Going from reserve to recruit a culture shock for some aboriginals: report

The move from small and isolated communities to larger urban centres can be quite jarring for aboriginals who join the Canadian Armed Forces, says a newly released document. Being so far away from their families brought some aboriginal recruits to tears, says an internal study, while others got sick on the kinds of food served in mess halls. The culture shock of going from reserve to recruit is one of the biggest challenges the military must contend with as it competes with other employers to hire aboriginals, one of the fastest-growing segments of Canada’s workforce.

They reported having had negative perceptions of the city, the main reasons being that they felt lost…

report on the study by Defence Research and Development Canada

Aboriginals were surveyed about how they adjusted to urban life after they joined the military. The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the findings, published this past June, under the Access to Information Act. Some found it overwhelming to manage their schedules and pay their bills. Others complained about the rigour of military life, or switching from diets consisting of fresh caribou and char to standard mess-hall fare; feeling as though they had lost touch with their culture was another concern to many of the people surveyed.

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