Crees are more healthy than other Native people across Canada, but they are still lagging behind non-Natives, according to a new study by the Cree Health and Social Services Board.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Crees aged 15 to 24. Between 1987 and 1992, nine Crees in that age group took their lives, giving Crees a suicide rate 25 per cent higher than Quebec’s.
The study also found that Cree babies are almost twice as likely to be stillborn or die in their first year of life as other Canadian babies.
The average Cree male has a life expectancy of 71.3 years and the women, 77.1 years. The Canadian rates are 74 years for men and 80.6 for women. Other Natives have much lower rates -66.5 years for men and 73 for women.