaking up. Many of us simply don't bother to self examine and as a result suffer many more years than is really necessary. May you be in inspiration to those who read your story.

Dear Magan,

I applaud your courage in writing this article. Sometimes it is very difficult to ask for help because of the stigma and shame attached to mental health. Your article is an eye opener to all Canadian and I am challenging our Federal and Provincial Ministers to respond to Magen's Blog and tell us in plain language how you plan to address this epidemic....and STOP playing 'Politics' with our youths. Restoring all necessary funding/resources where it's needed the most.

I challenge the Minister to Respond and ADDRESSS the concerns raised above.

Thank You for that Megan. Ordinary Canadians are seldom informed about the hardships that our own people in our north. The Canadian mainstream media needs to do a better job bringing these issues to public's attention.

I'd like to invite idiots like Paul McCartney and Pamela Anderson to read your blog and understand why the seal hunt is important to people.

People cannot "get off their asses" and get a job if their is no where to get a job and you can't start a new life somewhere else on a $1100 a month wellfare check.

Megan:
Good luck with your writing career. You are on a roll just by being published. However, your story lacks substance: Many people in Canada wonder why the "People" you write about are treated differently by their own accord, but complain when they continue to have problems.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Please read the following for a most recent example:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/01/07/pauchay-sentencing.html

Good luck with the rest of your life.

You are an articulate and courageous spokesperson, Megan. Canadians need to be more aware and more understanding of mental health issues in youth, and especially in Aboriginal communities.

Youth need hope and resilience, as well as safe living conditions and access to meaningful ways to achieve success in their lives.

Canada's Aboriginal peoples have a proud history but have been abominably treated by the federal government, which despite a very public apology is still not doing nearly enough to rectify the social problems endemic in their young.

Thank you for speaking out.

Megan,
Thanks for sharing your personal struggle with mental illness and how it relates to larger aboriginal issues. Putting a face on an important issue like this definitely brings it closer to home. And thanks for the link so we all can help in some way.

wow she looks very beautiful looks exactly like my neighbour who made the CBC national news for a serious crime about 3 years ago , oddly Schellenberg is not a native name infact likely jewish german not a full bred first nations person and didn't grow up on a reserve .

Inherit native blood may be thick regarding depression and suicide but I'm not sure this could fall into depression in first nations people or just depression , either way good to see you made it through . You are very attractive and you look happy and like you have alot going for yourself .

I admire you for your courage.
Let this be an inspiration to the millions out there who are suffering in silence from this common yet least misunderstood affliction.

You are an excellent writer, Sasha. I hope you will use both your spoken and written voices to continue to bring attention to these heartbreaking statistics. Stay strong, Sasha. There are many people outside of your community who do and will support you.

Thank you for sharing your brave and honest story. Indeed, by shedding our preconceptions and stigmas that have become entwined with self-harm and suicidal behavioural patterns we will be able to save the lives of those youths who feel hopeless and trapped.

Bravo Ms. Schellenberg, may others find the same strength and courage to share their stories of overcoming pain and may your story serve to inspire those still struggling with this very serious affliction.

Growing up in low-mid income partially aboriginal family, in a area with lots of Low income family it is easy to see the the abuses of the system(both ways). the cycles continue to the next generation, and i admit that i have opinions about teen pregnancy (it should never happen) and education (there is no excuse to not have one in Canada, an education is the single easiest way to better yourself, it doesn't even need to be post secondary)

But we should never give up on our fellow Canadians, we must help them help themselves, some will turn their noses at our offers, but we must ensure that offer is still there when they decided that they want change, and that their status quo isn't good enough for their children.

I am very glad you can speak up and clear up some of the confusion on this subject. We need more people to step out for the unheard, hurting, and the ashamed. Thank-you for being a true Canadian.

Suicide rates are highest for men, and im sure aboriginal men in particular. What we all need to realize is that injustice anywhere effects us all.

Our society is poisoned through the media which attempts to shape our beliefs and desires and often makes us miserable in the process. Look at feminism and how unhappy women are in the workplace.

Women were sold a bowl of excrement about how wonderful work was and how they should place having a career ahead of having children. Men are not immune from criticism having fallen for the man as a walking penis image the media cultivates. (think of shows like married with children).

Megan,You're such a beautiful woman & so articulate.I fervently hope that your problems are being addressed by caring people.

I have dealt with my own issues similar to yours for many years now.I am fortunate to be able to converse with other people in your situation & have been told that my efforts do some good.I do find it odd that I suffer from depression so badly,yet for some reason,those whom I have attempted to help,find my efforts to be successful.I guess by helping others & giving them my support,it keeps me going too.

Hopefully it will be the same for yopu.

Hi Megan. Thanx for raising consciousness about this issue. My daughter and I are white, living in a poorer neighbourhood in Vancouver.

