# data[].attributes.body
Statistics on the employment rates of Aboriginal people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
View the most recent version.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]11-402-x[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Even before the 2008-2009 recession, Aboriginal people-North American Indian (or First Nations people), Métis and Inuit-had a harder time finding work and faced higher unemployment than non-Aboriginal people. The gap widened following the downturn, as Aboriginal people aged 15 and older (excluding those living on reserves or in the territories) experienced sharper declines in employment rates than non-Aboriginal people did.

In 2009, the average employment rate for Aboriginal people was 57.0%, compared with 61.8% for non-Aboriginal people. The gap in employment widened to 4.8 percentage points from 3.5 percentage points in 2008.

At the same time, the unemployment rate rose sharply for Aboriginal people, rising from 10.4% in 2008 to 13.9%. The rate for non-Aboriginal people rose from 6.0% to 8.1%.

Among Aboriginal people, the top employer of core-age workers (aged 25 to 54) in 2009 was the health and social assistance industry, followed by trade, construction and manufacturing. For non-Aboriginal people, trade was the top employer for core-age workers, followed by manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and professional, scientific and technical services.

In 2009, nearly 15% of employed core-age Aboriginal people worked in the health care and social assistance industry. Aboriginal employment in this industry increased by 12% or 4,000 jobs from 2008, outstripping the 2% increase in this industry among non-Aboriginal people.

Larger job losses among Aboriginal people

Canada's manufacturing industry posted the largest employment losses during 2009. Among non-Aboriginal manufacturing workers in the core-age group, employment declined by 8% or 14,000 jobs, with the bulk of the jobs lost in Ontario. At the same time, manufacturing employment among their Aboriginal counterparts fell by 30% or 7,000 jobs, with jobs mostly lost in the Western provinces.

In the construction industry, Aboriginal employment fell by 16% or 4,000 jobs, while it decreased by 5% or 45,000 jobs among non-Aboriginal workers.

Young workers hit by labour downturn

The labour market downturn had an especially large impact on young people (aged 15 to 24). From 2008 to 2009, the employment rate for Aboriginal youth (excluding those on reserves) fell by 6.8 percentage points, compared with a decline of 4.2 percentage points among non-Aboriginal youth. Both decreases were much larger than the employment losses experienced by core-age workers over this period.

In 2009, the employment rate was 45.1% for Aboriginal youth, whereas it was 55.6% for their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

While the period was a turbulent one in the labour market for youth and core-age adults, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people aged 55 and older were finding jobs, and so their employment rate increased slightly.

Core-age Aboriginal people in British Columbia and Alberta, two of the provinces hardest hit by the downturn, experienced more pronounced changes in their employment and unemployment rates than did their counterparts in other provinces.

In Alberta, the employment rate among core-age Aboriginal people fell from 75.1% in 2008 to 69.5% in 2009, more than double the drop seen among non-Aboriginal people. In British Columbia, the core-age employment rate among Aboriginal people fell to 65.1%, a drop of 5.6 percentage points and the lowest rate for Aboriginal people among all the provinces.

Education matters in the labour market

Educational attainment also played a role both before and during the downturn. Aboriginal people who had completed postsecondary education were not as affected: their employment rate declined to 79.4%, down 1.8 percentage points from 2008 to 2009. The employment rate for Aboriginal people with less than a high school diploma fell by 5.5 percentage points to 47.7%. Those with a high school diploma and some postsecondary education fared better, as their employment rate declined by 3.3 percentage points to 66.3%.

The employment rate among non-Aboriginal people with a completed postsecondary education was higher than that of their Aboriginal counterparts, but the decline in their employment rate was comparable at 1.5 percentage points.

View data source for chart 1.1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
View the most recent version. [an error occurred while processing this directive]11-402-x[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] Even before the 2008-2009 recession, Aboriginal people-North American Indian (or First Nations people), Métis and Inuit-had a harder time finding work and faced higher unemployment than non-Aboriginal people.

# data[].attributes.body
Effect of COVID-19 on the unemployment rates of Indigenous people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A new report from Statistics Canada shows unemployed Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting job losses from businesses being forced to close.

Figures from December 2019 to February 2020 show the Indigenous unemployment rate at 10 per cent while it was just 5.5 per cent for non-Indigenous people.

That jumped more than six percentage points for both groups between February and May.

Indigenous unemployment shot up to 16.6 per cent while non-Indigenous sat at 11.7 per cent.

When businesses started to reopen across the country, unemployment fell for non-Indigenous groups between May and August to 11.2 per cent but rose for Indigenous people to 16.8 per cent.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations ( FSIN) feels as if Ottawa ignored their concerns, especially a $9-billion funding request at the start of the pandemic only offering a fraction of that.

"When they were announcing COVID-19 relief funds for reopening the economy and things like that, we First Nations were at the bottom of the barrel," Chief Bobby Cameron told Global News, adding he thought the federal government failed First Nations.

