Canada’s indigenous community stares down a suicide epidemic. What’s pushing so many to end their lives and what can be done?

Canada’s First Nations and Native Americans in the United States have much higher rates of suicide than non-indigenous people in these two countries.

The suicide epidemic came to light this month as one tribe in Ontario, Canada, saw 11 suicide attempts in one evening and five more just weeks later.

High rates of suicide are just one of the challenges facing modern day indigenous peoples. CCTV’s Sean Callebs has this report.

To discuss the suicide epidemic and other challenges facing native populations:

• Dawn Lavell-Harvard is President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
• Denise Desiderio is policy director of the National Congress of American Indians.
• Cindy Blackstock is Executive Director of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
• Teddy McCullough is a Policy Fellow for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute.