27 births per 1,000 people in the population compared to 13 for Canada as a whole. Infant mortality rates fell from 28 to 11 per 1,000 live births between 1979 and 1993. The national rate fell from 11 to 6 in the same period. Aboriginal people are more likely than other Canadians to have hearing, sight and speech disabilities.
Mobility impairment occurs at the same rate for both populations.
Incarceration rates of Aboriginal people are 5-6 times higher than the national average. In 1996-97, there were 112,060 students enrolled in kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools. In 1995-96, there were 3,929 graduates. Most Aboriginal people are at or below the poverty line. In major western cities, four times as many Aboriginal people as other citizens are below the poverty line.