Indigenous people in London experience more discrimination than other minorities, report finds

Indigenous people in London and Middlesex County experience more discrimination than immigrants and visible minorities, according to a report commissioned by London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP), which is associated with the City of London. 

Six out of 10 Indigenous respondents said that they have faced discrimination in the region, which is 20 per cent higher than immigrants and visible minorities, over the course of the last three years. 

All groups experienced negative outcomes as a result of discrimination, including feeling powerless, discouraged and depressed. Indigenous people "tended to experience more negative emotions and psychological distress," according to Dr. Vicki Esses, one of the authors. She's the director of Western University's Network for Economic and Social Trends, the umbrella organization for seven research centres in the Faculty of Social Science. 

According to the report, Indigenous people tended to face discrimination at school, work (or when applying for work) or in public settings like on transit or at parks. 

They felt they were being targeted because of their race and ethnicity. 

Immigrants and visible minorities reported facing discrimination in the same places and for some of the same reasons, except they also sometimes felt they were being targeted due to their accents.

The large percentage of discrimination directed at these groups was by white individuals.  

"I don't think we should have any form of discrimination in our society," says Esses. "I mean, I've been doing research and dedicated my career to this area. So, I would say none of this is acceptable, but we do have to know about it and acknowledge it in order to do something about it."

164 Indigenous people were surveyed for the study as well as 379 immigrants and visible minorities. Researchers grouped together immigrants and visible minorities due to similarities between their experiences in the region. 

The report was commissioned by London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP), associated with the City of London. It's part of the LMLIP's anti-racism and anti-discrimination work to promote a more welcoming community in London-Middlesex, according to the report. 

Report commendations 

The report made recommendations to combat discrimination, which includes encouraging those who experience it to report it, which could be done through an online reporting system.

It also recommended strategies that are targeted at situations and places where discrimination occurs. 

The findings will be reviewed by the City of London's Community and Protective Services Committee on Sept. 21.