The aboriginal prison population in Canada is growing

The number of aboriginal people sitting in prisons across Canada is becoming increasingly alarming.

 

The Toronto Star reports revealing statistics showing that the aboriginal prison population has increased 43 per cent in the last 5 years.

 

Aboriginal people make up 4 per cent of Canada's population.

 

Yet Métis, Inuit, and First Nations people comprise of 23 per cent of the prison population.

 

The incarceration rate of aboriginals is higher than the overall rate of imprisonment in the United States.

 

The US imprisonment rate is the highest in the world at 730 per 100,000 people.

 

The rate of aboriginals imprisoned is reaching levels of 910 per 100,000 people.

 

Policy changes like the removal of religious providers, lower prison wages, and lack of access to college courses makes rehabilitation in Canadian prisons difficult.

 

Imprisoned aboriginals face even more challenges under these reforms.

 

Flickr Photo by: michael_swan

 

STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU