Although the primary domain of the article in question addresses the concept of over-representation of First Nations children in the Canadian social welfare network, the roots of the problem trace back to the global issue of Indigenous Peoples’ marginalization. Indeed, since the ratification of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People back in 2007, much attention has been paid to the need to create equal developmental opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Yet, none of the initiatives explicitly concerned the goal to redefine the perception of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples as individuals with cultural heritage and human dignity.
For decades, Indigenous Peoples were unable to voice their concerns and speak on behalf of their ancestors, as fear and universal disrespect paralyzed their self-worth. As a result, in the modern social context, the historical and cultural paradigms of Indigenous Peoples seemingly do not exist, and descendants of Indigenous Peoples are not only expected to assimilate, but they feel the obligation to do so. Hence, when in a country like Canada, such a considerable number of Aboriginal children appear to struggle with living in a social welfare system, it is critical to remember that social justice policies concerning the welfare of Indigenous Peoples were never about Indigenous Peoples per se. Their fundamental intention was to ensure the visibility of access to such public systems as educational and medical facilities. This claim is vividly supported at the end of the article, where the authors mention that the most significant contributors to the resolution of the designated problem were fellow Resilient Indigenous communities rather than the governmental bodies that should have addressed a national social welfare crisis. Hence, considering the data provided in the research, it would be reasonable to conclude that the existing societal matters in regard to Indigenous Peoples are the vivid result of ignorance, forced assimilation, and disrespect for the diverse heritage of different ethnic communities.