Suicide Prevention & Awareness Resources "Too many North American Indian youths find this life devoid of meaning and worth little, whereas death is a way of finding peace and reunion with glorified ancestors. Suicide is often viewed as a brave, heroic act. Self-destructive behaviour becomes a learnred and rewarded pattern. Those who die by suicide become idols of their peer group. This frame of thought is a fallacy, and this conception of martyrdom should not be construed as an acceptable belief among our people." Tara Perley, Tobique First Nation, November 1992, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples "Our youth are now committing suicide. This was not our way. This is not our future." Chief Allan Happyjack, Waswanipi First Nation, June 1992, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Welcome to the Suicide Prevention awareness section of our website. We created this resource for SchoolNet users. Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is the political territorial organization serving the 49 First Nations, which signed Treaties #9, and #5 in Ontario. The territory covers from the Manitoba border to the Quebec border and from Sioux Lookout to Sault Ste Marie and from Timmins north to the James and Hudson Bays. The population on reserve is approximately 30,000 with 65% of the population under the age of 26. 
Youth in Pikangikum First Nation, participants in the "Discovering Our Strengths" youth conference co-hosted by the Decade for Youth program. A review of the available literature shows that First Nations youth suicide is occurring at an alarming rate across Canada. The has been a suicide epidemic ocurring in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory over the last 15 years, with over 270 completed suicides. The numbers of attempts are difficult to track, but it is estimated that there has been over 4000 attempts in that period. NAN has been working with the communities, community agencies, and the Intergovernmental Committee on Aboriginal Youth Suicide to prepare suicide prevention resources as a response to this crisis. NAN has held a Youth Suicide Forum (1993-1997) which produced the final report, "Horizons of Hope: An Empowering Journey" with over 50 recommendations for change. NAN also has crisis teams and a Chiefs Task Force. In December of 1999 there was a Coroner's Inquest into the suicide of 15 year old Selena Sakanee from Neskantaga First Nation. The Sakanee Inquest endorsed the recommendations of the NAN Youth Forum and made 40 additional recommendations. In June 2000, an Intergovernmental Committee on Aboriginal Youth Suicide was set up, with membership including NAN and both levels of government, to coordinate and support work on the recommendations. As a result of the recommendations made by youth at the January 2000 NAN Suicide Prevention Conference, the Chiefs of NAN have declared 2001-2010 to be the Decade for Youth & Development. The Decade promotes youth involvement in positive change through local/regional youth councils, focusing on the areas of political, economic, social and cultural participation. For more information on suicide be sure and visit the homepage for the Centre for Suicide Prevention.
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