NATIVE CRIME IN CANADA IS A MANIFESTATION OF GREATER PROBLEMS FIRMLY ROOTED IN HISTORY. A STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF REGISTERED CANADIAN INDIANS SHOWS/THAT THERE IS A MASS EMIGRATION FROM THE RESERVATIONS INTO THE LARGER CITIES. MORTALITY RATES FOR NUTRITIONAL, METABOLIC DISEASES ARE TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. DEATH FROM INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC DISEASES IS 6 TIMES GREATER, FROM HOMICIDE 10 TIMES GREATER, FROM SUICIDE 3 TIMES GREATER. THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR WHITES IS NEARLY 2 TIMES THAT FOR INDIANS. UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH AND AVERAGE YEARLY INCOMES ARE WELL BELOW POVERTY LEVELS. MOST INDIANS LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING AND HAVE LITTLE ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL EDUCATION. THESE CONDITIONS ARE FELT TO BE IN A LARGE WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR NATIVE INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. NATIVE INDIANS MAKE UP ONLY 4 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION BUT OVER 9 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN JAILS. THE TYPE OF OFFENSES DIFFER ONLY SLIGHTLY FROM THE NONNATIVE PRISONERS. SIXTY-THREE PERCENT OF THE NATIVE INMATES ARE VIOLENT OFFENDERS. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INDIAN MISTREATMENT REVEALS INVOLVEMENT OF BOTH CHURCH AND STATE. THE ATTEMPT BY THESE INSTITUTIONS TO FORCE THE INDIAN TO ASSIMILATE THE DOMINANT VALUES FAILED, LEAVING INDIAN LIFE ON THE RESERVATIONS AND IN THE CITIES TODAY POOR AND DEGRADING. THERE IS A MOVEMENT AMONG CANADIAN AGENCIES TODAY TO PROVIDE MORE SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE NATIVE INDIANS, BUT IT WILL BE SEVERAL GENERATIONS BEFORE NATIVE SOCIETY CAN BE REVITALIZED. A REFERENCE LIST IS INCLUDED. (JMB)