We know that the most likely person across Canada to be bitten by a dog is a 5 to 9 year old child living in an Indigenous community. Government statistics go on to tell us that she will probably be bitten on the face between 4pm and 8pm. Oh, and it will likely happen on a Saturday evening, in the summer and the child will not have been interacting with the dog, who lives with a neighbour or relative.
Obviously, we know a lot about why many children, youth, elders and others are afraid to walk around their own communities due to out-of-control dog and cat populations.
What we don't know is why the federal and provincial governments still think it is acceptable to leave the delivery of community safety services, like veterinary care that was deemed essential during Covid, up to volunteerism and philanthropy.
Why is the safety of Indigenous communities not equal to non-Indigenous communities? The answer has roots that go back to the 1876 Indian Act. Those roots have grown into a status quo that maintains a shameful lack of Indigenous perspectives at federal and provincial government policy and resource allocation decision-making tables that directly impact the well-being and safety of Indigenous communities.
The federal government has failed in it's fiduciary duty to keep First Nations communities safe. The federal and provincial governments have so far failed to meaningfully enact the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP places clear responsibility on governments to forge stronger relationships with Indigenous peoples, address injustices (like the wildly outdated status quo of how resource allocation decisions are made), and build a better, more equitable future together). Some large SPCA-type organizations also have a lot of work to do to break free of their colonial roots and mindsets.
Increased ACCESS is working on behalf of our Nation-membership to end this community safety inequality. There are enough resources for all communities to be safe if they are allocated justly. For this to happen, political willingness is needed. The seeds of that political will come from you, the constituents who call the shots by phoning or emailing MLAs and MPs en masse.
You can also help end community safety inequality by supporting our work to keep all residents of Indigenous communities safe, whether they have two legs or four.
Your investment will support our government policy work, like advocating for incorporating more Indigenous perspectives at decision-making tables, as well as the direct services we offer to our Nation-members like connecting them with non-profit, mobile veterinary services.
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