Kelly Foley, a University of Saskatchewan economics professor, said disadvantaged people in the labour market disproportionately suffer in this kind of economic climate.

"I do believe they come from a lot of the same structural barriers that were preventing Indigenous people from finding employment even before the pandemic occurred," Foley said.

She added those hurdles include education levels, living in remote parts of the country and discrimination.

Cameron said all stakeholders, including the government, business community and Indigenous leaders, need to be involved in order to address the higher unemployment rates.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Unemployed Indigenous workers disproportionately suffering from COVID-19 economy compared to non-Indigenous | Globalnews.ca

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new report from Statistics Canada shows unemployed Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting job losses from businesses being forced to close. Figures from December 2019 to February 2020 show the Indigenous unemployment rate at 10 per cent while it was just 5.5 per cent for non-Indigenous people.

# data[].attributes.body
Statistic graph of unemployment of Indigenous peoples from 2007 to 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.

StatCan. (January 10, 2020). Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/

StatCan. "Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019." Chart. January 10, 2020. Statista. Accessed March 31, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/

StatCan. (2020). Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 31, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/

StatCan. "Unemployment Rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 10 Jan 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/

StatCan, Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/ (last visited March 31, 2021)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aboriginal unemployment rate in Canada 2019 | Statista

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about how Statista can support your business. StatCan. (January 10, 2020). Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1167887/aboriginal-unemployment-rate-canada/ StatCan. "Unemployment rate of Aboriginals in Canada from 2007 to 2019." Chart. January 10, 2020. Statista. Accessed March 31, 2021.

# data[].attributes.body
Overcrowding and social conditions of Aboriginal peoples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Funding for Social Services

Historically, the federal government has been responsible and provided funding for nearly all the social programs and services provided to Indigenous peoples in Canada. First Nations peoples registered with Indian status receive federal funds for social programs on reserves through the . The funding is directed to First Nations band administrations. In the past, discriminatory sections in the Indian Act have prohibited some people, particularly women who married non-status men, from accessing social services. ( See also Women and the Indian Act.) Inuit, Métis and non-status First Nations peoples receive funding through the department of Indigenous Services Canada, created in 2017.

National, provincial and territorial Indigenous representative organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami often have mandates that include the improvement of social conditions and represent or advocate for the interests of their members. Many of these organizations receive funding from the federal government. Friendship Centres (non-governmental agencies) also provide various programs and services to urban Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Populations in Canada

In 2016, 1,673,785 people reported an Indigenous identity, making up 4.9 per cent of the Canadian population. Additionally, 977,230 people reported being First Nations (including status and non-status people), 587,545 reported being Métis, and 65,025 reported being Inuit. Since 2006, the Indigenous population has grown by 42.5 per cent. This represents a growth rate four times that of the non-Indigenous population.

The Indigenous population of Canada continues to be predominately urban. According to the 2016 census, 867,415 Indigenous people lived in a city of more than 30,000 people, accounting for over half of the total Indigenous population. During this same period, metropolitan areas with the largest Indigenous populations were Winnipeg (92,810), Edmonton (76,205), Vancouver (61,460) and Toronto (46,315).

Income Levels and Education

Former minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Ida Chong with students of LÁU,WELNEW Tribal School in their home-economics classroom (23 November 2012).

In 2019, the rate of employment for Indigenous peoples in Canada (57.5 per cent) was lower than the non-Indigenous population (62.1 per cent). The rate for First Nations people (over 15 years old) was 53.8 per cent, 61.3 per cent for the Métis and 49.0 per cent for the Inuit. ( See also Economic Conditions of Indigenous People).

In comparison to non-Indigenous peoples, Indigenous peoples' income tends to be below the Canadian average. In 2016, the median after-tax income for non-Indigenous people was $31,144. For those who identified as First Nations, it was $21,253, for Métis, $29,068, and Inuit, $23,635.

In 2016, 68.3 per cent of the Indigenous population aged 25 to 64 had a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, compared to 70.4 per cent of the non-Indigenous population. Contemporary research has found that educational attainment rates and income are directly related. Indigenous educational programs are crucial to closing the income gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous wage earners. ( See also Education of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.)

Housing and Living Conditions

Modern cabin and tent (28 April 1997).

In 2016, one in five Indigenous people (19.4 per cent) lived in a dwelling that required major repairs, compared to 6 per cent of the non-Indigenous population. Mould, bug infestations, inadequate heating and contaminated water ( see also Grassy Narrows) are just some of the issues that plague First Nations peoples living on reserves.

Overcrowding is another issue affecting Indigenous living conditions. In 2016, 18.3 per cent of Indigenous people lived in overcrowded housing, compared to 8.5 per cent of the non-Indigenous population. In the same year, 40.6 per cent of Inuit and 8.6 per cent of Métis lived in housing that was crowded. The number of First Nations people living in a crowded dwelling on reserve (36.8 per cent) was higher than First Nations people living elsewhere in Canada (18.5 per cent).