There are now many aboriginal people touching our lives, including kids. My need to respond to your article is about the wonderful kids in our neighbourhood.

I work in mental health and have seen the ravages of addiction and grief up close in both the general population and specifically in the native community who are an out-size group proportionately.

A number of times now, watching the kids play, getting to know some of these kids, I have been heartstruck looking in the eyes especially of the girls thinking, 'Why?' Why is it so much more likely that this sweet child will find the cruelty of the world sooner than most kids?

I knew a number of the women who were killed out at the pig farm, most of them native. Why, I can't help but ask, are we still letting this happen? At one point these women were young and hopeful, maybe burdened by mistreatment, but still expecting, as most children do that they will have their chance, their choices to make, their peace to find.

Until we as a nation work out why a disproportionate number of native people are in our prisons, homeless, and prostituted on the streets and until we apply our resources where they are needed, these little girls and boys will grow up stung by their very existence.

I have no answers myself but I know there is an open wound there. It is unfortunate that it was Harper's government that offered our apology....I myself don't trust him and I'd be surprised if many aboriginal people do. What sad irony, I'm too cynical to believe it wasn't purely about bettering himself and his government, but at least it was an attempt to address this imbalance.

But we as individuals may need to look into our own souls to reflect on our respect for our brothers and sisters; there is still rampant racism out there and nobody can fix that other than we ourselves.

I am a high school teacher and I appreciate you sharing your story. They say it takes a community to raise a child and, as a teacher, it is my responsibility to understand and support all of my students. Some schools are doing a great job of creating safe and positive spaces and environments for aboriginal students and are listening to these students to try to make their school community an inclusive and supportive one.

However, most schools are not doing enough and I know that sometimes we educators fail to reach, support and understand the perspective and challenges of first nations students.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the epidemic of suicide among aboriginal youth. Understanding and attention to this issue is the responsibility of all of us. I will visit the site you recommended and I will try to learn more about what I can do.

In my opinion, the reconciling of our history as Canadians relies on Canadians addressing and healing the damage still being done today.

Thank you very much for submitting your article. I suffer from severe depression and I know how debilitating it can be. Suicide is an issue that is being ignored and has to be addressed.

I applaud this woman for telling her story. I agree that talking about depression and doing everything possible to try and eliminate the negative stigma of mental illness is one of the most important steps in dealing with it.I have had to deal with depression as an adult and can tell you that it is completely debilitating.

Many people still have the misconception that if you are depressed all that you need to do is pull up your socks and try to be happier.This couldn't be further from the truth. Depression is an illness that must be dealt with by health professionals.

There are many excellent people working in the treatment of depression,but the system is overwhelmed by need.Personally, I waited for over a year before being able to access the proper treatment.

Mental health resources need to be doubled or tripled in order to provide access in a timely manner,possibly reducing the number of suicides.

Your points are excellent. But your article/blog is in SERIOUS need of editing. It's hard to take seriously when you say things like: "I am a suicide survivor" (don't you mean suicide attempt survivor? or "...before they begin having families of their own, or even worse, committing suicide."

Still, excellent points over all.

Well done Megan!

Children need a voice.

This fellow North Bayite is very proud of you.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you so much for coming forward with your own struggles and adding a voice to the suffering aboriginal youth.

The stigma attached to mental health issues is ridiculous in our day and age of science and medicine.

Your article is thought-provoking and beautifully written.

This issue is as in the dark as the people who suffer from it. Thank you for your article. We must keep writing these and I hope CBC continues to acknowledge its severity as a life-threatening disease which takes thousands of our youth each year.

There is a preconceived notion out there that a young person who suffers from depression is lazy, or a low-acheiver, and I want to thank this young lady for showing by her example that this is not the case.

Often young people who are depressed or who hurt themselves experience a high level of perfectionism and anxiety.

Often times, the stigma of mental illness and the unwillingness of communities and family members mean that young people will not get a diagnosis of their condition, and the treatment options are more limited than for adults because of the delicate brain chemistry of children and adolescents (anti-depressants can increase suicidal ideation).

Then we wonder why young people experiment with drugs and booze? If someone is in pain, don't you expect them to try to get anaesthesia for that pain? Being open to young people, communicating, ensuring they know you care about them-- and not being afraid of getting them the medical care they need-- that is a major thing we can do for the young people in our lives.

I lived in a small northern town with adjacent reserve, and any small town can suffer from the feeling that there is no potential to do anything meaningful. I can only imagine how much that feeling can be exacerbated when your world is that much smaller, such as living in a remote community that doesn't have year-round road access, and where the housing and water are substandard.

Shout out to all those who are dealing with depression, substance abuse, mental illness, abuse-- there is another life for you. If you hang in there, you can make a life that YOU want, and if your family and the friends available to you right now are not supportive, you will be able to leave and find other friends in the future.

