Aboriginal Peoples Technical Report, Census of Population, 2016
1. Concepts and variables

Table of Contents More Information

There are various ways to define the Aboriginal population using data from the 2016 Census of Population, depending on the data user’s focus and requirements. The following variables, which are used to define the Aboriginal population, are available from the survey and are defined in the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98-301-X:

The population estimates for Canada from the 2016 Census using the different definitions are shown below.

Table 1
Estimates for Aboriginal identity, Aboriginal group, Registered or Treaty Indian status, Membership in a First Nation or Indian band and Aboriginal ancestry, 2016 Census
Table summary
This table displays the results of Estimates for Aboriginal identity. The information is grouped by Concept (appearing as row headers), 2016 Census of Population estimate (appearing as column headers).
Concept 2016 Census of Population estimateTable 1 Note 1
Aboriginal identityTable 1 Note 2 1,673,785
Aboriginal group 1,651,115
Registered or Treaty Indian status 820,115
Membership in a First Nation or Indian band 792,140
Aboriginal ancestryTable 1 Note 3 2,130,520
Note 1

Random rounding and percentage distributions: To ensure the confidentiality of responses collected for the 2016 Census of Population while maintaining the quality of the results, a random rounding process is used to alter the values reported in individual cells. As a result, when these data are summed or grouped, the total value may not match the sum of the individual values since the total and subtotals are rounded independently. Similarly, percentage distributions, which are calculated on rounded data, may not necessarily add up to 100%. Due to random rounding, estimates and percentages may vary slightly between different 2016 Census products, such as the analytical documents and various data tables.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

“Aboriginal identity” refers to whether the person reported identifying with the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. This includes those who reported being an Aboriginal person—that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit); and/or those who reported Registered or Treaty Indian status—that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada; and/or those who reported Membership in a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

Return to note 2 referrer

Note 3

“Aboriginal ancestry” includes at least one response in Question 17 to an origin that can be classified as First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuit ancestry, either with or without also reporting a non-Aboriginal ancestry.

Return to note 3 referrer

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2016.

Specific legally defined geographic regions are often important to users of Aboriginal data. The following variables—as defined in the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016, Catalogue no. 98-301-X—are available from the survey:

The data collected in the Census of Population are used by governments, including Aboriginal governments and organizations, to develop programs and services for Aboriginal peoples.

It is possible to derive other definitions of the Aboriginal population by using different combinations of the census questions. For example, in the 2016 Census long-form (2A-L) questionnaire, the information from Question 18 on Aboriginal groups and Question 20 on Registered or Treaty Indian status can be used to derive the First Nations (North American Indian) identity population with Registered or Treaty Indian status.

Other examples include:

Other combinations of Aboriginal variables that can correspond to users’ data needs and purposes are also possible.

More information

Note of appreciation

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2019

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 98-307-X

Ottawa

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