Rural Development Institute www.brandonu.ca/rdi/

July 2014 Aboriginal Population

Highlights Table 1. • In 2011, the number of residents identifying as Aboriginal was 195,895. • This represents 17% of Manitoba’s total population. This share is higher than in any other province, but lower than in the northern territories. • The largest group that self-identified was with a population of 114,230. Within this group, 27% resided in the Winnipeg CMA and 73% resided in non-metro areas. • In Manitoba’s 4 northern CDs, the share of the population with an Aboriginal identity ranged from 51% in CD #21 (includes Flin Flon and The Pas) to 95% in CD #19 (includes Berens River).

Why Aboriginal population? In 2011, the Aboriginal identity population in Manitoba was 196 thousand (17% of Manitoba’s total population). Aboriginals have a higher birth rate and their share of Manitoba’s population is expected to increase. The objective of this Factsheet is to document the share of Manitoba’s rural population with an Aboriginal Identity. The 2011 National Household Survey used a series of questions to determine the portion of the population identifies as Aboriginal. The data are not comparable over time as the individuals in some groups, especially the Métis, have become more likely to report their Métis heritage in recent census periods. 1. ‘Aboriginal identity’ refers to whether the person reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada) and/or being a member of a Findings 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. Aboriginal identity is derived from data collected in three questions: Aboriginal group (Question 18); In 2011, the Aboriginal identity population in Manitoba Registered or Treaty Indian status (Question 20); and Membership in a First Nation or Indian band (Question 21). In Question 18, respondents could respond ‘Yes, First Nations (North was 195,895 (Table 1). Within metro areas (i.e. the American Indian),’ ‘Yes, Métis,’ ‘Yes, Inuk (Inuit)’ or ‘No, not an Aboriginal person’ by checking off the appropriate mark-in circle. In Question 20, respondents could respond ‘No’ or ‘Yes, Winnipeg CMA), 11% identified as Aboriginal while Status Indian (Registered or Treaty).’ In Question 21, respondents could respond ‘No’ or ‘Yes, member of a First Nation/Indian band’. (Source: Statistics Canada. (2013) 2011 National the share in non-metro areas was 26%. Household Survey Dictionary (Ottawa: Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 99-000) (http:// www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/ref/dict/index-eng.cfm).

1 Bollman, Ray D., & Ashton, W. Rural Development Institute, Brandon , Brandon, Manitoba, July, 2014. Rural Development Institute

In No MIZ areas (i.e. areas with no influence from a population identifying as Aboriginal. CMA or CA), the portion of the population identifying In absolute numbers, the population identifying as Aboriginal constituted 54% of the total population. as Aboriginal is larger in Ontario (301 thousand), In 2011, 114,230 Aboriginals stated First Nations as British Columbia (232 thousand) and Alberta (221 their single Aboriginal identity. Within this group, 27% thousand). Manitoba ranks 4th with 196 thousand were residing in the Winnipeg CMA and 73% were individuals with an Aboriginal Identity. residing in non-metro Manitoba. In both Manitoba and in Newfoundland and Labrador, The second largest group was Métis with a 2011 25% or more of the Aboriginal Identity population population of 78,830. Among the Métis, over one-half resides in rural northern regions. (59%) were residing in the Winnipeg CMA. Summary To see where Aboriginals are residing across Manitoba, we review the census division (CD) of residence of the In 2011, the number of Manitoba residents identifying population identifying as Aboriginal (Table 2). as Aboriginal was 195,895. This represented 17% of Manitoba’s total population. In 2011, the population identifying as Aboriginal of CD #11 (Winnipeg) was 72,475 and this represented The largest group was First Nations with a population 11% of the population in this CD. This CD is of 114,230. Within this group, 27% resided in the comprised of the City of Winnipeg plus the R.M. of Winnipeg CMA and 73% resided in non-metro areas. Headingly. This CD is wholly within the Winnipeg In Manitoba’s 4 northern CDs, the share of the CMA and is classified as a “metro census division.” population identifying as Aboriginal ranged from 51% Around Winnipeg there are 5 CDs classified as in CD #21 (includes Flin Flon and The Pas) to 95% in partially-non-metro CDs as part of each CD is CD #19 (includes Berens River). classified within the Winnipeg CMA and other parts FURTHER RESEARCH QUESTIONS are outside the Winnipeg CMA. The population identifying as Aboriginal in these CDs was 19,060 in • What effect does changing response rates in 2011 and represented 12% of their population. different areas have on census data? In Manitoba’s non-metro CDs, the population identifying as Aboriginal was 104,350, which represented 29% of the total population of non-metro CDs. There were 4 CDs where the population identifying as Aboriginal was over one-half of the total population: • 95% in CD #19 (includes Berens River); • 79% in CD #23 (includes Churchill); • 77% in CD #22 (includes Thompson); and • 51% in CD #21 (includes Flin Flon and The Pas). There were another 5 non-metro CDs where the Aboriginal identity population represented 24% or more of the total population (Table 2).

Comparison to Canada The share of Manitoba’s population population Funding for this project was provided by the identifying as Aboriginal (17%) is higher than in Manitoba Government. any other province, but lower than in the northern territories (Table 3). In Saskatchewan, 16% of the

2 Bollman, Ray D., & Ashton, W. Rural Development Institute, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, July, 2014. Rural Development Institute

Table 2.

Source: Statistics Canada. National Household Survey, 2011

This series of Fact sheets are available for download at http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/25th/ 3 Rural Development Institute

Table 3.

Source: Statistics Canada. National Household Survey, 2011

4 Bollman, Ray D., & Ashton, W. Rural Development Institute, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, July, 2014.