You may have been born into a family that doesn't appreciate you, but there is a world of other people out there, and when you are grown, or if you are facing horrendous challenges, maybe before that, you can go into that world and find out that you are a wonderful person who is lovable.

If you are facing things that are too hard to bear, call the kids help line, ask your community nurse or school counsellor to give you some guidance, let someone help you to help yourself.

Write a letter to the CBC, whatever! :-)

Megan

I respect your honesty and integrity in speaking out about this issue. There continues to be what some might call a willful ignorance of the general population in acknowledging the direct effects of colonization on aboriginal people.

You speak the truth - keep up the good fight!

I am not native.I do have a daughter. She has an aquaintance who she describes as "Emo" This girl tried to kill herself, cut herself etc. This seems to be a term for emotionaly imbalanced, for the most part, girls.There is a lot of talk about it on various web sites. For this reason and a few others my kids internet useage is very limited.Parents NEED to keep better care and control of their kids.Period.Ours don't roam freely, we know their friends and ALWAYS know where they are.Parents in this day and age drop the ball big time. ADD, alergies, emotional problems, fat kids,kids running wild....these are signs that kids AREN'T being cared for at home or anywhere else.
Families are the building block of society. Our Family law system doesn't hesitate to break up families nor does social services. Our "leaders and law makers" are getting just what they want.....a mess.

Two words, Well said.

Its always great to see young people getting interested and active on these issues, way to go!!
After having passed my teenage years with the MicMac and now working with the james bay Cree I have come to believe that one important factor is often left out of these debates, that being the local bands council`s. Each community has their own band council made up of elected representatives and they have huge power regarding public education, social and health services and generally are able to direct what each respective community`s focus is. Suicide, depression, mental health issues, addictions, sexual and spousal abuse are all issues that the Federal and Provincial governments have generally failed to address in any significant way in the past (for all of the countrys residents nomatter where you come from or who you are). It strikes me that these issues are best addressed on a micro rather than macro level and that if the band councils really took this matters seriously and got themselves and their communities talkin, thinking and acting on these issues the chance for positive change would be much greater. This is not to say that they band`s are not worried about these issues, but i get the feeling that if community members made their local bands aware of the need for strong guidance and intervention on a local level it could really help out, and perhaps much more quickly than waiting for some bigger governing body to get involved.
In any case congrats again for getting people talking about these serious issues!!

One of the main reason the aboriginal population is so in danger, I believe, are the reserves.

You could also call aboriginal reserves voluntary concentration camp.

They only achieve one thing, it is to segregating them. This was initiated back then by the federal government as a way of splitting apart the french and the aboriginal which where fierce allies against the English... Now go on the Quebec side and try to find a french reserve. Not that it matters much but it is part of the issue since they are not integrating.

Look at all the immigrant cultures, they don't loose their key tradition, sometimes live in neighborhood, I will admit, but generally they are forced to integrate the economie.

So why are we still supporting reserves? They only concentrate the issues!

this is a wonderful article that educates everyone on the problems of suicide bravo

Exceptional article by an exceptional Canadian. I admire your forthright comments and views.

We need more Canadians to step up and make their views known. It is only through dialogue and concensus that change will happen. And this world can certainly use change.

I have been the facilitator of THE INNER HEALING MINISTRY in St.John's for 20yrs.Over those years I have met many individuals who have decided to end their lives but didn't.They started coming to this ministry were we worked on their self esteem through spiritual music and conversation.We discussed that behind every decision their's a reason,when we finalize that problem then the healing begins.What most of our friends need is to realize that they have great favor and that their worth cannot be counted with money.There is someone out there that really cares and you need to find that love,the unconditional love,see love doesn't keep a record of wrongs.Roger

Thank you so much for sharing this story.

Thank you very much

I my self am a suicide survivor as I have tried more then once and almost succeeded over the last few years. I also have lost lots of my people due to suicide.

I am now 40 years old and I am an Inuit women and I also have half Italian Side as my real father was is an Italian and my real mother was in Inuit who had passed on and she was from Baffin Island name of town is Iqaluit, capital city of Nunavut.

Anyway I left my home town 4 years ago and now live in Fort Mcmurray Alberta and I have a great job here. I never had any kids or never been married. Growing up I was so molested since I was 4 years old. I have been sexually molested until I was about 13 years old and I have been mentally abused and physically all my life until I was able to fight back.

I ran away from home at a very young age due to all this abused. I tried to kill my self by taking all my Asthma medication at a very young age, and I survived that Thanks to the Doctors and the nurses. I then tried again around my early 20’s and tried in the last couple years. I have barley survived the last 2, so I finally came to realize that why I am trying to kill my self by taking pills and by hanging my self. After I asked that to my self I finally said that is it, I am going to live and forgive all the people that have hurt me over the years and live day by day as muches I can. I decided that because I do love life now even though I may not have everything I always wanted like get married in a nice beautiful white fitted wedding dress, and have at least 2 kids.

