January 2013
Aboriginal Demographics and Well-BeingAboriginal Demographics and Well-Being
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Aboriginal demographics and well-beingAboriginal demographics and well-being
Aboriginal demographics and well-being are two of several drivers for policy development.
This presentation is an introduction to the demographic and well-being trends of Aboriginal populations and communities.
1. Aboriginal Demography
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Indians(First
Nations)
Status Indians
(Registered Indians) Persons eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
Non-Status Indians
Persons who self-identify as Indian but are not eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
Métis
Persons who, in addition to their mixed ancestry, developed their own customs, and recognizable group identity separate from their Indian or Inuit and European forebears. (Powley decision)
InuitPersons whose ancestry traces back to the original inhabitants of Arctic Canada
Three Aboriginal groups, but many other distinctionsThree Aboriginal groups, but many other distinctions
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes three groups of three groups of Aboriginal peopleAboriginal people: Indians (First Nations), Métis and Inuit.
The experience of each group has been unique, based on history, heritage, languages, cultural practices and beliefs, as well as distinct needs and aspirations regarding their place in Canada.
There are additional distinctions between and within each of these groups, based on residency, treaties, culture and identity.
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A small and diverse population A small and diverse population
Aboriginal population surpassed the one-million surpassed the one-million markmark in 2006, up from 976,305 in 2001.
Aboriginal people accounted for 3.8% of the total population of Canada enumerated in the 2006 census, up from 3.3% in 2001.
The size of the Aboriginal populationwas 1,172,790 in 2006
Note:
* Other Aboriginalrefers to respondents who reported more than one identity group, and those who reported being a Band member with no Aboriginal identity and no Registered Indian status.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
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A very young populationA very young population
The Aboriginal population is much youngermuch younger than the non-Aboriginal population.
In 2006, 48% of the Aboriginal population was under the age of 25, compared with 31% of the non-Aboriginal population.
The median age of the Aboriginal population was 27 years old, compared with 40 years old for non-Aboriginal people.
6% 4% 2% 0% 2% 4% 6%
0-45-9
10-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-79
80+
Aboriginal Population Other Canadians
Male Female
Ag
e
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Age Pyramid, 2006
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A fast-growing populationA fast-growing population
The Aboriginal population grew six six times fastertimes faster than the non-Aboriginal population (47% vs 8%) between 1996 and 2006.
Nationally, the growth of the Aboriginal population was more rapid off reserve, particularly in cities.
Fertility alone cannot explain this Aboriginal population explosion. About 40% of Métis and 10% of First Nations enumerated in 2006 did not self-identify as such in 1996.
47%
8%12%
24%
59%
52%
-4%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total On-reserve Off-reserverural
Off-reserveurban
Aboriginal Non-Aboriginal
Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 and 2006 Censuses of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Percent Variation in Population Size, 1996-2006
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No mass exodus from reserves to citiesNo mass exodus from reserves to cities
Contrary to popular belief, there is no mass exodusno mass exodus from Indian from Indian reserves to citiesreserves to cities. Both the on-reserve and the urban population are growing.
While Aboriginal populations are highly mobilehighly mobile and move back and forth from and to cities (churn) and within cities, the recent Aboriginal population explosion in cities is in large part attributable to changes in self-reporting of cultural affiliation over time.
Place of Residence
1996-2001 2001-2006
On Reserve + 10,770 + 10,075
Off Reserve Rural
- 7,665 - 13,785
Off Reserve Urban
- 3,105 + 4,710
Net Migration of Registered Indians1996-2001 and 2001-2006
Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 to 2006 Censuses of Population, AANDC tabulations.
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A growing urban population, A growing urban population, but variation between groupsbut variation between groups
The Aboriginal population is increasingly urbanincreasingly urban (54% in 2006).
There is great variationgreat variation between groups:
• About half of Registered Indians lived on-reserve in 2006.
• Majority of Non-status Indians and Métis lived in urban areas.
• Inuit lived predominantly in northern rural communities, though urban Inuit population has increased.
48%
11%
22% 30%
63%
19%
41%
74% 69%
37%
81%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
RegisteredIndian
Non-StatusIndian
Métis Inuit Non-Aboriginal
On Reserve Off Reserve / Rural Off Reserve / Urban
Note: Urban areas have population of at least 1,000 and no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometre.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Distribution across Community Type, 2006
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(11.50%)
(88.50%)
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Canada, INAC tabulations.
Aboriginal Population2006 Census = 1,172,790
Aboriginal percentage ofProvincial/Territorial population
Non-Aboriginal population7,580 25.1%
20,635 50.3%
188,365 5.8%
196,075 4.8%
141,890 14.9%
175,395 15.5% 242,490
2.0%
24,915 85.0%
108,430 1.5%
23,450 4.7%
17,650 2.5%
24,170 2.7%
1,730 1.3%
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Regional variations in the proportion of the populationRegional variations in the proportion of the population
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173
150135
67
319
21
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Under 100 100-249 250-499 500-999 1000-1999 2000+
Population Size
Nu
mb
er
of R
ese
rve
s (N
)
Majority of communities are smallMajority of communities are small
According to the 2006 Census,75% of First Nations reserves have fewer than 500 inhabitants. About half of First Nation reserves (52%) with fewer than 500 inhabitants are located in British Columbia.
