Indigenous Culture - True North Aid | Canadian Charity Supporting Indigenous Communities

Our language and culture is the window through which we see the world - Paul Disain, Dene Elder

a large canoe labelled Tlemtlems on a tribal journey in British Columbia

There are three categories of Indigenous people in Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Within these categories, there are distinct traditions, teachings, creation stories, governing practices, and languages.

In the 2021 census by Statistics Canada, over 1.8 million people in Canada identified as Indigenous, making up 5 percent of the national population. (Parrott and Filice, 2023)

Over 630 First Nations communities in Canada represent more than 50 Nations and 50 Indigenous languages.

There are 53 Inuit communities encompass 35 percent of Canada’s land mass and 50 percent of its shoreline. These communities are situated in four regions across northern Canada: the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (northern Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador). Together, these are called the Inuit Nunangat region.

Approximately 624,220 people in Canada self-identify as Métis. According to the 2021 Census, one-third of this number claims Métis identity within a Métis organization or settlement. (Gaudry, et al., 2023.)

Canada made great attempts to erase Indigenous culture through the creation and implementation of the residential school and reserve systems, which forced Indigenous children to assume a Eurocentric Christian culture by anglicizing Indigenous names, punishing those who spoke their traditional language, and forbidding cultural practices.

Despite these attempts, Indigenous people continue to act resiliently today, reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. This includes initiating community-led projects and programs that involve healing practices, traditional language education, food sovereignty initiatives, and land acquisition.

Therefore, it is more important than ever for Canadians to affirm, respect, and learn about the diversity of Indigenous nations from coast to coast and to support Indigenous reclamation efforts where possible.

True North Aid is proud to support cultural initiatives across Canada through our Community Initiatives Programs.

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Jeremy Dutcher is a classically trained musician and is a Wolastoqiyik member of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. He is one of less than a thousand people in his community who speaks their traditional language. Find out how Jeremy has reclaimed his traditional language through music here.
The Ribbon Skirt Project: “…reaffirming what we know ourselves to be.”