I would like to carry on writing as you really made my day after reading your story as I have so much to say, but it would take me so long to write, so my plan is to write a book one day about my childhood to help other and hope one day I will be so successful. I also hope one day that someone will read this that can help me write a book as I am so ready to write my book as I have so much to say and talk about surviving and abused.

Thanks,

Pauline Oolayou Alainga
Fort McMurray,AB

BRAVO to you for speaking out, you are 100% correct, and this is in fact an issue that our communities and governments should be addressing with allof their energy, if you are HEALTHY physically, it does not mean you are mentally, and it is not just a sign of the times, it is progressively worsening. We are all needed, acknowledging the problem is only the beginning/the first step...

Bravo Megan!

I have a teenage daughter and one of my greatest fears is that she may suffer from depression. I am not exactly sure how much genetic factors come into play but my mother's depression eventually put her into an early grave. I worry about depression creeping into my daughter's life with similar effect. In any case, people like you, people who speak up and draw attention to mental health issues, should be commended for their bravery and honesty.

Megan, thank you for speaking up! Fortunately for you and your family,you escaped with your life and now seem to be thriving. My 18 year old daughter did not survive. This is not just an aboriginal issue it affects everyone from all walks of life. I fought hard for six years to keep my bi-polar suicidal daughter alive, and still now, as then, there are very little resources for adolescents suffering from mental illness. There are very few specialists who really understand, yet many doctors are willing to hand out cocktails of medications without really knowing the effect on young people. Psychiatric hospital beds and treatment centres for youth are scarce with long wait lists. Our tax dollars must be spent on this serious problem. How many more children must die? And how many parents must live with this ongoing pain.

Thank you for sharing your story. I too have suffered from depression and have used self-injury as a coping method for many years. The stigma attached to such topics makes it so difficult to talk openly about it - but it needs to be done, and you have bravely done so. Your blog makes me feel less alone, and also helps me to remember that so many people suffer from the same things.... and we come from all walks of life.

If I had an infection or an illness, I wouldn't think twice about going to a doctor to get help and treatment. But it was so much harder to admit I needed help for my depression... I felt that I was being 'weak' and that my family would be disappointed in me. Sometimes, I still feel that way. But I truly believe that, because of people like you and all those working so hard to remove the stigma attached to mental illness, it will be easier for people to get the help they need.... and that means feeling safe enough to admit you need it.

I agree that the issue of depression is grossly misunderstood, dealing with it myself. I have been on paxil for some time now and get along very well. Recently there was a CBC report regarding a soldier with PTSD, which apparantly has a huge stigma in the army. There is also Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. These are all classed as "Mental Illnesses" and while they can play on your mind & thoughts, at no time would I have classified myself as remotely insane. Mental illness is a misnomer. These conditions are much more general and extremely serious.

In the army, it seems, that the impression is that PTSD is for wimps, a cop-out. People with Depression are thought to be just "bummed-out"; CFS means you're lazy.

Let me explain what happens, and what its really like. It involves your entire nervous system, and therefore your entire body, quite larger than a mental illnes. Imagine (or remember) what it felt like to miss a night's sleep, and how you dragged your butt around the entire next day, but after a night or two of catch-up, you're good. Now imagine that the day after your lost sleep that you had a crisis that you had to deal with that demanded your complete attention and focus and that your adrenaline starts flowing and you get through your day. At night you are pumped so that it takes you a few extra hours to get to sleep. Now imagine that this goes on for months and months on end. Every day. You will take longer & longer to sleep. You will wake up earlier & earlier. Eventually you won't sleep at all. Then your body will adjust its regulators to treat this as"normal", because it has gone on so long. You will get up stressed, having not slept, but being totally echausted. you will likely vomit, or try to. you will not be able to eat, your back will be very sore, you will not be intereted in anything. You will have the capacity for nothing. This is not funny. It is REAL. And it is pervasive in our society. Especially as we are driven for more-more faster-faster. The Army needs to wise up from the top-down. The medical profession is not helping by continuing to classify these as mental illnesses. They are neurological disorders and they affect the entire person.

They need to be taken seriously. I have no qualms about my condition. We are no wimps. You wanna try it?

How wise to bring a 'difficult' topic out in the open for discussion. Courageous! Thank you, Megan, for your article and thank you especially for acting as an advocate of our aboriginal community. Attention and resources are needed.

I went to highschool with you and had no idea.

Good job Megan!

So the picture is of a beautiful woman who arguably is the author of this piece. The same woman that excelled scholastically and in extra-curricular activities. The photo is cropped eliminating the friends surrounding her. This woman has everything in many people's opinion. Yet she suffers from major depression. This goes to show you how mental illness is not a fair, logical disease. Mental illness is an unseen affliction that can crush people invisibly and anything that can be done to understand and help people in these situations should be done. Thank you for doing your part. It is very courageous and you should celebrate that.