With respect to communities located within Inuit Nunangat (Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut and Inuvialuit), 36% of Inuit communities (18 of 50) have a population of fewer than 500 habitants, while five communities have a population over 2000.
First Nations Reserve by Population Size, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada, Geosuite 2006.
There are 642 reserves with fewer than 500 inhabitants.
Note: N=865 out of a possible 1,176 First Nation Reserves delineated by Statistics Canada in 2006. Not included are unpopulated reserves and reserves that have data qualityissues for which population counts are not available.
2. Aboriginal Well-BeingIntroducing the Community Well-Being Index
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Community Well-Being Index (CWB) Community Well-Being Index (CWB) A Brief Description A Brief Description The Community Well-Being (CWB) Index was developed
to help measure the quality of life of First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada relative to other communities and over time.
This tool uses Statistics Canada’s Census of Population data to produce ‘well-being’ scores for individual communities based on four indicators:
– Education (High School Plus; University);
– Labour Force (Participation, Employment);
– Income (Total per Capita); and,
– Housing (Quantity: defined on the basis of overcrowding, Quality: defined based on the need for major repairs).
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5155
57 57
60 61 62
71 72 7377
47
57
48
67
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
CW
B In
de
x
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
From 1981 to 1996, the CWB indicates significant progress in First Nation and Inuit communities, resulting in the reduction of the well-being gap relative to other Canadian communities.
Since 2001, there has been little or no increase in the CWB of First Nation and Inuit communities while other Canadian communities have experienced increases in CWB.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Average CWB Scores, 1981-2006Average CWB Scores, 1981-2006
Source: Statistics Canada, 1981 to 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
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60 60
49 49
62
66
8076 77
80 82
64
51
7673
79
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Atlantic QC ON MB SK AB BC Territories
CW
B In
de
x
First Nations Other Canadian CommunitiesIn 2006, First Nation communities showing the lowest CWB scores were located in the Prairies, where the largest segment of the Aboriginal population an the highest proportion of the population is located.
Highest scores are found in the Atlantic region and the North.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Average CWB Scores by Region, 2006Average CWB Scores by Region, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
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Well-being of Inuit and First Nations communities is comparable in Quebec and in the Atlantic region but slightly lower for Inuit in the Territories.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Average CWB Scores by Region, 2006Average CWB Scores by Region, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
60
66
62
7376
82
64
59
66
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Atlantic QC Territories
CW
B In
de
x
First Nations Communities
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)EducationEducation Component Score, 1981-2006 Component Score, 1981-2006
Educational attainment has been increasing since 1981, but more rapidly in other Canadian Communities since 2001.
The large jump in "High School Plus" in other Canadian Communities may in part be attributed to how education data were collected and/or processed in 2006.
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49
3432
14
3330
16
41
28
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
Ed
uca
tion
Sco
re
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Labour ForceLabour Force Component Score, 1981-2006 Component Score, 1981-2006
Labour force activity increased in all types of Canadian communities since 1981 at almost the same pace.
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84
717067
7778
72
8380
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
La
bo
ur
Fo
rce
Sco
re
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)IncomeIncome Component Score, 1981-2006 Component Score, 1981-2006
Generally, income has been increasing since 1981 at a similar pace for First Nations and Other Canadian communities.
Recent increases in Inuit communities occurred at a faster rate.
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80
5555
43
70
64
48
77
69
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
Inco
me
Sco
re
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)HousingHousing Component Score, 1981-2006 Component Score, 1981-2006
The housing score of other Canadian communities has been fairly stable since 1981.
The overall housing score of First Nation and Inuit communities has declined between 2001 and 2006, particularly in Inuit communities.
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94
70
7163
66
72
56
9391
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
Ho
usi
ng
Sco
re
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Housing QualityHousing Quality, 1981-2006, 1981-2006
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89
59
65
7666
7578
8889
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006
Year
% n
ot
req
uir
ing
ma
jor
rep
air
-
First Nations
Inuit Communities
Other Canadian Communities
The Housing Quality element of the CWB index has decreased in First Nation and Inuit communities, while remaining stable in other Canadian communities.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
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Between 2001 and 2006, about a third of Aboriginal communities experienced a decline in their CWB index scores, compared to 10% of other Canadian communities.
Only one First Nation community ranked among the “top 100” Canadian communities.
In 2006, among the “bottom 100” Canadian communities, 96 were First Nations and one was Inuit.
The level of disparity observed across Aboriginal communities is significantly greater than that observed across other Canadian communities.
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
CW
B S
core
High 87
Low64
High77
Low39
High81
Low48
Other Canadian Communities (Avg CWB = 77)Other Canadian Communities (Avg CWB = 77)
Inuit Communities (Avg CWB = 62)Inuit Communities (Avg CWB = 62)
First Nation Communities (Avg CWB = 57)First Nation Communities (Avg CWB = 57)
Range of CWB Score in 2006(Excluding outliers)
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, AANDC tabulations.
Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Community Well-Being Index (CWB)Range of CWB Score in 2006Range of CWB Score in 2006
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