Aboriginal peoples and communities

"Aboriginal peoples" is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. The Canadian constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal peoples: Indians (commonly referred to as First Nations), Métis and Inuit. These are three distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. More than 1.4 million people in Canada identify themselves as an Aboriginal person, according to the 2011 National Household Survey.

Aboriginal communities are located in urban, rural and remote locations across Canada. They include:

• First Nations or Indian Bands, located on lands called reserves in most cases
• Inuit communities located in Nunavut, NWT, Northern Quebec (Nunavik) and Labrador
• Métis communities located mainly in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
• Urban communities of Aboriginal people (including Métis, non-status Indians, Inuit and First Nation individuals) in cities or towns which are not part of reserves or traditional territories (for example, the Aboriginal community in Winnipeg).

Date modified:

2015-04-10