Matulese

Megan, Thank you so much for sharing your story. You're courage is admired. I lost someone close to me to suicide 3 years ago, and although he was not an aboriginal, he was a full time student at UBC. The pressures of our youth seem at an all time high, and it amazing how difficult it is to remove the stigma and face the issue head on. Good for you for taking a stand and speaking out.

She tries to place the blame on the government, yet there are FAR more aboriginal employment assistant and resources than there are for non-aboriginal provided by the government.

Misery loves company. Its not the governments fault that there is high suicide rates, or that aboriginal children think they cannot amount to anything. It is the parents, stop trying to pass the blame onto someone else.

"We have seen throughout time that some aboriginal communities are trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and sexual abuse." Well what are we supposed to do?

These conditions exist because the aboriginals want them to exist, by refusing to move and blaming the government for all their problems they choose to live in these conditions (the adults not the children). Every other member of society understand that they need to fallow the money and that sometimes for the good of their family they must move, expect the aboriginals who would rather live in a dieing community on life support so they are closer to their band members, than to go out in search of a better life.

That's the same as a non-aboriginals staying in a town that has no work but wont move because they want to be around the people who live there.

As for the children what is the government supposed to do? Take all the children away and try to give them the education and know how to live in modern day society? That was the intention of the Residential Schools and we all saw how that worked out, so the government will never try something like that again.

It is not the Canadian Government or Canadian Society that is doing this to them, it is aboriginal society doing it to themselves. They choose to live in these "nations" as they often call it because they want to live the way they have been living for hundreds of years, well sorry to break it to you but it doesn't seem to be working so well.

So to recap it is the parents and the community they live in. Not Canada

"Aboriginal children make up the youngest growing population in the country, making it even more important to address this issue before they begin having families of their own, or even worse, committing suicide.

We have seen throughout time that some aboriginal communities are trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and sexual abuse."

MANY communities are trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and sexual abuse... North Bay ON is not one!

Communities stricken by poverty and unemployment would obviously have a suicide rate higher than the national average; maybe 11% higher, regardless of race. All such communities find it profitable to have more children for additional social assistance. That is why the aboriginal population is growing fast….? That is why ALL poor communities are growing fast!

Your article is bias and poorly written.

Maybe it’s time we stop pointing fingers at the big bad oppressive government that currently pays for your health, schools, children, tuition, and infrastructure.

Canada’s government has changed a lot since the 80’s and we are now largely controlled by aboriginal peoples. As we should be! But it’s interesting that native people welcomed whitey to this “land of the free” and now we, the taxpayer, pay dearly. Think teen suicide is my fault too? Put it on my tab.

The reason so many youth (not just aboriginal youth) are committing suicide can be found largely (but not all) in their homelife growing up. This is tragic because their parents didn't teach them love, self-worth, self-respect and the respect of others because they themselves lack these traits. Handouts are NOT good for anyone - it completely eliminates any desire to work to do well, to find their purpose in life, etc. Too much time on anyone's hands leads to BAD THINGS! Sexual abuse damages children for LIFE. It's one of the most DESPICABLE acts one human does to another, leaving the victim with no self-respect, no self-worth and looking to drugs and alcohol to cope with the disgusting memories. Alcoholic parents are neglectful and abusive. Parents calling children disgusting names telling them they're stupid and wont amount to anything and degrading them throughout their childhood plays a HUGE role also. If a child feels they have no worth with their own parents, why would they think anyone else would think them important? It shouldn't shock anyone that by the time children in such situations reaches 12-15yrs of age, they're in a mental and emotional state of complete exhaustion and feel that all the people in their lives have done nothing but betray their trust. What hope could they possibly feel? There IS hope - in Jesus Christ, your Heavenly Father, who WILL save you - He saves us not just from our own sins, but can take us out of horrific situations and most importantly He heals us inside allowing us to live productive lives and have healthy relationships. Turn to Him, you've got nothing to lose!

We need more young people like you to come out publicly about this affliction. The government should be making this one of their medical priorities,and there should be a network of aid readily available for kid to turn to. The youth are our future. My hat is off to you Miss Megan, thank you.

In Canada, historically the Federal and Provincial Governments are not innocent to the suicides across Canada amongst the aboriginal youth population.

The effects from assimilation are devastating and suicides are not isolated to one community but all across Canada. It would be foolish to say that “Residential /Indian Day Schools students have forgiven and forgotten the past or moved on with their lives.

To understand what it takes to have a healthy community, one would not speak so quickly, abuse is a very difficult issue to deal with. It is clear the Indian Reserve/Band Council System is not working and fast tracking Treaties can cause even more damage.

In some cases there are 5 generations dealing with the effects Residential/Indian Day School. There are families/communities that have totally lost their cultural identity and language.

