First Peoples Lost: Determining the State of Status First Nations Mortality in Canada Using Administrative Data

This study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of mortality among Status First Nations populations in Canada using administrative data from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. The authors document substantial disparities in mortality rates across age groups, genders, regions, and residential status. Mortality rates among Status First Nations youth are significantly higher than those of the general Canadian population, particularly among adolescents living on reserve. The study also finds little improvement in mortality outcomes for Status First Nations women and girls on reserve over the previous three decades and limited progress in narrowing mortality gaps overall. The findings highlight persistent health inequities affecting Indigenous communities and underscore the need for targeted public health and social policy interventions.