Health of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous woman [on left is Doris Tait] bandaging the arm of another woman in the Community Health Workers Training Program, Coqualeetza, British Columbia.

© Government of Canada. Reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada (2020). | (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/Department of Health fonds including the former Department of National Health and Welfare fonds/e010969197)

The overall health of Indigenous people has improved in recent years; however, it continues to lag behind the overall population. For example, life expectancy can be 10-15 years shorter for Indigenous peoples and infant mortality rates can be two to four times higher. The tuberculosis rate for Inuit is over 290 times higher than non-Indigenous people.

Suicide rates among First Nations youth are around 5 to 6 times the national average, while Inuit youth rates are approximately 10 times the national average. The causes for high rates of suicide are multiple and may include depression due to social, cultural or generational dislocation; drug and substance abuse; or lack of housing, food and access to opportunity. ( See also Suicide among Indigenous Peoples in Canada).

Increased urbanization of the Indigenous population has resulted in a greater incidence of diseases characteristic of modern society, such as cardiovascular disease, cancers and type-II diabetes. Rates of HIV/ AIDS have increased. In 2016, there were 245 new HIV infections among Indigenous peoples, compared to 217 in 2014.

Proper access to health care is a concern in Indigenous communities. The case of Jordan River Anderson - a five-year-old Cree boy who died in hospital waiting for at-home treatment - demonstrates this point. ( See also Jordan's Principle.)

Food Insecurity

Inuit sharing frozen aged walrus meat (1 April 1999).

Indigenous households are more likely than non-Indigenous households to experience food insecurity. In 2019, 48 per cent of First Nations households did not have enough income to cover their food expenses. In comparison, the food insecurity rate for the country was 8.4 per cent.

People living in remote and northern communities have a more difficult time accessing and affording food. In Nunavut, for example, 46 per cent of households were affected by food insecurity in 2016. Access to certain foods such as fruit, vegetables and milk is more difficult because they must be transported long distances. The resulting high costs, limited availability and lower quality of the food contributes to food insecurity.

In some communities, the harvesting of traditional foods, such as seal, caribou, duck, whale and fish, helps to offset some of the issues accessing food. However, many communities continue to call on governments for increased support. ( See also Country Food (Inuit Food) in Canada.)

Criminal Justice System

Indigenous people are over-represented in the criminal justice system as offenders and inmates, and under-represented as officials, officers, court workers or lawyers. Rates of incarceration among the Indigenous population continue to increase. In 2016-17, Indigenous adults accounted for 27 per cent of admissions to federal correctional services, compared to 23.2 per cent in 2013. Over-represented in federal corrections facilities, Indigenous peoples make up 20 per cent of the total imprisoned population even though they only comprise 4.9 per cent of the Canadian population. Indigenous youth are also overrepresented in the correctional system. They account for 46 per cent of admissions in 2016-17, while representing 8 per cent of the Canadian youth population.

Several social factors have contributed to the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system. A history comprised of dislocation from traditional communities, disadvantage, discrimination, forced assimilation including the effects of the residential school system, poverty, issues of substance abuse and victimization, and loss of cultural and spiritual identity are all contributing factors. ( See also PTSD: Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma.)

In a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision, the Gladue case in 1999 advised that lower courts should consider an Indigenous offender's background and make sentencing decisions accordingly, based on section 718.2 (e) of the Criminal Code. To date, many Indigenous-directed alternatives to incarceration in correctional facilities are being developed, including healing and sentencing circles. However, there are still many questions surrounding the unfair and inhumane treatment of Indigenous peoples in modern jails.

Because existing police forces are not always aware of the cultural differences and needs of Indigenous communities, Indigenous people began to develop their own police forces in the 1970s and 1980s. Indigenous police recruitment programs helped the RCMP and other police forces to add Indigenous constables to their staffs. In 1991, the federal government introduced the First Nations Policing Policy to meet the needs of Indigenous communities. While 62 per cent of officers in First Nations police services identified as Indigenous in 2018, Indigenous officers still only represent 4 per cent of police officers in Canada.

Indigenous Children and Families

In 2016, 60.1 per cent of Indigenous children under the age of four lived in a two-parent household and 34 per cent lived in a one-parent household. Comparatively, 86.2 per cent of non-Indigenous children lived in a two-parent household and 13 per cent lived with one parent.

Indigenous children are more likely to live in homes with grandparents. Among the Indigenous population in 2016, 21 per cent of First Nations, 11 per cent of Métis and 23 per cent of Inuit children under the age of four lived with at least one grandparent. Among the non-Indigenous population, 10 per cent of children aged four and under lived with at least one grandparent.

