Sean Leslie | Email news tips to Sean
5/15/2012
Aboriginal Relations Minister Mary Polak says officials from her ministry will meet leaders of the Cowichan Tribes First Nation later this week to discuss a rash of suicides and suicide attempts.
Polak says she's deeply concerned after learning of four suicides and 57 attempts since January.
"But we need to remember that along with our deep concern for Cowichan Tribes, there is an overarching problem for first nations that has been there for generations and that is that the rate of suicides in first nations communities is extremely high compared to non first nations communities, that should concern all of us."
The Cowichan tribes have declared a state of emergency.
Polak says her ministry will also reach out to Ottawa to coordinate their efforts.
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