Able-bodied youthshould be cut off

Page 5

Dear Editor:

This is an open letter to all First Nation members who are seeking political office and members who will be voting in any upcoming First Nations elections. This is in regards to the welfare dependency among the majority of young Aboriginal people living on and off reserve. I am asking all those seeking political office to step up to the plate to stop youth from becoming statistics and taking the easy way out.

Put a stop to youth who are single with no dependants from collecting and receiving these payments when most are able bodied and are able and willing to work. When are we going to say enough is enough to accepting and receiving social assistance benefits and start building on skills, training and education.

Many say welfare dependence on reserve is a fact and a way of life for many youth. I agree. Poverty is common among First Nations communities, along with alcohol/drug abuse, violence and low self-esteem. All this is a cycle that we as First Nations people have to stop. It is eventually going to get worse if we do not put a stop to it right now.

I agree with many of the issues that the politicians raise, such as the need to improving health, education, justice services, protecting treaty rights and improving the quality of life for First Nations people. However, this issue of not being able to take away welfare benefits from those youth who are able bodied because they deserve it or they don't have anything else to survive on is disgusting.

Social assistance payments should be only for extreme cases and for a limited time only. When I see young, single, employable, able-bodied people being on welfare for five, 10 years, I start to worry about the future of our people. If youth do not have the skills or education to find employment, then more programs should be created and developed so they can gain the skills they need or they should be forced to get an education.

Stop the dependency of welfare for our future generations and start teaching them the tools of self-sufficiency.

-J. Fiddler

Waterhen Lake First Nation