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Indigenous Peoples Today

• “Indigenous peoples” is a term to describe the original peoples of North America and their descendants.
• In Canada, “Indigenous” refers to: First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
• In 2016, there were 1,673,780 Indigenous people in Canada, making up 4.9% of the population.
• Since 2006, the Indigenous population in Canada has grown by 42.5% - more than four times the growth rate of the non-Indigenous population.
• About 44% of the Indigenous population is under 25 years old, compared with 28% of the non-Indigenous population.
• Between 2006 and 2016, the number of Indigenous seniors doubled to 121,665.
• Indigenous peoples are diverse:
  • Many languages and cultures
  • Varying socio-economic conditions
  • Many governance structures

Additional information:

The Aboriginal People of Canada, 2016 Census of Population
Words Matter: Indigenous Terminology, August 2018 (Federal Network Access only)

Reconciliation
UNDRIP MMIW TRC Calls To Action Duty to Consult RCAD (?)

Peoples, History & Current Context

First Nations Inuit Métis "First Nations" refers to Status and Non-Status "Indian" peoples and collectively describes all the Indigenous people in Canada who are not Inuit or Métis. First Nations are identified in terms of being status or non-status. First Nations with status are entitled to certain rights and benefits under the Indian Act. To date, non-status First Nations are self-identified and not entitled to the same benefits and rights. There are approximately 3,100 reserves and more than 600 First Nation bands in Canada, which represent more than 50 Nations and 50 Indigenous languages. In 2016, the Registered Indian population was 820,120, or 49% of the total Indigenous population in Canada. There were 232,380 Non-Status First Nations people, comprising 13.9% of the total Indigenous population. In 2016, 70% of First Nations people reported having a high school or post-secondary qualification, an 8.2% increase from 2006 Almost half of all First Nations people live off-reserve. First Nations off-reserve have an unemployment rate of 13% and 22% for First Nations on-reserve. First Nations rate of high school completion is 60%. First Nations people living on reserve have higher Income Assistance dependency rates (34% on-reserve versus 5% for the general Canadian population including First Nations off-reserve). The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy provides services for both status and non-status First Nations. In 2017, the Government of Canada started a permanent bilateral mechanism process with the Assembly of First Nations to help ensure that government priorities are consistent with First Nations priorities. Indigenous people with ancestral ties to Inuit Nunangat. The word “Inuit”means "people" in Inuktitut (Inuit language). Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homelands in Canada) is comprised of four regions: Inuvialuit region (Northwest Territories) Nunavut Nunavik (northern Quebec) Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador) Approximately 65,000 Inuit live in Canada, accounting for 3.8% of the total Indigenous population. About three-quarters of Inuit in Canada live in Inuit Nunangat. Inuit populations are growing in the Atlantic provinces and southern urban centres such as Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton. In 2016, 56% of Inuit reported having a high school or post-secondary qualification, an 7% increase from 2006. The rate of suicide within Inuit Nunangat ranges from 5 to 25 times the rate of suicide for Canada as a whole. 40% of Inuit live in crowded housing compared to 4% of Canadians as a whole. The Indian Act does not apply to Inuit people, and no historic treaties were signed with Inuit. All Inuit territory is subject to active or negotiated land claims. Many contain, or propose, provisions for skills development and training (e.g. training Inuit people for Public Sector jobs in Nunavut is a stipulation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement). The Inuit Nunangat Declaration on Inuit-Crown Partnership (2017) established a bilateral partnership with the Government of Canada. Varying approaches to recognition of identity at local, regional and national levels shape the political landscape for Métis in Canada. The term “Métis Nation” refers to those with clear ties to historic Métis communities, which have a unique history, culture, territory and identity. Recognized Métis communities are located in: the Great Lakes region, northwestern Ontario, the three prairie provinces, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and parts of the northern United States. The term Métis is also used more broadly by some organizations to describe those with mixed First Nations and European ancestry who self-identify as distinct from First Nations, Inuit or non-Indigenous people. Between 2006 and 2016, the Métis had the largest population increase of any of the Indigenous groups, rising 51.2%. In 2016, 82% of Métis people reported having a high school or post-secondary qualification, an 8.2% increase from 2006. The Métis Nation is represented through democratically-elected, province-wide governance structures, and the Métis National Council nationally represents the interests of the Métis Nation. In 2008, the Government of Canada signed the Métis Nation Protocol, which established a bi-lateral relationship for the Government of Canada and the Métis National Council. History of the Crown-Indigenous Relationship The relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples is the longest standing relationship on Canada’s history. This relationship began with the Royal Proclamation of 1763 – which represented the first formal recognition of the need to negotiate with Indigenous peoples on a nation-to-nation basis. Since that initial proclamation, other decisions and events went on to shape the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Crown both positively and negatively. The Royal Proclamation, 1763 recognized prior occupation of land by Indigenous peoples and set out the Crown’s policy approach for the cession of land, including the making of treaties. 