A Nation in Distress: the Political Economy of Urban Aboriginal Poverty

A Nation in Distress examines the economic outcomes for urban Aboriginal men and women in ten cities across Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax). Based on a statistical analysis of 2001 census data, the research finds that regardless of the city in which one lives, the urban Aboriginal population in Canada faces disproportionately high levels of poverty, unemployment, low median incomes and transfer payments from the government. It also finds that Aboriginal women and families are at greatest risk of socioeconomic stress. Given these findings, and an understanding of the cyclical nature of poverty within the Aboriginal population, it is argued that federal and provincial governments have consciously and unconsciously failed to recognize, reflect and understand the political and economic needs of the Aboriginal population.