June is National Indigenous History Month. It is a time to celebrate Indigenous cultures, languages, and achievements. It is also a time to think about the future and here in the Northwest Territories, that future is young.
The Northwest Territories has one of the youngest populations in Canada, with an average age of 37.3 years. In many of our smaller communities, the population is younger still. In fact, over one third of all NWT residents are 24 or younger – that’s one in every three people. When we talk about equality and human rights, we must consider what opportunities and experiences are accessible to the next generation.
In discussions about human rights, the focus is often on adults. Information is about human rights at work, when renting, or when receiving public services. But equality needs to begin much earlier. Children should grow up expecting equal opportunity regardless, of race, gender, or age. This is particularly important for Indigenous youth who continue to experience more barriers that other young Canadians.
Statistics Canada has reported that more Indigenous youth are graduating from high school than in the past. This is encouraging news. However, there is still a gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth when it comes to education. Many Indigenous students continue to face challenges linked to poverty, housing shortages, food insecurity, and the lasting effects of colonial policies.
In the Northwest Territories, these challenges can be even greater. Young people in small and remote communities often have fewer opportunities than youth living in larger centres. Recent Government of the Northwest Territories reports continue to show differences in educational outcomes between smaller communities and larger regional centres. This highlights equality is about more than treating everyone the same. Equality means making sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed.
Imagine two students with the same dream of becoming a nurse. One has reliable internet, their own room, and easy access to tutoring and career guidance. The other has slow internet service, shares a room with two siblings, has limited access to after school support services, and must leave their community to continue their education. Both students may work hard, but one faces obstacles that the other does not.
Human rights are about removing those obstacles. Education is one part of the picture. Employment is another.
Federal research based on Census data shows that Indigenous people continue to experience lower employment rates than non-Indigenous Canadians, even when they have similar levels of education. This means that earning a diploma or certificate does not always lead to equal opportunities.
When young people work hard, gain skills, and contribute to their communities, they deserve a fair chance to succeed. Equal opportunity should not depend on a person’s background, culture, or postal code.
Indigenous youth across the North are leading the way. They are helping to revitalize Indigenous languages and protecting the land and water. They are starting businesses, completing post-secondary programs, and serving as role models for younger generations. They are proving every day that the future of the North is strong.
Our responsibility is to make sure that future has the support it needs.
That means preparing schools to be accessible, providing more support for students who don’t have access to the services of larger communities. It means providing mental health services locally and opportunities for employment in all communities. It means listening to young people and including them in decisions that affect their lives.
National Indigenous History Month is a chance to honour the past. But it is also a chance to invest in the future.
The next generation of Indigenous leaders is already here. They deserve the same opportunities, the same respect, and the same chance to succeed as any other young person in Canada. Leveling the playing field requires a look at the systemic barriers that continue to frustrate success for young people.
Equality is not just about remembering history, it is also about creating a future where every young person in the Northwest Territories can reach their full potential.