NEW STATS CAN NUMBERS SUPPORT
URBAN ABORIGINAL NEED

January 21, 2003
For Immediate Release

Ottawa, Ont. - "With Statistics Canada numbers finally supporting what we've known for some time", says Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC), "...perhaps we can convince our federal and provincial funding partners to take a more proactive approach in funding programs and services for Aboriginal people living off reserve."

Maracle is responding to today's release of Aboriginal and "ethno-cultural" 2001 census data by Statistics Canada. Previewing early data from the upcoming release of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey II , Statistics Canada reported that 68.5% of the Aboriginal population in Canada now resides off-reserve.

"Of course, this should have enormous impact on how the federal government follows through on its responsibility to all Aboriginal people," says Maracle. "The government must find a way to work with urban Aboriginal communities and organizations," she added, "...to better serve those very specific needs. First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations also need to improve their relationships with Friendship Centres and other urban service providers."

For Ontario, Statistics Canada reported that approximately 70% of the Aboriginal population resides off-reserve. Further, they report that one half (? of the total Aboriginal population was under the age of 25 and that one third (1/3) of the total Aboriginal population was under the age of 15. The OFIFC hopes that this information will encourage the Ministry of Children, Family and Community Services (MCFCS) to support the design and delivery of children and youth programming in Friendship Centres.

"The current provincial government has been somewhat neglectful of its obligations to fund services for, or to work in partnership with, urban Aboriginal organizations," says Maracle. "It is our hope that these numbers can help place renewed emphasis on relationship building with organizations like the OFIFC and others involved in improving the quality of life for urban Aboriginal people."

The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is a community development organization which represents and advocates on behalf of 28 Friendship Centres across the province. Friendship Centres provide a wide range of programs and services to urban Aboriginal people, including those related to justice, employment and training, children, youth, seniors, health, addictions and family violence.

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