SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A national report has focused a light on the disturbing state of health among aboriginal children across Canada.

However, the report's findings do not come as a shock in the NWT.

"I'm not surprised," said National Chief Bill Erasmus of the Dene Nation.

Elaine Rene-Tambour, co-ordinator of the K'atlodeeche First Nation Children's Centre on the Hay River Reserve, watches as two-year-old Kiarah Fabian brushes her teeth, one of the healthy practices promoted by the daycare. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"This supports the notion that it's real and it's in our communities," Erasmus said of the problems outlined in the UNICEF Canada report - Aboriginal Children's Health: Leaving No Child Behind.

The report states First Nations, Inuit and Metis children suffer from a much greater burden of poor health than non-aboriginal children.

For example, aboriginal children fare at least two or more times worse than the national average for non-aboriginal children in almost all health indicators, such as diabetes and suicide rates, and in factors which determine health and well-being, such as poverty and access to clean water.

The report noted while there have been improvements in the health of aboriginal children in recent years, inequalities persist in higher infant mortality rates, lower child immunization rates, a poorer nutritional status and endemic rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

There is no data in the report specific to the NWT.

"We looked at the issues mainly by cultural groups because cultural groupings span provincial and territorial boundaries," said Lisa Wolff, the director of advocacy and education with UNICEF Canada, during a June 23 news teleconference in Toronto. "The five guest articles look at Metis, First Nations and Inuit as groups and then also urban aboriginals, but not particularly by province or territory."

Erasmus welcomed the report, saying anything that draws attention to the problem is a positive step.

Elaine Rene-Tambour, co-ordinator of the K'atlodeeche First Nation Children's Centre on the Hay River Reserve, is also not surprised by the report's findings.

"It's basically what we've known all along, I guess," she said.

Rene-Tambour said there are some areas where the NWT may be doing better than the rest of Canada, such as in the immunization of children.

However, she said in some aspects the NWT is doing worse, such as the availability and cost of fresh food.

"It's cheaper to get packaged food," she said, adding that leads to obesity and dental problems.

"It's not just a health thing," she explained. "It's a society thing."

For instance, she explained children's health is affected by overcrowding in homes and poor living conditions.

"You can't just fix health," she said. "Health is caused by something else."

The K'atlodeeche First Nation Children's Centre does its part to promote health.

The daycare teaches such things as good nutrition, oral health and the importance of washing hands, and provides two full meals and a snack a day. It also offers classes on good nutrition to parents and expecting mothers, along with warning of the dangers of smoking.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington said reports such as the one from UNICEF Canada add weight to the issue and can be used to argue for additional funding.

"That's a battle that's ongoing," he said.

Bevington said health services in the NWT are delivered by the territorial government.

"We have a more responsive system here," he said, adding people have access to the GNWT through their MLAs.

However, he said the national problems identified in the UNICEF Canada report are similar in the NWT, such as inadequate funding, poor diet and costly food.

Nigel Fisher, president and CEO of UNICEF Canada, said the health conditions of Canada's aboriginal children are not what would be expected in one of the most influential countries in the world.

"There are identifiable solutions to address this inequality," Fisher said. "This report is for each of us who believes Canada is only as strong as our most vulnerable children."

The report states the root of health problems for aboriginal children stems from the legacy of policies such as residential schools, which resulted in family and community breakdown.

Among other things, the report calls for the same level of funding for all children in Canada and the elimination of jurisdictional disputes over which level of government should provide or pay for services.

"These disparities will not be resolved by a single action or a one-size-fits-all approach," said Margo Greenwood, a contributor to the report from the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. "A holistic approach that builds upon the attributes and strengths of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples will help build a strong and vibrant Canada."

The report was released to mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child.