"Great Depression-style unemployment rates, undrinkable water, rotting houses, teen suicides, and varying degrees of despair.

The living standards on Canada’s Indian reserves are plunging further behind the rest of the country.

But John Duncan, minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada doesn’t see it that way.

Leaning forward across a conference table in his sixth floor Ottawa office overlooking Parliament Hill, he says: “I actually think there has been much progress and I am not a pessimist. I think things are moving in a very good direction. I’m quite optimistic.”

Others don’t share Duncan’s optimism.

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the situation on many reserves is dire and is renewing his call on Stephen Harper to help come up with a strategy to “move beyond the Indian Act.”"

Get the Story:
Minister downplays despair on reserves (The Toronto Star 11/8)

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Series: 'Broken peoples, broken policy' among the First Nations (11/1)