There is a lot, a lot of first nations struggling to live life in their own lifestyle, especially the first nation children, because the government is trying to change them and make them forget about their culture. This could affect their education, culture and lead them into poverty. The state of the first nation’s children is, significantly, poor, caused by government, trying to change first nations, making first nation children struggle.

One of the reasons is that kids and teenagers have to go to school really far away from their parents. An example of this is when Priscilla King’s eldest daughter turned 14, she had to go to high school hundreds of kilometres from home. Some people did not want it this way. However, the kings had no choice, since their community, Kingfisher Lake First Nation, does not have an high school, like other first nations communities. “She’s only a kid…I just couldn’t picture myself letting her go on her own,” she said. It was hard for parents to let their kids go to school far away, especially in Thunder Bay where there were deaths of seven First Nations teens. “Being here in the city, without your family, it’s hard. Like, you’re alone, living in a stranger’s house. You’re going to school with a bunch of strangers,” Shawnda Mamakwa said. Shawnda lives in a boarding home and helps Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, which provides education, specifically, for First Nations students from nine communities, in northern Ontario. This shows how education is a factor that affects first nation children and teenagers.

There are many first nations children who live in poverty. Half of status First Nations children, in Canada, lives in poverty and Manitoba and Saskatchewan have 62 to 64 per cent of the status of First Nations children living below the poverty line. Some reasons are because their rights were taken along with their land and resources. “Imagine any First Nations child living on a reserve”, says former diplomat and policy consultant on indigenous issues… “they’re waking up in an overcrowded home that may have asbestos, probably has mould, is likely in need of major repair, that does not have drinking water and they have no school to go to.” Many First nation children lose their homes, resources, education and possibly family members and friends when their family is in poverty. This is one of the reasons that cause First nation children into a poor state.

The First Nation children’s culture is, forcefully, being taken away by the government. The First Nation’s culture is priceless to them. Colleen Cardinal said “My culture is my identity. This is what has been denied to me.” The government wants First nations to be extinct and wants to turn them into Canadians and learn a different culture. This is, mainly, targeted to First nation children. It’s hard for First nation children to learn a different culture and forget about their actual culture. People try to support them. For example, communities across Canada are speaking out for the future of First Nations children and youth. There is a Have a Heart Day campaign which is an opportunity for ordinary Canadians to show their support for basic principles of fairness and equity.