As the country pledges to take in more Syrians, many of its First Nations communities still face hardships that have led to a wave of suicide attempts

As Canadian officials firmed up plans late last year to bring tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada, Robert Sutherland wondered what it would mean – if anything – for the needs of his own community.

The 27-year-old lives in Attawapiskat First Nation, the northern Ontario community where a relentless wave of suicide attempts earlier this month forced leaders to declare a state of emergency. More than 125 people have attempted suicide in this community of 2,000 people since autumn; the youngest was nine years old, the oldest 71.

First Nations community grappling with suicide crisis: 'We're crying out for help' Read more

When Canada’s minister of indigenous affairs visited Attawapiskat earlier this week, Sutherland seized the opportunity to get some answers. “Tell me why we First Nations live in third world conditions,” he asked Carolyn Bennett. “Why is it so easy for the government to welcome refugees and offer them first-class citizenship in our country? When will Canada wake up and open its eyes to First Nations communities?”

His question was never quite answered, he said: “They just gave me the runaround.” Bennett did commit to helping the community build a youth centre and additional housing, as well as working with leaders to design youth-focused programming.

Sutherland said that he has no issue with Canada bringing in refugees, but said he used the strong language in hopes of inciting action from the Canadian government. “What would have given me comfort is if she had said we’ll send this to our people and we’ll start working at making your community more safe, more livable,” he told the Guardian.

Attawapiskat has been plagued by emergencies in recent years, from a housing shortage that left families living in tents and unheated trailers to severe flooding and sewage backups blamed on substandard infrastructure. The community’s two- and three-bedroom homes often house as many as 15 people and are contaminated with mould.

A similar situation plays out in more than 100 of Canada’s 634 First Nations communities, said Sutherland. It’s a stain on a country with a global reputation for welcoming refugees, he said.

“Why are we living in third world conditions when the government is inviting these people in … spending millions on these people?”

Last month, the Canadian government said it would take in another 10,000 Syrian refugees, adding to the more than 25,000 the country has received in recent months.

In Attawapiskat, Sutherland’s worries over the future that lies ahead for his two boys, age five and six, pushed him to recently launch a youth committee with 20 other volunteers.

The aim is to plan activities and connect youth with their traditions and culture – an idea that stems from the personal experience of Sutherland and others in the community. “My whole life I wondered why am I here, what’s my purpose,” he said. “I found myself through my culture and through our ceremonies.”

On Friday, another five suicide attempts were reported in Attawapiskat. But since then, he said, things seem to be getting better. More than a dozen crisis counsellors have been brought into the community and both the provincial and federal government have committed to helping the community heal.

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, addressed the crisis on Tuesday. “We have an awful lot of work to do as a country to renew the relationship, to start offering full respect to indigenous Canadians,” Trudeau said in Ottawa as he met members of the Canadian Teachers Federation.

He pointed to the suicide rate for First Nations, which for young males is 10 times higher than non-indigenous male youth. For young First Nations women, the suicide rate is 21 times that of their non-indigenous counterparts. While the challenges are massive, there have been some studies that point to solutions, he said.

“In indigenous communities where there has been the support and an ability to do language and cultural teaching to an extremely high level, suicide rates have plummeted,” said Trudeau. “So much of it is about a sense of identity, of who they are, how they fit in.”

Parliamentarians in Canada held an emergency debate on the crisis last week. Trudeau, who is also the minister of youth, was not able to attend, and was instead photographed out for dinner with his wife and later stopping by a book launch for a former Liberal minister.

In Canada, 24-hour suicide prevention centres can be found across the country through the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.