Since the 1960s, a large number of Indigenous children have been placed in care by social agencies. ( See also Sixties Scoop.) In 2016, Indigenous children made up nearly half of all children in foster care in Canada, even though they only made up 7 per cent of children in the country.

Improving Social Conditions

Progress with respect to social conditions is being achieved. However, the gaps that persist between the social and economic conditions of Indigenous people in Canada and those of the general Canadian population continue to pose challenges. Areas of particular social concern include housing, employment, education, health, justice and family and cultural growth. Many communities are implementing community-based strategies stressing the importance of history and culture; governance, culture and spirituality; unique qualities and values; the link between self-government and economic development; and the role and importance of traditional economies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social Conditions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Historically, the federal government has been responsible and provided funding for nearly all the social programs and services provided to Indigenous peoples in Canada. First Nations peoples registered with Indian status receive federal funds for social programs on reserves through the . The funding is directed to First Nations band administrations.

# data[].attributes.body
Statistics of the housing conditions of Indigenous peoples

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Introduction

Housing is an issue of particular significance for the Aboriginal population in Canada. Many Aboriginal communities are located in northern and remote communities, where winter conditions are harsher and building supplies are more difficult to access and more expensive. Furthermore, the growth of the Aboriginal population-as highlighted in the infographic The Aboriginal population in Canada-has outpaced the rest of Canada. As a result, the housing conditions of Aboriginal peoples affect an increasingly large share of the population.

This article uses new data from the 2016 Census of Population to analyze the housing conditions of the Aboriginal population in Canada.

One in five Aboriginal people live in a dwelling that is in need of major repairs

Of the 1,673,785 people who reported an Aboriginal identity on the 2016 Census of Population, 324,900 lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs.

This group accounted for one‑fifth (19.4%) of the total Aboriginal population in Canada. In comparison, 6.0% of the non‑Aboriginal population reported living in a dwelling in need of major repairs.

One‑quarter (26.2%) of Inuit, 24.2% of First Nations people and 11.3% of Métis lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs in 2016. These proportions are down from 2011 by 3.6 percentage points for Inuit, 2.0 percentage points for First Nations people and 1.9 percentage points for Métis. Table 1 shows the percentage of First Nations people with and without registered or treaty Indian status, Métis and Inuit by condition of dwelling in 2016.

Aboriginal identity

Total - Condition of dwelling

Regular maintenance only

Minor repairs needed

Major repairs needed

percent

The proportion of Inuit living in a dwelling that needs major repairs is highest in Nunavut

The majority (72.8%) of the Inuit population lived in Inuit Nunangat in 2016. The proportion who lived in Inuit Nunangat were significantly more likely to live in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs than those who lived outside Inuit Nunangat (31.5% versus 12.2%).

The proportion of Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat who lived in a dwelling that needed major repairs declined by 4.1 percentage points from 2011 to 2016. This decline brought the proportion back to the level it had been in 2006.

Within Inuit Nunangat, the proportion living in a dwelling in need of major repairs was highest in Nunavut (34.3%), followed by Nunatsiavut (32.6%), the Inuvialuit region (31.8%) and Nunavik (23.9%).

The on‑reserve population is more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs

Of the 977,230 First Nations people who lived in Canada in 2016, about one‑quarter (24.2%) lived in a dwelling in need of major repairs.

First Nations people with registered Indian status were more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs than those without registered Indian status (27.4% versus 13.6%).

Among the 744,855 First Nations people with registered or treaty Indian status, 44.2% lived on reserve while 55.8% lived off reserve. There was a pronounced difference in the dwelling conditions of those who lived on reserve and those who did not. The proportion of First Nations people with registered or treaty Indian status who lived in a dwelling that needed major repairs was more than three times higher on reserve (44.2%) than off reserve (14.2%).

While the proportion of First Nations people who lived in a dwelling that needed major repairs was lower in 2016 than in 2011, among those living on reserve the proportion went up. The proportion of First Nations people with registered or treaty Indian status living on reserve who lived in a dwelling that needed major repairs rose by 0.8 percentage points. Five years earlier, in 2006, the proportion was roughly the same as the 2016 level.

Métis living in metropolitan areas are less likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs

One‑tenth (11.3%) of the Métis population lived in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs in 2016.

More than six in ten (62.6%) Métis lived in a metropolitan area of at least 30,000 people. Within these areas, the proportion of Métis who lived in a dwelling that needed major repairs was 9.7%. This was lower than the proportion who did not live in a metropolitan area of this size (13.9%).

In the western provinces, where the majority (59.7%) of the Métis population lived, the proportion of Métis living in a dwelling in need of major repairs was 10.8%.

The proportion of Métis who lived in housing in need of major repairs was 11.8% in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario.

Métis were most likely to live in housing that was in need of major repairs if they lived in the territories (18.7%).

