Aboriginal population growing

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According to the results of Statistics Canada's 2001 census, the number of people in Canada identifying themselves as having some Aboriginal ancestry increased by 22.2 per cent since the last census was done in1996. Aboriginal people now account for 4.4 per cent of Canada's population.

The census results, released at the end of January, show 976,300 people identified themselves as North American Indian, Metis or Inuit in 2001. Over half of that total is made up of Aboriginal youth under 25.

The median age for non-Aboriginal people in 2001 was 37.7 years, compared to 23.5 for First Nations, and 20.6 for Inuit.

Inuit people, representing five per cent of the Aboriginal total, number 45,070, a 12 per cent increase from the last census. In contrast, Canada's non-Aboriginal population grew 3.4 per cent.

One half of the Inuit live in Nunavut, where they represent 85 per cent of the total population.

Statistics Canada attributes the significant Aboriginal population increase partly to improvements in health, a longer lifespan, and more births occurring than deaths, according to Andy Siggner, senior advisor on Aboriginal statistics for Statistics Canada.

Siggner pointed out there also has been an improvement in census participation over the years.

In 1986, he said, 136 reserves did not participate; in 1996 it was 77 reserves, and by 2001, only 30 of more than 1,170 inhabited reserves did not complete the census. He said Stats Canada "maybe missed 144,000" Aboriginal people.

The biggest surprise was the number of Metis enumerated. That population grew by 43 per cent and represents 30 per cent of the total Aboriginal number. One third of this group are under the age of 14 and one-third of Metis children live in single-parent families. In urban centres, where two-thirds of Metis live, 42 per cent of Metis children live with one parent.

Siggner attributes part of the increase in Metis numbers to "fertility rate," but a bigger portion he indicated is likely attributed to a rising "cultural consciousness" resulting in a significant increase in people who identify as Metis.

Prince Albert has the ninth highest Aboriginal population in Canada according to the census, but at 11,640 Aboriginals out of a total population of just 38,885, that is the highest percentage of Aboriginal people living in any municipality.

Prince Albert Mayor Don Cody said that with an Aboriginal population of more than 29 per cent, the city was "certainly aware of the burgeoning population of young, Aboriginal people," but that he saw the growth of that segment of the population as an opportunity rather than a problem. He added that they are aware they may "have to do things maybe a wee bit differently" in order to help Aboriginal youth to realize their potential, "but we are certainly as a city prepared to do that . . . our big emphasis is on educating young people at a very early age."

Helping youth get a fair start in life, he said, sometimes means "you have to understand the parents too," and provide opportunities to them in areas such as housing, jobs and education. "I think once you do that, I think you'll find the younger folks will start integrating into this society."

Cody stressed that did not mean giving up Aboriginal culture, "because they should have their own culture. That's very important to them, and it should be important to all of us."

On the topic of youth, Cody said, "I think you have to give them the opportunity (for an education). I don't think you can force an opportunity onto people, they have to take that opportunity." He was responding to statistics contained in a report received by Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault from the national Working Group on Education, which states 35 per cent of Aboriginal students complete high school compared to 70 per cent of non-Aboriginal students.

"If you're talking about people who are not within the urban setting," Cody stated, "I think the percentage is very high, but I think you'llfind the ones in the urban setting is likely not quite as high."