Aboriginal Culture

Although Canada's Aboriginal Peoples are diverse, and differences exist between First Nations, Métis and Inuit, a common thread connects them. The translation of the names reveals this unity. For example, Inuit and Anishinabe means "The People", Innu means "Human Being" and Dakota translates to "Friend" or "Ally".

Canada is home to many First Nations people: the Ojibwe, Ininew (Cree), Dene, Inuit, Dakota, Oji-Cree, Mohawk, and many others. Many Aboriginal people refer to North America as "Turtle Island", a name that comes from First Nations creation stories.

The Inuit traditionally live in the colder north, and call Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (northern Quebec) and Nunavut their homes. Inuit also live in Russia, Greenland and Alaska.

The Métis, originally people of French and Native ancestry, moved from Quebec to the western prairies. The original word, "Metisage", means "mixed", but today, the word "Métis" has come to describe anyone of Native and European descent. Their distinct language, Méchif, is one of many indigenous languages found in Manitoba, along with Dene, Dakota, Cree, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and Inuktitut.

"Aboriginals with status" refers to people registered with the government who qualify under the Indian Act. This Act strives to remedy situations that occurred during European colonization. Treaty rights are promised, and today, some groups continue to negotiate them. Those with treaty rights or Status may move freely across the Canada/U.S. border, an accord reached during the implementation of the Jay Treaty (1794).

In Canada, Aboriginal heritage is determined in two ways. For Canadian Inuit, status is based on blood quantum levels, while First Nations people and Métis status is based on genealogy.

But what does it mean to be Aboriginal? Well, it depends on whom you ask. Legally, an Aboriginal person is an individual with a status, treaty, Inuit, or Métis card. These individuals may not follow traditional ways. For instance, many Aboriginals have adopted Christianity, or may be Muslim or Buddhist. Culturally, an Aboriginal is anyone who chooses to follow the cultural and spiritual ways of the Aboriginal people. Someone may be Aboriginal in appearance, but does not follow any customs attributed to their specific culture. They may not be legally Aboriginal, according to any of the definitions offered in this information.

Regardless of the legal, cultural, or racial distinctions, we are all simply "The People".