One in ten Aboriginal people live in housing with a one‑bedroom shortfall

In 2016, close to one‑fifth (18.3%) of the Aboriginal population lived in housing that was considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there, according to the National Occupancy Standard.Note 1 Housing suitability, a measure of crowding, refers to whether the dwelling has enough bedrooms for the size and composition of the household; households that are not in suitable housing are considered to be crowded.

Crowded housing is categorized into dwellings that have a one‑bedroom shortfall, a two‑bedroom shortfall or a shortfall of three or more bedrooms. Therefore a house with a one‑bedroom shortfall would require a single extra bedroom in order to adequately house the number of people who live there.

Just over one in ten (11.5%) Aboriginal people lived in housing with a one‑bedroom shortfall; 4.0% lived in housing with a two‑bedroom shortfall; and 2.8% lived in a dwelling with a shortfall of three or more bedrooms. While a lower proportion of the non‑Aboriginal population lived in housing that was crowded (8.5%), the distribution of the types of shortfalls was similar.

Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat are more likely to live in crowded housing

Two‑fifths (40.6%) of the Inuit population lived in crowded housing in 2016. While more than one‑fifth (22.2%) of Inuit lived in housing with a one‑bedroom shortfall, 11.1% had a shortfall of two bedrooms and 7.4% had a shortfall of three bedrooms or more.

The proportion of Inuit living in crowded housing declined by 2.0 percentage points from 2011 to 2016.

In 2016, Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat were more likely to live in crowded housing than those who lived elsewhere in Canada. Within Inuit Nunangat, half (51.7%) of the Inuit population lived in crowded housing. This was similar to the proportion in 2011 (51.6%). The proportion was 10.9% for Inuit living outside of Inuit Nunangat.

One‑fifth (20.6%) of Inuit living in Nunatsiavut and 28.6% of those living in the Inuvialuit region lived in crowded housing in 2016, while the highest levels of Inuit living in crowded housing were in Nunavik (52.0%) and Nunavut (56.4%).

Data table for Chart 1

Aboriginal identity

First Nations

Métis

Inuit

percent

One‑bedroom shortfall

13.9

6.8

22.2

Two‑bedroom shortfall

5.2

1.4

11.1

Three‑or‑more‑bedroom shortfall

4.0

0.4

7.4

One‑quarter of First Nations people live in crowded housing

One‑quarter (23.1%) of First Nations people lived in crowded housing in 2016. This figure was 2.5 percentage points lower than in 2011.

A higher proportion of First Nations people with registered Indian status than First Nations people without registered Indian status lived in crowded housing (26.6% versus 11.9%).

The proportion of First Nations people with registered or treaty Indian status living in a crowded dwelling was higher on reserve (36.8%) than off reserve (18.5%). On reserve, the proportion living in crowded housing was virtually unchanged from 2011 to 2016. Off reserve, the proportion went down by 3.5 percentage points from 2011 to 2016.

Métis in metropolitan areas are more likely to live in crowded housing

About one in ten (8.6%) Métis lived in housing that was crowded.

While Métis living in a rural area were the most likely to live in a dwelling that was in need of major repairs, those who lived in metropolitan areas of 30,000 or more people were most likely to be in housing that was crowded. In these metropolitan areas, 8.7% of Métis lived in crowded housing compared with 8.3% of those who did not live in such areas.

The lowest proportion of Métis living in crowded housing was in Quebec (4.8%). In the Atlantic provinces, 6.2% lived in crowded housing; while, in Ontario, this figure was 7.4%. In the western provinces, 9.9% of the Métis population lived in crowded housing, as did 11.4% of Métis in the territories.

Data sources
Methods
Definitions

Additional information

Additional analysis on Aboriginal peoples can be found in The Daily of October 25, 2017, and in the Census in Brief articles entitled Diverse family characteristics of Aboriginal children aged 0 to 4, catalogue no. 98‑200‑X2016020 and The Aboriginal languages of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, catalogue no. 98‑200‑X2016022.

Additional information on the Aboriginal population can be found in the Highlight tables, Catalogue no. 98‑402‑X2016009; the Data tables, Catalogue nos. 98‑400‑X2016154 to 98‑400‑X2016180; the Census Profile, Catalogue no. 98‑316‑X2016001; and the Focus on Geography Series, Catalogue no. 98‑404‑X2016001.

An infographic entitled The Aboriginal population in Canada illustrates the demographic growth of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations, and touches on Aboriginal languages in Canada.

For details on the concepts, definitions and variables used in the 2016 Census of Population, please consult the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98‑301‑X.

In addition to response rates and other data‑quality information, the Guide to the Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98‑304‑X, provides an overview of the various phases of the census, including content determination, sampling design, collection, data processing, data quality assessment, confidentiality guidelines and dissemination.