A first nation community before colonization was self sustaining a community that needed little or no help at all. A dysfunctional system cannot heal itself and we do truly need leaders not lawyers or politicians who reap the benefits from First Nation Issues.

I applaud you for your bravery in bringing out in the open your struggles. It is such a common problem for so many First Nation communities throughout Canada, with the majority of them being isolated and nowhere near any potential sources of employment.

I see from Miguel's comments, that he is financing First Nations and they should thank him for his finances even though he is struggling. If you grew up on a reserve isolated and then common "Pre-Judgements" limit your ability to obtain employment. Just one thing that can be discussed.

The issues are much deeper than having..."instilled work ethic" that he eludes to as the solution. As I say to many people that are quick to criticise First Nations, try living in an isolated reserve, and get to know some of the people.

Too many things to say, maybe I'll continue later when my emotions subside over his comments.

Megan, you have a very valuable, courageous message.

"Drew" appears to have spoken too soon!

Thank you for your contribution to dispelling the stigma attached to depression, suicide, mental illness and poverty. Your input is very valuable. If no one speaks, no one learns. That is the value of communication.

I am taking a stab at adding my two cents worth here and I am struggling with not sounding like a judgmental redneck. If I fail however, please forgive me as my intent is to gain insight by asking questions and offering my own perspective.

First, I applaud your willingness to share your personal experience, I'm sure you searched your soul for the strength. You express yourself well and I think it's clear what you are pleading for. Recognition, acceptance and action.

This is where it gets hard for me.

I, like the vast majority of Canadians I think, believe that I am not a bigot and that as a WASP am not the ruling class simply because of this reality. I have lived my life alongside many ethnic individuals and groups and have fought the temptation to sterotype because in my heart, it makes no difference to me where you call home.

My frustration however comes from what I percieve as the never ending, out stretched hand of the aboriginal groups in our country. My perspective is that to a large degree, the proverbial bread has been buttered on both sides for far to long.

Simply put, in my perfect world, we would all simply be Canadians, not African or european or Russian or Quebecois etc. etc., and that as Canadians, we would all play on the same field, have access to the same programs, health care and opportunities and those that would try to stand in the way of anyone who would attempt to avail themselves of these "rights" would be persecuted and prosecuted.

I would fight for the right of any ethnic group to celebrate their ethnicity but not at the expense of the majority of the Canadian population and by singling out Aboriginal and Metis children, this is what I see is happening.

You speak of the poor treatment aboriginals received at the hands of the government and this is true and should never ever be forgotten, but isn't it time to move forward?

The government has treated most of us poorly. It doesn't really care who or where you are and although we as white Canadians may not have suffered the indignaties that the Metis and First Nations people were subjected to, I am ashamed as a Canadian that they happened at all but you'de have an argument on your hands if you suggested to any Canadian, past or present that they have not suffered at the hands of our elected officials.

The past should never be forgotten but it is after all, the past and should not be the guiding force when it comes to living our lives.

Poverty is poverty and it does not discriminate against any one group, regardless of race, creed, colour or religion.

I have a career which affords me the opportunity work with people from many different backgrounds including many native Canadians and I do not see what you refer to as aboriginal communities being "trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and sexual abuse".

I see as many if not more caucasians who are struggling with the pressures of life and the aforementioned abuses who appear to be caught up on the treadmill and who desperately need help.

The help is there if they choose to ask for it just as it is for aboriginal people. In fact, in my community, I would go so far as to say that aboriginals may have access to more programs than non-aboriginal people.

The Westbank indian band (yes, that's what they refer to themselves as) is one of the most successful groups of business people that i have ever come across and the opportunties they afford to band members are boundless, from paid post secondary education to accomodation and tools to whoever steps up and wants to take advantage.

What gets to me is that given the fact that the majority of the land in and around the region is owned by them that they don't have to play by the same rules that we do. Land can be developed in any way they see fit and there are many land claims still active in the region, land which, if they are awarded, will be devleoped for profit. I don't begrudge the making of money but I do begrudge the fact that their development projects affect many aspects in the lives of non-aboriginals.

I do not dispute your claim that suicide rates among natives is high and your fear that more youth will be put at risk if something doesn't change but I also believe that singling out the aboriginal communities is helping to exacerbate the problem.

You suggest that some Canadians beleive that they are the "product of their own making and that they should simply get a job or stop procreating". I see that as a fair statement and I would ask you the question "why is it true?". Therein lies the rub. Does not at least some of the responsibility for this attitude lie with those individuals who choose to live off the grace of their communities in the belief that no matter what they do, they will be cared for?

All children deserve the right to a life. How do you propose that this can be achieved without taking drastic measures to ensure that those who would do harm to children, some simply by continuing to have them, cannot?

Education? more money? more programs? isolation from any and all harmful substances and opportubity?

