As an Indigenous woman in Canada, I find myself reflecting on whether we have truly grown as a country or if it’s all just smoke and mirrors. What I can say is that I have seen an increased level of support, and I do believe there are some genuine people out there trying to make positive change. For that, I want to say thank you—Niawen kó:wa & Chi-miigwech—to those of you who are.
However, I am hesitant to say that society as a whole has changed. Discrimination still exists, whether outright or buried under performative allyship. Harassment and derogatory language haven’t disappeared. Even when new, more respectful terms like “Indigenous” replace outdated ones, I still hear people laugh and dismiss it, saying, “That’s not what we used to call them.” It’s exhausting, and it’s heartbreaking.
As an Indigenous woman with roots in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, I see my people struggling, and I see how little the government is truly doing to address the systemic issues we face. The numbers don’t lie—our communities are still suffering at disproportionate rates in nearly every aspect of life.
Our Children Are Still Being Taken
Indigenous children make up 53.8% of kids in foster care, even though they represent only 7.7% of the population under 15. In Manitoba, Indigenous children are taken at a rate of 61.8 per 1,000, and in Alberta, they are 28.9 times more likely to end up in care than non-Indigenous children. This isn’t a new problem; it’s just the modern face of colonialism. Instead of residential schools, they take our babies and place them in non-Indigenous homes, stripping them of their identity.
Clean Water Is Still a Privilege, Not a Right
It’s 2025, and there are still 31 long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves. Thirty-one communities still can’t drink from their taps without fear of contamination. In a country as wealthy as Canada, why is this still an issue?
We Are Still Trapped in Poverty
Indigenous people are more likely to live in poverty than any other demographic in Canada. Nearly half of First Nations (45%) and Métis (44%) people living off-reserve struggle to afford necessities like food, rent, and transportation. For Inuit, that number rises to 54%. The economic gap has barely closed, no matter how many government promises are made.
We Are Still Overpoliced and Overincarcerated
Despite making up only 5% of Canada’s population, Indigenous people now represent 44.2% of those in structured intervention units in Canadian prisons. These are the modern-day segregation cells meant for “troublemakers.” Our people are being criminalized at alarming rates, while governments continue to ignore the root causes of poverty, addiction, and historical trauma.
Our Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People Are Still Disappearing
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) is not a thing of the past—it is happening right now. The 2019 National Inquiry resulted in 231 Calls for Justice, yet action has been painfully slow. Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women. The National Action Plan, meant to address this, has been riddled with delays and empty promises. We are still waiting for justice.
Substance Use and Mental Health Issues Are Still Sweeping Our Communities
Indigenous people make up 2.6% of Canada’s population but account for 10% of overdose deaths. Indigenous women are eight times more likely to experience a nonfatal overdose and five times more likely to die from one compared to non-Indigenous women. Addiction is not an individual failure—it is a symptom of colonization, displacement, and generational trauma.
We Need Real Representation, Not Just Symbolic Gestures
We’ve had apologies. We’ve had land acknowledgments. We’ve had politicians wearing orange shirts. What we haven’t had is real, meaningful change.
That’s why these upcoming provincial and federal elections matter. Indigenous representation is not just about filling a seat in government—it’s about ensuring that the people making decisions about our land, our rights, and our futures actually understand what it means to be Indigenous in Canada today.
We need leaders who will fight for Indigenous sovereignty, self-governance, and the well-being of our communities. We need representatives who will push for real action on the MMIWG2S crisis, prison reform, child welfare, and economic justice.
This isn’t just an Indigenous issue. This is a Canadian issue. And if we want real change, we need to show up, speak out, and hold every level of government accountable.
If you’ve read this far, thank you, Nia:wen, Miigwech. Share this. Talk about it. Call out injustice when you see it. Change won’t come unless we demand it—loudly, relentlessly, and together.
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