INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF CANADA
(Surrey Library, 2020)
First Nations, Metis & Inuit
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Canada formally recognizes three Indigenous groups in Canada, and their rights. They are the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The First Nations of Canada occupy a large amount of territory from the West to East coast and the North, while the Inuit mainly live in the arctic, North and the Métis primarily live in Western, Central and parts of Eastern Canada. The history and cultures of each of them are rich and diverse. The following overviews of each Indigenous group is at a very high level. Within each Indigenous group, there are unique communities, cultures and languages, in which some may have similarities, while others are vastly different. It is always recommended to know the territory you live in, and become familiar with the Indigenous people who live nearby. This will help you in your journey to Indigenous Ways of Knowing.
Please note: Many Indigenous scholars today work vehemently towards re-interpreting and rewriting the context, history and circumstances that are conveyed in past articles, books and media. It is helpful to ensure the sources in your research on Indigenous people are by Indigneous authors, writers and scholars.
First Nations
The First Nations people of Canada comprises over 600 communities and over 60 languages spoken (Stat Canada, 2011). They occupy the provinces across Canada, and include the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. The Term First Nations was introduced and adopted in 1980 by the Assembly of First Nations to reinforce the idea that Aboriginal people were the original inhabitants of Canada (ATA, 2016). Each First Nations group is unique in their history, culture, traditions and way of life.
Many of the First Nation people occupy lands on reserves and can be viewed on the following map:
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First Nation communities across Canada
https://geo.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/cippn-fnpim/index-eng.html
Furthermore, you can use the following tool to see the territories, language and treaties in an area:
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Territories, languages & treaties across Canada
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The Spruce Grove, Edmonton and surrounding communities live in Treaty 6 territory. The Indigenous nations that reside in this area are the following:
Alexander First Nation
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation
Enoch Cree Nation
Paul Band Nation
http://www.paulfirstnation.com/Contact
Michel Band
http://www.michelfirstnation.com
Papaschase First Nation
Metis Settlement
http://albertametis.com/governance/mna-regions/
Sunchild First Nation
http://sunchildfirstnation.com
O’Chiese First Nation
In Alberta, more Indigenous groups can be identified, please see the map below:
(ATA, 2020)
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Resources
Empowering the Spirit
http://empoweringthespirit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Stepping-Stones-Terminology-PD-WT-16a.pdf
University of Alberta - Teaching First Nations, Metis and Inuit Languages
https://guides.library.ualberta.ca/teaching-first-nations-metis-and-inuit-languages/lesson-plans
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Inuit
The Inuit people of Canada reside primarily in the arctic north, in the vast array of lands in Nunavut, NorthWest Territories, northern Quebec and Labrador (ITK, 2020). Please see the map below:
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(ITK, 2020)
Although the weather and environment conditions can be severe, the Inuit have thrived and created self-sufficiency survival practices that have served them for thousands of years. Their unique way of life and culture is driven by their close relationship to the land. To illustrate, the Inuit calendar found below is a great example to display this relationship.
(BC Campus, 2020)
Furthermore, the Inuit people have developed unique customary traditional laws that greatly impact their social structures. These structures guide community members to make positive choices and decisions. Their spiritual beliefs include living in balance, using storytelling, and incorporating animals (and more) . Physical evidence of these beliefs can be found in carvings made of either stone, ivory or bone. Today, this skill has been passed on to current day Inuit artists (ITK, 2020). And, the Inukshuk is a prideful symbol for them and is used predominantly as a landmark and resembles a human being (Inuit Art of Canada, 2020). The Inuit languages are grouped into five main dialects called Inuvialuktun, Inuinnaqtun, and three different dialects of Inuktitut (Stat Canada, 2020), however the pronunciation and dialect may vary from community to community. Similar to the First Nations people and the Metis people, their culture and way of life was impacted by assimilation and colonial practices. However, their resilience and persistence to maintain their culture is shown in their efforts for self-determination and land claims.
In terms of their land, the Inuit people of the North were never included into the Indian Act, or the treaty process. However due to ongoing landbase issues such as ownership and mineral rights they later negotiated with the Federal government in Comprehensive land agreements. This land claim was a tripartite agreement between the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, The NorthWest Territories and the Federal government (USask, 2020). This agreement redefined the lands in the north, and officially created the third territory called Nunavut (USask, 2020). While there are complex details made in the agreement, the land claim officially and federally recognized the Inuit of the North, protects their rights to practice their traditional culture and ways of life.
Additional Resources
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Our Ice is Vanishing | Sikuvut Nunguliqtuq: A History of Inuit, Newcomers, and Climate Change
By Shelley Wright
Nunavut Tunngavik. (2004). Tukisittiarniqsaujumaviit? A plain language guide to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Retrieved from:
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Métis
The Métis people of Canada have a rich history. This nation has its beginnings in the early fur trade, and are an important part of Canadian history. They originate through union of settlers in Canada and First Nation people. They built a distinct way of life that incorporated aspects of both cultures, and became uniquely their own, a phenomena often referred to as ethnogenesis.
Over the last century, the Métis people faced many challenges. As a nation they struggled to be acknowledged for their identity, culture and way of life. Scrip was deceivingly created and designed to extinguish their Métis title for land or money. In some cases entire nations would be involuntary enfranchised, for example the Michel First Nation Band in Alberta. The downfall of the future trade, political tension and oppression towards them encouraged many to migrate west and are now spread vastly across the prairie provinces (Learn Michif, 2020).
The Métis have significant cultural aspects to their way of life. Notably, their own unique culture, the Michif language, Métis Sash, Red River Métis Cart, Red River Jig and the Métis Fiddle (Métis Nation of Alberta, 2020). Kitchen parties with music and dancing have long been an essential way for the Metis to gather. The Michif language is a combination of French and Cree, and sometimes other Indigenous languages, spoken primarily by the Métis people.
The Métis people are resilient are continue to live their way of life, culture and traditions. To identity as Métis, members must first self-identify, have a proven link to the historic Métis nation, and be accepted by the Métis Nation.
To learn and watch more about the Métis people, please see the following resources.
Métis, who are they?
By APTN InFocus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=747Diz1LmgA
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Additional Resources
http://indigenousfoundations.web.arts.ubc.ca/terminology/
Inuit Laws: Tirigusuusiit, Piqujair, and Maligait
By Frederic Laugrand, Jarich Oosten & Wilem Rasing
Video’s
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
https://www.itk.ca/Taimannganit/
People of the Ice
https://www.nfb.ca/film/people_of_the_ice/
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Terminmology
The history of the relationship of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada has been complex and very challenging at times. Unfortunately, Indigenous people have experienced decades and centuries of colonization and assimilation practices that have been oppressing, and creating dire physical, mental, emotional and spiritual circumstances for each of them. Oftentimes, negative and arbitrary terms have been used to describe them (by non-Indigenous people).
For some further clarification please see the following web link by the Indigenous Arts Foundation by UBC.
http://indigenousfoundations.web.arts.ubc.ca/terminology/
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