Aboriginal People in Canada:
First Nations People: Status holders, we have identification that proves our Native heritage including our tribe (Usually, but not necessarily our paternal tribe). There are 634 First Nation tribes in Canada. (Which is why when people ask “Teach me about native culture” there isn’t a definitive answer, we are diverse).
Inuit: Aboriginal people from the north. Inuit and First Nations are not interchangeable. There are 53 Inuit communities.
Métis: Originally used for half french, half native. It is now used for anyone of mixed descent who have blood ties to FN/Inuit peoples that do not qualify for status.
These are the three distinct groups of aboriginal people in Canada.
Aboriginal is usually used as a blanket term to refer to all three groups and is used by many government organizations like AANDC. We don’t use indigenous as often as the states well at least in my area, it is still acceptable. Both terms have faced some criticism.
We do not really use the term Native American unless we are speaking of Aboriginal people from both the US and Canada. Even then I include both terms, FN and NA into my speech.
We do not all live in aboriginal communities, many of us live in urban settings as well.
Indian (It might be an acceptable replacement for the word indigenous in the states, but it is not here.)
Eskimo
Redskin
Ch**s
To get over it
To stop relying on Government handouts
In fact, if you do these things, I suggest you sit down, be quiet, and read a book. Better yet, educate yourselves on aboriginal peoples and throw your ugly dichotomy of “Contributing citizen” or “Native” but never both, out the window. Nobody needs your input. Quit trying to make this about you by trying to validate yourself and your tax paying “involuntary saviour” ways. We, in fact, pay taxes whether we live on the rez or not.
Some sources, and important info. Some of the content will mention abuse, violence, and sexual abuse.
Missing and murdered Indigenous Women
Residential Schools (We were children is a powerful documentary, important, and a very hard watch).
Residential School Syndrome
The Indian Act
Aboriginal Suicide Crisis
Aboriginal Foster Care Crisis
You have google, you are free to use it to look some things up.
This isn’t really comprehensive, but it’s a bit of a jumping off point.
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