Acknowledgments

This report was prepared by Thomas Anderson of Statistics Canada's Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, with the assistance of other staff members in that division, and the collaboration of staff members of the Census Subject Matter Secretariat, Census Operations Division, and Communications and Dissemination Branch.

Notes

Footnote 1.

The National Occupancy Standard (NOS) was developed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) through consultations with provincial housing agencies.
Return to note 1 referrer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Census in Brief: The housing conditions of Aboriginal people in Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Housing is an issue of particular significance for the Aboriginal population in Canada. Many Aboriginal communities are located in northern and remote communities, where winter conditions are harsher and building supplies are more difficult to access and more expensive. Furthermore, the growth of the Aboriginal population-as highlighted in the infographic The Aboriginal population in Canada -has outpaced the rest of Canada.

# data[].attributes.body
Report on the housing of Indigenous people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A United Nations report is highlighting the role "abhorrent" housing conditions play in the poverty and exploitation that Indigenous people face in Canada and around the world.

The report, presented to the UN General Assembly on Friday, examines the lack of access to secure housing both in cities and on reserves and its effect on the rights of Indigenous people in countries including Canada, Australia and Tanzania.

"The Special Rapporteur finds that housing conditions for Indigenous peoples around the world are overwhelmingly abhorrent and too often violate the right to adequate housing," the report reads.

"(Indigenous people) are more likely to suffer inadequate housing and negative health outcomes as a result, they have disproportionately high rates of homelessness and they are extremely vulnerable to forced evictions, land-grabbing and the effects of climate change."

Leilani Farha, the UN special rapporteur on adequate housing, noted that housing shortages are severe enough in Canada's North that some people in Indigenous communities are forced to sleep in shifts.

"There's 15 people living in a home that's the size of a trailer, so of course they have to sleep in shifts when there's only so much room," she said.

The report also highlights poor water systems on many Canadian reserves.

"In a country with more fresh water than anywhere else in the world, 75 per cent of the reserves in Canada have contaminated water, with communities such as Attawapiskat declaring a state of emergency," it reads.

The report also says Indigenous people in Canada and around the world who live in urban areas deal with racism from landlords, presenting another hurdle to accessing housing.

The report linked a lack of housing as a factor that exacerbates Canada's ongoing problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

"Lacking secure, adequate housing, Indigenous women often become the targets of further violence because of their gender and their Indigenous identity," it says.

Farha said one of the main goals of the report was to link the UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (DRIP) to the UN's legislation on the right to adequate housing.

"The right to housing under international human rights law is something that is legally binding on governments in Canada," said Farha. "That's really important because the UN's DRIP isn't a legal instrument in the way that the treaty for the right to housing is."

She said she hopes making that connection will put more pressure on the Canadian government to act on issues that predominantly affect Aboriginal people.

Farha said Indigenous people -- and particularly Indigenous women -- should be involved in the development of strategies to tackle housing shortages.

"I think governments around the world need to completely alter their relationship with Indigenous peoples and really recognize their self-determination and admit that there are ongoing wrongs that needs to be addressed," she said.

view larger image

An abandoned house is shown on the Pikangikum First Nation, Friday, January 5, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

United Nations human rights experts Leilani Farha (left) and Catarina de Albuquerque listen to questions during a news conference in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Paul Sancya

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UN report highlights 'abhorrent' housing conditions for Indigenous people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A United Nations report is highlighting the role "abhorrent" housing conditions play in the poverty and exploitation that Indigenous people face in Canada and around the world. The report, presented to the UN General Assembly on Friday, examines the lack of access to secure housing both in cities and on reserves and its effect on the rights of Indigenous people in countries including Canada, Australia and Tanzania.

# data[].attributes.body
Statistics on the suicide rates of Indigenous people in Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The suicide rate among First Nations people was three times higher than in non-Indigenous populations between 2011 and 2016 in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.

The agency reported Friday on the rates of death by suicide for self-identifying First Nations people, Metis and Inuit from 2011 to 2016, compared to non-Indigenous people.

The suicide rate among First Nations people was 24.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk, which StatsCan says is "roughly understood as number of deaths per persons per year." That is compared to eight deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk for non-Indigenous people.

The suicide rate for First Nations people living on a reserve was twice as high than those living off reserve, according to the agency.

Story continues below advertisement
WATCH: Indigenous leader says he's waiting for a national strategy around issue of suicides
Indigenous leader says he's waiting for a national strategy around issue of suicides

For those who self-identify as Metis, their suicide rate was around twice as high as the rate of non-Indigenous people, at 14.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk.

For Inuit, the rate was around nine times higher than non-Indigenous, at 72.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk.

Suicide rates were highest for youth and young adults aged 15 to 24 years old among First Nations men and Inuit men and women.

However, StatsCan did point out that there is a high level of variability for suicide rates "at the community level" for Indigenous people.

