Sex abuse likely linked to suicides among indigenous youth: grand chief
GATINEAU, Que. — There appears to be a direct correlation between alleged sexual abuse on northern Ontario reserves and a number of recent suicides involving young girls, says Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.
Fiddler, whose organization represents 49 of Ontario’s First Nation communities, says high rates of abuse are also being reported to police in his territory.
“The victims of these suicides are young girls, young women,” he said in an interview.
“We’ve had young girls as young as 10 or 11 take their own lives.”