Youth, it seems, are somewhat wary of government-designed solutions, even those of Aboriginal governments. In the past, programs designed to assist them have been scattered and often misdirected. They feel their concerns are not taken seriously by their leaders and their communities. When they speak out, their voices go unheard. Feeling marginalized, excluded or devalued, some have lost faith in their communities.
Aboriginal governments have to become more accountable to their communities and to youth.
Through hundreds of hours of testimony and thousands of pages of presentations to the Commission, it became clear that the priorities of youth are healing, education, employment, culture and identity, and recognition of and involvement in the institutions that affect their lives. Their numbers in the population of today and their role in shaping and leading their communities and nations tomorrow make it essential for governments Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike to listen to their concerns and act on their priorities. The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples represents the most concise and comprehensive distallation of North American Indigenous issues ever published . The Institute of Indigenous Government makes this material freely available as a primary learner resource. The Institute acknowledges the financial assistance of the Department of Indian Affairs in the development of this project.