Hopelesness and despair is a human condition. Its effect on humanity is global. We have the tools to deal with it but we choose not to for reasons whose roots lie with greed.

You will have to figure out first how to change the belief that we as a race seem to have that money is more important than life. Until then, your problems and concerns will not go away. Not for any of us.

Thank you for your article.

Well-thought and well-written article. I too am a suicide survivor and am still struggling with the mental and physical aspects of my survival.

Glad to see another attractive, successful and kind young woman has overcome this with such grace.

to: Allen

I guess we all have to live on an isolated reserve in order express our comments in this blog? Is that what u are suggesting? Is Meagan only speaking of isolated Aboriginal communities? I don't think so. She is very general in her references to Aboriginal communities. Here in the Okanagan, we are surrounded by Reserve land and none are isolated. Are you suggesting that the problems only lie within isolated communities? If so, I think you are missing the points she is attempting to make. I would like to refer you to Peter's comments. He expresses very well, what the Bands in this area are capable of, however I am sure they have the same issues she is referring to. I guess we live in the wrong part of the country to make valid comments on this subject.
Further, I was expressing how my experiences as a "non-res Aboriginal suffering from mental illness" have led me to where I am and how I feel about this deeply convoluted topic. By no means do I look for "thanks" from any First Nations person or group....BUT when someone says government, I relate that to funding and where does the funding come from???: All Canadians that pay income tax,. and I am one of them. Maybe you don't fall within that category or you really don't have an opinion on where your dollars go. Well that is your perogative....sadly so.
SO....if my shared experiences and comments heated your emotions, well, I am sorry to hear that, but I'm sure you will get over it. Who am I to you?
I fail to see how this blog is a means to get into a pissing match with any one person, but if that is what u want...then bring it on. She wrote the article....not me. And I think the purpose of this blog is to share and express with others what we think as "free thinking individuals" about the issues Meagan has raised.

Have a nice day young man.

Depression and suicide amongst Northern community peoples is epidemic in Canada. The major difference in these areas is the absence of sunlight that the skin can convert into Vitamin D. Depression in Northern communities can be dramatically reduced by taking large quantities of Vitamin D, or traveling to sunny warm places frequently during the year. Counseling is a band-aid for the endemic problem. Treating the cause is cheap and will result in healthy more aware individuals. Good luck and good health.

Simply well written....

She is right on the money. I too have suffered from depression since I was seven years old. I think it is a problem across the country in all communties, as I am not aboriginal; but grew up in a small town. I think she is right that, although thoughts of suicide are a factor with people coping with depression, your environment plays a big role in what 'tips the scale' in favor of surviving. If I never had the friends I grew up with, I would not be here writing this today.

Even now I am at war with my negative thoughts, but they are somewhat kept in check by a positive environment. Friends, family, a job, good home, etc. Its a mind over matter kind of thing. You know it makes no sense, but you feel it anyway. For some people, the pressures of life can amplify these feelings and stack up against coping and reason. They weigh their options: living with the pain or being at peace, and they find a way out.

Thank you for sharing your story and speaking up. I lost my best friend to suicide well over 20 years ago, and not a day goes by that I don't miss her dearly. When my first daughter was born, my friend was the first person I thought of, that I wanted to share the news with, and she wasn't there. I wish she had just given herself a chance to hang on.

I commend you on your courage to come forward which is something i definetly didnt have. After over 10 years of dealing with it on my own I tried to seek help at the local hospital but was promply given a script and sent home after only 15 minutes there, it wasnt until after I attempted suicide, that I managed to get actual help or any form of treatment. While in hospital I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder & cyclothymia (SP), placed on high doses of antidepressants and get to see the psychologist once every 3 to 4 months so im pretty familiar with the poor level of help available.

I do agree with you and disagree as well the issue is not just amongst native, inuit or any other culture here in canada it is amongst ALL youth. I do understand and accept what your saying that in some communities here in canada are in desperate need of trained professionals that can meet the needs for ALL youth seeking help. However we must also train regular healthcare professionals to properly deal with these issues as well instead of dissmissing them they should be able to at least point them in the correct direction not just medicate and dispose, which is something I have experienced at my local hospital.

We the youth of Canada need to do just as you have done, come forward and say the problem is real and that this is a treatable illness the biggest issue though is that the goverment & people of canada dont want to financially support this part of health care because they dont see mental illness the same as a physical illness which they can understand, also people in general seem to have the same perception that people had back in 1800's or earlier that a person with a mental illness should be locked up and forgotten and yet at the same time they dont realize that many famous people throughout history had mental illnesses. That people like Charles Dickens, John Keats & Leo Tolstoy all great authors that had been diagnosed with mental illnesses, Picasso himself was Bipolar, Vincent Van Gogh was also believed to be bipolar.

