Trudeau announces nearly $70M over 3 years for Indigenous mental health services

The Liberal government will invest nearly $70 million in new funding over three years to address the health and suicide crisis involving Indigenous people living on reserve and in the territories, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Mondayfollowing a meeting with Indigenous youth.

"While we will continue to engage Indigenous partners in finding long-term solutions to these pressing issues, we know that urgent action is needed and it is needed now to address the health and mental wellness crises being faced by Indigenous people," Trudeau said in a written statement.

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The announcement came amid pressure fromAttawapiskatChief BruceShisheesh, who had been pushing fora face-to-facemeeting with Trudeauafter hisnorthern Ontario community sawmultiple cases of youth drug overdoses and suicide attempts since April.

"We had an excellent meeting with the chief and band councillors from Attawapiskat to talk about the kind of relationship that we need going forward ... based also on concrete investments, things that are going to make difference in people's lives. That's exactly what this government is focused on doing," Trudeau said following his meeting with Shisheesh in Ottawalate Monday afternoon.

"This is the beginning of a new era, not just for Attawapiskat,but for relationships with First Nations across the country."

The new funding will provide "urgently" needed mental health services including:

• Two permanent mental health care workers forAttawapiskat, a community of less than 2,000.
• A 24-hour "culturally sensitive" crisis response line.
• Four crisis response teams in Ontario, Manitoba andNunavutregions the government said were identfied asas having "the greatest need."
• An increase in the number of mental wellness teams,from 11 to 43,for communities "most at risk."
• Training for existing community-based workers to ensure that care services are provided in a "culturally appropriate" way.

Shisheesh, who has been using social media to keepthe plight of his community in the news, said the prime minister also committed to "fasttracking"the expansion of new land that will serve to build approximately 100 new housing units over the next fiveyears.

"Tobe honest, I was surprised ... I didn't see that coming," the chief told reporters immediately after his meeting with Trudeau.

Shisheesh said while he welcomed Monday's announcement, including the news of two new permanent health care workers in his community, the new funding for struggling First Nations is"not enough."

"We're still in crisis mode... not just in Attawapiskat but all across Canada," the chief said.

"It will take a lot of work to bring healing."

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, whoalso took part in Monday's discussions with Trudeau and the Attawapiskatchief, said it was a good meeting.

In an interview on CBC News Network's Power & Politics, Bellegarde welcomed Monday'sannouncement.

"It's always a good first step, but we're always going to keep pushing for long-term sustainable strategies."

"We need at least 80 mental wellness teams. We're going to start preparing again for next year's federal budget. That's what it's going to take to close the gap," Bellegarde told host Rosemary Barton.

'It's a good first step', indigenous youth say of funding boost

8 years ago

Duration 7:09

A delegation of young indigenous Canadians meet with the Prime Minister to talk about critical issues post=Attawapiskat.

Former Attawapiskatchief Theresa Spencealso attended Monday's meeting with Trudeau and Shisheesh.

Spence garnered international media attention in 2013after she went on a six-week hunger strike, subsiding onfish broth and medicinal tea,todraw attention to First Nations concerns.

Her attendance was made public after the prime minister posted a picture on Twitter.

Earlier in the day,Trudeaualsomet with a delegation of some20 youth fromNishnawbeAskiNation from northern Ontario.

Monday's meetings were closed to reporters, including photojournalists.

NDP MP Charlie Angus, whose Timmins-James Bay riding includes Attawapiskat, was invited to take part in the prime minister's meeting with the young leaders.

"I'm very pleased the prime minister sat down and gave so much time to the Treaty 9 youth. These young people really are ground zero of the catastrophe that is facing Indigenous young people in Canada," Angus said in a phone interview with CBC News following Trudeau'sannouncement.

"It was very moving to see that interaction," the NDP critic for Indigenous and northern affairssaid of the two-hour meeting.

According to Angus, Indigenous youth recounted stories ofbeing denied medical services, of livingin overcrowded housing with black mould, of leavingtheir communities as teenagers to golive in boarding homes.

"They really laid out the substandard inequity that young people are facingand they did it with such dignity," Angus said.

Angus said Monday'sannouncement is "a good step" but still falls short of the money that should be on the table.

"I'm hopeful but I'm still concerned," Angus said.

'There's an immediate crisis' on reserves

8 years ago

Duration 5:45

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde on the government's funding boost for Attawapiskat and Indigenous mental health.