Consideration should also be given to what exactly caused the conditions the families found themselves living in.  Perhaps it had something to do with conditions that were imposed on them by the Indian Act and other conditions enforced by provincial  governments.  In Alberta the Lubiicon Cree were a self-sufficient community until their unceded traditional land was turned into an oil company cash cow. Then it was goodbye self-sufficiency and hello poverty and welfare, while billions in profits filled the bank accounts of  other people.  There's a scam for you and it's still going full steam ahead.