I did see in a news report recently that said more First Nations are getting their PhD's than ever before which has to be good news at least in the long term for aboriginal communities.
The best way for First Nations to solve their problems is to get themselves educated, no matter what it takes, as your education is one thing no one can take away from you once you have obtained it.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/record-number-of-ab...