Story continues below advertisement

"When examined by First Nations band, just over 60 per cent of bands had a suicide rate of zero," the agency reported.

Statistics Canada says the higher risk of suicide for Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous is due to "socioeconomic characteristics," such as household income, labour force status, level of education, marital status, as well as whether they live on or off a reserve and the community size.
WATCH: Cape Breton's Eskasoni First Nation experiencing mental health crisis
Cape Breton's Eskasoni First Nation experiencing mental health crisis

"Among First Nations people, 78 per cent of the higher risk of death by suicide was accounted for by these characteristics, while it was 37 per cent among Metis and 40 per cent among Inuit adults aged 25 years and older," the report stated.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, Depression Hurts and Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 all offer ways of getting help if you, or someone you know, may be suffering from mental health issues.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First Nations suicide rate 3 times higher than for non-Indigenous people: StatsCan | Globalnews.ca

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The suicide rate among First Nations people was three times higher than in non-Indigenous populations between 2011 and 2016 in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. The agency reported Friday on the rates of death by suicide for self-identifying First Nations people, Metis and Inuit from 2011 to 2016, compared to non-Indigenous people.

# data[].attributes.body
statistics on the increasing Indigenous population

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
View the most recent version.

Chart 2 Growth rate (%) between 1996 and 2006, by Aboriginal identity

Growth rate of population is much higher for Aboriginal peoples

Between 1996 and 2006 the Aboriginal population grew at a much faster rate than the non-Aboriginal population at 45% and 8% respectively. The Métis had the highest growth rate of all Aboriginal identity groups with their population nearly doubling between 1996 and 2006. The First Nations population grew by 29% while the Inuit population grew by 26%. The growth rates for each of the Aboriginal identity groups were much higher than that of the non-Aboriginal population at 8% from 1996 to 2006.

Projections suggest that the Aboriginal population could increase to approximately 1.4 million by 2017 from 1.1 million in 2006. The proportion of the Canadian population that identify themselves as Aboriginal is projected to increase to 4% in 2017 from 3% in 2001.

There are several factors that can contribute to the higher growth rate for Aboriginal peoples, such as higher fertility rates. There is also an increasing tendency for people to identify themselves as Aboriginal in recent years which also contributes to this faster growth.

Related data:

Census highlight tables provide population counts for Aboriginal identity for Canada, as well as provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations and census subdivisions.

Note

Statistics Canada, Projections of the Aboriginal populations, Canada, Provinces and Territories.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
View the most recent version. Chart 2 Growth rate (%) between 1996 and 2006, by Aboriginal identity Between 1996 and 2006 the Aboriginal population grew at a much faster rate than the non-Aboriginal population at 45% and 8% respectively. The Métis had the highest growth rate of all Aboriginal identity groups with their population nearly doubling between 1996 and 2006.

# data[].attributes.body
Requirements needed to fix the housing issues of Indigenous people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Since 1876, when the Indian Act first forced First Nations people to live on reserves, the federal government has been responsible for providing First Nations housing. And it has done a bad job.

Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners

That's why First Nations leaders say the next federal government, elected on Monday, must relinquish its bureaucratic grip to help fix the ongoing crisis in First Nations housing.

Nationally, half of First Nations people living on reserve - and one-quarter of First Nations in the country overall - need serious housing repairs. Another third live in overcrowded on-reserve housing, while nationally 20 per cent live in overcrowded homes on and off reserves.

And 22 per cent of homeless people surveyed across the country last year identified as First Nations.

These numbers stem from both high rates of poverty in First Nations communities and a lack of available housing units. There are no definitive statistics on the number of units needed, but estimates run from 130,000 to 175,000 new units needed on reserve.

The Tyee is supported by readers like you
Join us and grow independent media in Canada

It's even harder to assess the off-reserve First Nations housing shortage, as housing tends to be serving Metis, Inuit and First Nations people.

There are over 600 First Nations in Canada, one-third of them in British Columbia. Nationally, over 977,000 people identified as First Nations in the latest census.

Since 1876, the federal government has been responsible for housing on reserves. However, it not only underfunds on-reserve housing but has favoured the inefficient "stick built" housing styles of the suburbs instead of modular housing partially constructed before houses are erected. The result is housing that's not suitable in the rainforests of the West Coast, frozen tundra of the North, the windswept shores of the East Coast - or really anywhere in-between.

Often the homes are too big for singles and couples, but too small to fit multigenerational families.

Two-thirds of First Nations people in Canada live off-reserve, where more than 10,000 units of rent-geared-to-income Indigenous housing is provided through pan-Indigenous housing providers. These providers depend on federal and provincial government operating funds to subsidize their below-market-rate housing.

But those subsidies, attached to government operating agreements, started drying up as operating agreements began expiring in 2000.

In 2017, the Liberal federal government extended subsidies for 385,000 non-Indigenous and Indigenous co-ops and social housing units.