1867: The British North America Act, section 91(24) identifies Powers of Parliament to include jurisdiction over “Indians and lands reserved for Indians”. This led to the development of the Indian Act, and the Reserve system which established government control over the lives of First Nations people, restricting freedom of movement and activity. 1870s: The first residential schools open. Indian residential schools served as a primary instrument of assimilation from the 1870s until the late 20th Century. Over 130 residential schools were located across the country. These government-funded, church-run schools were set up to eliminate parental involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of Aboriginal children. During this era, more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were placed in these schools often against their parents' wishes. Many were forbidden to speak their language and practice their own culture. The last school closed in 1996. While there is an estimated 80,000 former students living today, the ongoing impact of residential schools has been felt throughout generations and has contributed to social problems that continue to exist. 1871-75: The first five numbered treaties deal with native lands in northwestern Ontario and what is now southern Manitoba, southern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. 1876: The [Indian Act] is passed, essentially extinguishing any remaining self-government for First Nations and making them wards of the federal government. 1975: The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement is signed. This is the first modern land claim agreement, or modern treaty, in Canada. 1982: Constitution Act, 1982 is enacted. Section 35 of the Act is the reconciliation of the pre-existence of Aboriginal societies with Crown sovereignty and affirms existing Aboriginal and Treaty rights. 1984: The Inuvialuit Final Agreement gave the Inuit of the western Arctic control over resources. 1985: Changes to the Indian Act extend formal Indian status to the Metis, all enfranchised Aboriginal people living off reserve land and Aboriginal women who had previously lost their status by marrying a non-Aboriginal man 1990: The Sparrow case finds that the Crown must consult prior to infringing existing Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The Oka Crisis focuses national attention of Indigenous land claims. 1996: Final report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples is released. 1999: Nunavut is created under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in the western Arctic, with lands set aside where Inuit can live, hunt and control sub-surface resources. 2000: The federal government approves the Nisga’a Treaty, giving the tribe about $196 million over 15 years plus communal self-government and control of natural resources in parts of northwestern British Columbia. 2004: The Haida case creates an obligation to consult, and where appropriate, accommodate, where potential rights are concerned. Subsequent court decisions of Mikisew Cree (2005), Little Salmon (2010), Rio Tinto (2010) and Tsilhqot’in (2014) further refined the Crown’s obligation to consult with Indigenous peoples. 2005: The Kelowna Accord called for spending $5 billion over five years to improve native education, health care and living conditions. The Government changed before the accord could be implemented. 2008: Prime Minister Stephen Harper offers a formal apology on behalf of Canada over residential schools. 2010: Canada signs the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with qualifications. 2015: Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is released. 2016: All Ministerial mandate letters now contain focus on a renewed, nation to nation relationship with Indigenous peoples. 2016: Canada officially adopts United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without qualification.

Key Indigenous Partners
Links to sites Accords PBMs MOUs

Literature, Film and other media / Littérature, films et autres médias

Indigenous Perspectives: Stories from Indigenous Public Servants / Perspectives autochtones : Histoires de fonctionnaires autochtones English - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/indigenous-perspectives-stories.html Français - https://www.canada.ca/fr/emploi-developpement-social/campagne/perspectives-autochtones-histoires.html Cherie Dimaline - The Marrow Thieves The Life And Times of Harry Daniels 108 Indigenous writers to read National Film Board Playlist on Indigenous Voices and Reconciliation Indian Horse (book and film) - #NEXT150 CHALLENGE Unreserved podcast with Rosanna Dearchild on cbc.ca ReconciliAction Resources Library from the University of Saskatchewan 9 Great Podcasts Hosted By Indigenous Women Indigenous Corporate Training Free resources, eBooks and a Blog