Musqueam, by the numbers

ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY
Globe and Mail Update
June 20, 2008 at 11:13 PM EDT

Some statistics paint a telling portrait of life among the Musqueam:

Housing

According to Statistics Canada's 2006 profile, 165 of the Musqueam band's 200 dwellings need repair; of these, 85 need “major repairs.” As well, 7.5 per cent of homes have more than one person per room.

Councillor Jordan Point says the band has a 200-person waiting list for housing, and resident Martin Sparrow says some households have waited years for repairs.

In 2007, the band received $10,235 from Indian and Northern Affairs and $131,584 from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for housing. That year it also received $970,417 for community infrastructure from Indian and Northern Affairs. In 2007, the band spent $760,995 on social-housing programs.

Education

According to Statscan, 42.7 per cent of the band's adult population hasn't graduated from high school or received any other certificate or degree; two-thirds of the population between 15 and 24 have no certificate, diploma or degree. In 2007, the band received $1,274,787 toward education from Indian and Northern Affairs. That year it spent a total of $1,287,325 on education programs, including $911,683 on elementary, secondary and postsecondary education.

Employment and welfare

Less than half the reserve's adult population – 38.2 per cent – is employed, compared to the British Columbia aboriginal population's average of 55.3 per cent. Of the 170 adults who are employed, 90 work on the reserve; 95 of those work full-time, year round. In 2005, the 405 adults who received income had a median income of $10,678; 17.9 per cent of which came from government transfers. In 2007, the band received $844,953 from Indian and Northern Affairs for income and social assistance, and $329,740 for social support services. That year it spent $693,160 on employment and training programs and $1,766,881 on social development programs, including $1,014,987 on social assistance.

Health

Health Canada gave the band $463,703 in 2007, of which $116,648 was earmarked for health promotion and injury/illness prevention. The band spent $490,246 on health programs that year, including $221,729 on home care.