Society and politicians need to learn that that mental illness is not just something that people think up to gain attention, it does have physcial reasons for it, a past trauma or even may have been a lingering side effect of an actual physical illness. As well that having a "mental Illness" such as major depressive disorder, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia are all very different things that can be treated so the person may resume a normal life but without treatment some may worsen such as major depressive disorder or cyclothymia can actually escalate into bipolar type 2 or worse without treatment can actually result in psychosis or psychotic episodes. I would hate to see a youth who could be the next Picasso or Van Gogh of our time dismissed or left untreated becuase a someone did not take them seriously or the help wasnt even there for them.

We love you, Megan.

The suicide rate of Canada's First People's is a stain on this country's fabric. We need to do so much more to help our young people deal with their pain. The trouble is, as a society we deal so poorly with our inner selves, and we spend so much time on external definitions of success, meanwhile so many externally successful people feel so worthless on the inside.

Thank you Megan for your courage

A well written first-hand account of a survivor.We MUST dispel the myths and stigmas of this tragic dilemma which affects all of us regardless of the cultural circles!

Yikes, you gave me the jiggers. I too am a suicide surviver. I liked the way you came across explaining things. YOUR honesty and gift of writing, made me very proud of you. Bless you from now on forward.

I think you should know that this is not just an aboriginal/inuit problem. White European heritage young people go through the same sort of things.

They should not feel that the depression problem is because they are aboriginal/ inuit.

thank you for your voice.

Megan, Thanks for sharing. Your storey is one of many. People living north of the equator seem to experience more depression for some reason.

I know many people who experience. It seems to call on many family members through all times and place. Geneology research shows that it doesn't matter if your family name starts with A to Z You stand a good chance of inheriting that gene or whatever it is.

My family has been called on by this illness also. We take one day at a time. Each in his /her own way. Good health to all. It is not my intent to offend anyone, we all have our own storey to share.

Hi,
Awesome work on your article. I taught on a Reserve in Northern Ontario for a year and was shocked at the poverty, abuse, lack of resources, etc.

The Reserve was approximately 1,000 people with over 30 suicides in 3 years. This affects everyone on the Reserve and was extremely depressing. I don't know how they live like that, but they tend to pull through with family support and good humuor.

I felt as though I was living in a third world country. The daily events that were happening would make front page news in any city, but nobody knew except for those who lived out there.

It was their reality, and our secret, we should be ashamed of our government as well as being so naive.
Keep up the great work,

Todd

Megan, Your article will give strength to others and help pass some much need compassion around our great country. We need to cooperate as a country and recognize that Canada's tough climate, especially in the north must be recognized and initiatives done to help people nourish and thrive in the north. For one, let's have more interaction between Southern and northern Canadians and between rural and urban Canadians. Take holidays up north. Exchange programs between schools. We can do it.. Let's start now.

Though the percentage may be higher in aboriginal communities, the levels are far to high everywhere. World wide, suicide claims more lives than war. We need to awaken to rhis and start spending our resouces acordingly

Duhhhh!!!! D. Williamson. Excuse me for been defensive about this. I know that it is common in Europeans as well. But look at the statistics. Do your research before you make comment like that.
As for the guy who said Good Luck with your life. I pray for your life that it will experience compassion.

I agree with you on what you have said here. I am doing a documentary on the complexities of suicide. I am collecting stories from people who have either lost a loved one or have tried to commit suicide themselves. I would love to have your story. My aim is to bury the stigma that goes hand in hand with suicide.

Please email me at videogirlproduction08@gmail.com

Many thanks, Tracey

Congradulations on never commiting suicide !
It's a terrible feeling to have and hard to express to someone who has never hade the feelings.

You are so beautiful!

Good Luck to you

An escellent story, having grown up through a similar experience, I recognise the importance of what Megan has said. The issue does need addressing, however, this will be imensly dificult to do, especially in native comunities. I have watched large amounts of money being given to these communities only to be siphonend of by those in control of the comunity. When this issue is brought up, they claim th outside world is intefering with their lives. I do not know what the solution to this problem will be, but it will either have to come from within the comunity, or involve outside interference, as simply sending money to the band has proven completely ineffective.

I believe the leadership and heads of depts on reserve should themselves attend counselling and life skills because of their unacceptable behaviors toward the community as a whole. It is obvious they misuse their authority therefore the practice of nepotism is astounding. If you're not a relative or close friend others have no chance to get a job even if qualified.

Suicide is a factor as well as rape, incest, violence, drug and alcohol abuse etc. It appears little is done by the police, or the process takes weeks and/or months and as a result some individuals get away with things as bad as rape. It seems people are afraid to take a stand for fear of repercussion by the leadership and/or heads of depts. Only a selective few are moving forward because they are given help in every aspect while others remain stagnate. If Native people do not unite and stand up for thier rights we will slowly lose our Treaty Rights though the rivers will continue to flow and the sun keeps shining... as once promised.