Indigenous Communities in Canada Remain Disproportionately Affected by Homicide Rates
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Ottawa, Dec 12 (NationPress) Statistics Canada has revealed that Canada's Indigenous peoples are still disproportionately represented among homicide victims. In 2023, just over one in four homicide victims were Indigenous, even though they constitute only 5 percent of the total population, as reported by the Xinhua news agency citing the national statistical agency.
In the previous year, 2022, 27 percent of homicide victims were also Indigenous. This alarming trend is deeply intertwined with the lasting impacts of colonization, which include systemic discrimination, poverty, and a history of trauma, according to the agency.
During 2023, police reported a total of 778 homicides nationwide, marking a decrease of 104 victims compared to the prior year. Consequently, the national homicide rate dropped by 14 percent, from 2.27 to 1.94 homicides per 100,000 people, the agency indicated.
This overrepresentation leads to a homicide rate of 9.31 per 100,000 Indigenous individuals, a statistic that is more than six times greater than that of non-Indigenous Canadians, as stated by Statistics Canada.
