New numbers show positive change

October 6, 2015. The annual Vital Signs report, conducted by Edmonton’s Community Foundation and Social Planning council, shows significant changes within the Aboriginal community. The report identifies a number of new strengths. The graduation rate from high school saw an increase of 27 per cent in 2013 from 22 per cent 2009 in Edmonton Public schools and 50 per cent from 26 per cent in Edmonton Catholic schools, and 10.7 per cent more Aboriginal people achieved a bachelor degree or higher in 2011. In the employment field, 40,300 Aboriginals are part of the work force, a growth of 152 per cent compared to 2001. Edmonton’s Aboriginal population paid more in incomes taxes (15 per cent) than received in transfer payments (12 per cent). But not all the figures are positive. Aboriginal people in Edmonton are nine times more likely to experience homelessness and of the 2,307 homeless in Edmonton, 1,065 are Aboriginal. Twenty-two per cent of Aboriginal people lived in low income. More than 70 per cent of Edmontonians believed that Aboriginal people are often
subjected to discrimination and more than 50 per cent of Edmontonians believed their city could provide more support for the Aboriginal population.