But prior to that, successive Liberal and Conservative federal governments allowed the subsidies of another 215,000 social and co-op housing units to expire. As a result, housing providers have been forced to sell units and/or increase rents just to keep up with costs.

Housing funds, both on and off-reserve, do not include long-term maintenance funding, meaning that cash-strapped housing providers are unable to keep their housing units from falling into disrepair.
What First Nations want done
If the next federal government wants to fix the First Nations housing crisis in just 36 months, it must support First Nations to govern themselves, says Gerry Merkel, executive director of the BC First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Council.

The council is a new authority established by B.C. First Nations in 2017, which is preparing to take back control of First Nations housing consultations, design, planning and delivery from the federal government.

The council has an agreement prepared that "lays out the framework for negotiating an agreement in principle, and then a final transfer agreement to transfer the authority [over housing to the council...] There's many details in that, and all of that has to be negotiated."

B.C. is ahead of the rest of the country in the transfer of housing control to First Nations. Following tripartite agreements between First Nations, the province and the federal government that returned control over health care and education services to First Nations people, another agreement returning housing is also in the works.

Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations agrees that creating a "for us, by us" First Nations housing authority to replace the current system, where housing programming is delivered by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is a top priority.

"If it's under our jurisdiction, there's more control over how funding can be developed, and the approval process can be a lot quicker," he said.

He also pointed to B.C.'s recent agreement with First Nations to share seven per cent of B.C.'s gaming revenue for 23 years. The government estimates B.C. First Nations will receive approximately $100 million a year - $3 billion by 2045 - to support their transition to self-government and provide services, including housing.

And last year, the B.C. government became the first provincial government in Canada to fund on-reserve housing. It pledged $500 million over 10 years to provide 1,750 units both on and off reserve.

Merkel estimates solving the housing crisis for First Nations in B.C. alone will cost anywhere from $10 billion to $30 billion, because the problem is so wrapped up in other infrastructure, education, poverty and health care issues.

But while money is helpful, Merkel says the biggest factor in the First Nations housing crisis is the failure of national housing programs designed and run by settler governments.

"The people who live with the consequences of not managing this system properly are not the people who are managing the system. So, every time there are improvements needed, or fixes needed, or things need to be done differently, people outside don't learn from those mistakes, so the system just never really improves," he said.

Other First Nations leaders who've spoken to The Tyee want a First Nations housing strategy designed and managed by First Nations.

They emphasized creating separate funding streams for housing on- and off reserve that take into account the total cost of housing, including construction and materials, administration and long-term maintenance.
What the parties are offering
The Liberal platform pledges to work with all Indigenous groups to develop legislation implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, commonly referred to as UNDRIP. Article 23 of the declaration emphasizes Indigenous control over programs including health services and housing.

But the only mention of Indigenous housing in the Liberal platform comes in a pledge to solve all major Indigenous infrastructure issues by 2030. In a housing debate hosted by CPAC in Ottawa earlier this month, Adam Vaughan , the former Liberal MP for a Toronto riding, said his party is "committed" to helping Indigenous people develop a national housing strategy just for them.

The New Democratic Party platform also calls for the implementation of UNDRIP as part of a national reconciliation action plan. But it goes a step further by being the only major party to promise the creation of separate housing strategies, co-developed with Indigenous people, for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people with "sustainable and dedicated funding." There is no timeline for completion or implementation.

Unlike the NDP, the Green Party platform endorses the Assembly of First Nations' 2019 election priorities. That include a timeline for housing fixes, including fully funding First Nations housing needs and transferring housing control back to First Nations by 2021; complete implementation of a national First Nations housing strategy by 2023; and ensuring dedicated and sustainable long-term funding will continue to meet First Nations housing needs beyond the next four years. The Greens also endorse the adoption of UNDRIP.

The Conservative Party of Canada's platform does not mention First Nations or Indigenous housing. However, in the same recent housing debate, former Conservative MP for Carleton, Ont., Pierre Poilievre, said a Conservative federal government would "devolve" housing control back to First Nations people.

A Conservative government would also "work with willing and interested Aboriginal communities" to introduce private property rights on reserves, Poilievre said.

But the Harper government tried a similar scheme in 2008, promising $300 million over 10 years to fund privately owned First Nations homes. It failed. By 2015, just 99 had been built.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
bc first nations housing and infrastructure council

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Fix the First Nations Housing Crisis | The Tyee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Since 1876, when the Indian Act first forced First Nations people to live on reserves, the federal government has been responsible for providing First Nations housing. And it has done a bad job.

# data[].attributes.body
Explanation of suicide rates and statistics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Suicide among Indigenous Peoples in Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This article contains sensitive material that may not be suitable for all audiences. To reach the Canada Suicide Prevention Service, contact 1-833-456-4566.…