Change urgently needed to close gap when it comes to aboriginal kids

. . . .But as the society points out in its report, A Cold Wind Blows, poverty remains one of the biggest barriers to children learning.

The Aboriginal Care Society’s report is not as blunt as Turpel-Lafond’s assessment of government failures.

But its assessment of why it is happening in British Columbia is brutally frank.

“The overall political message that emerges for First Nations is clear. Development of First Nations land and resources is necessary for B.C. to prosper; First Nations need to become partners in development so that First Nations children have an equal opportunity to succeed in life; children’s success in life is contingent on development of First Nations land.”

One would like to hope that the society is wrong and that the B.C. government is not holding aboriginal children to ransom.