Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), provides a literature review and conceptual foundation for developing sustainability indicators for the urban First Nations community in Winnipeg. It examines the historical context of First Nations in Canada, the challenges of data collection, and the application of culturally relevant frameworks, such as the medicine wheel, to measure well-being and guide policy action.

• There is a significant lack of recent, disaggregated statistics for urban First Nations peoples in Canada, as data often groups First Nations with Métis and Inuit populations despite distinct leadership systems and identities.
• Data collection for Indigenous populations is hindered by protocols designed for the general population, changing definitions of identity, and the under-enumeration of people in rooming houses, prisons, and those experiencing homelessness.
• A 'policy void' exists for urban First Nations due to jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial governments; the federal government often claims no responsibility once First Nations leave reserves, while provinces argue they remain a federal responsibility.
• The Indian Act of 1876 was a tool for assimilation that imposed oppressive laws, including the 'pass-system' which made it illegal to leave reserves without permission, and the banning of traditional ceremonies like the Potlatch and Sun Dance.
• The residential school system, which operated from the late 1800s until 1996, forcibly removed over 150,000 Aboriginal children from their homes to assimilate them, causing irrevocable multi-generational harm.
• Culturally relevant indicator frameworks for First Nations often utilize the medicine wheel, a holistic model representing the interconnectedness of the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of human nature.
• First Nations in Canada experience disproportionately high rates of chronic health issues compared to non-First Nation Canadians, including diabetes, heart disease, and fetal alcohol syndrome.
• First Nations reserve communities in Manitoba face severe socio-economic challenges, including the most crowded housing conditions in Canada and a welfare dependency rate of nearly 80 percent.
• Winnipeg is a primary destination for First Nations migrating from reserves in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan, and northwestern Ontario, with personal networks and relationships being the most prevailing factor in the decision to move.
• Urban First Nations in Winnipeg are concentrated in the inner city primarily because low-cost and subsidized housing programs are predominantly located there, rather than due to a lack of dispersion across the city.

APA

Rust, C. (2007). Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/building_knowledge.pdf

Chicago

Rust, Christa. Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/building_knowledge.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rust |first1=Christa |title=Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=October 2007 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/building_knowledge.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rust2007building, author = {Rust, Christa}, title = {{Building Knowledge, Measuring Well-being}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2007}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/building_knowledge.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }