Aboriginal People In Canada Essay

345 Words2 Pages

In Canada, ”suffering clearly continues to be related to the politics of race.” (William F. Felice, 2002) The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Canada is home to 859,970 First Nations people, 451,795 Métis, and 59,445 Inuit, with the rest reporting other Aboriginal identities (26,485) or more than one Aboriginal identity (11,415). (Statistics Canada, 2011) This is a prime example of how Canada has opened its doors for all, despite their ethnicity and cultures; however, this was not always the treatment received by indigenous people in the early days. The living standard of Native peoples in Canada falls far short of those of non-Native, and encounter many barriers in gaining equality. For example, Native life expectancy is lower; they have fewer high school graduates and higher unemployment, they have lower incomes, enjoy fewer promotions in the workplace and remain, as a group, the poorest in Canada.

The Nisga 'a Treaty was the start of negotiations between Aboriginals and The Canadian government in the 20’th Century, in hope for more rights and representation. I believe despite many current measures being taken for First Nations people, Canada has not done enough for those who originally resided on our sacred land. On Canada’s 150 Birthday, I posed a very important question to the general public, attending the celebrations in Victoria. Has Canada Done Enough for First Nation’s People? (Refer to …show more content…

My ancestors were on this land long before and the fact they don’t acknowledge that tell us they don’t care, and will never be able to do anything for us.”

This paper will examine the Nisga’a treaty, Canada’s positive and negative impacts on First Nations, how Natives are treated in neighbouring countries, and what can be done in the