Death styles among Canada's Indians.

Data are examined from a prospective study of Native mortality on 35 reserves and colonies in the province of Alberta, Canada. Native Indian deaths tend to occur at a younger age than others, to be multiple events and to occur in non-hospital settings with others present. In almost half the cases death resulted from accident, suicide or homicide. Though circumstances of weather and physical isolation, as well as human negligence and carelessness resulted in some deaths, the majority of violent deaths were associated with the heavy use of alcohol.