Approximately 40,115 individuals of Aboriginal heritage could not be counted during the 2006 census.

[161][162]This is due to the fact that certain Aboriginal reserves and communities in Canada did not
participate in the 2006 census, since enumeration of those communities were not permitted.[161][163]
In 2006, 22 Native communities were not completely enumerated unlike in the year 2001, when 30 First
Nation communities were not enumerated and during 1996 when 77 Native communities could not be
completely enumerated.[161][163] Hence, there were probably 1,212,905 individuals of Aboriginal
ancestry (North American Indian, Metis, and Intuit) residing in Canada during time when 2006 census
was conducted in Canada.

Indigenous people assert that their sovereign rights are valid, and point to the Royal Proclamation of
1763, which is mentioned in the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, Section 25, the British North America
Acts and the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (to which Canada is a signatory) in support
of this claim.[164][165]

Province/Territory ● Number ● %● Indian (First Metis ● Intuit ● Multiple Others ●

British Columbia 232,290 5.4% 155,015 69,475 1,570 2,400 3,745

Alberta 220,659 6.2% 116,670 96,865 1,985 1,875 3,295

Saskatchewan 157,740 15.6% 103,206 52,450 290 670 1,120

Manitoba 199,940 17.0% 130,075 78,835 580 1,206 1,055

Ontario 301,430 2.4% 201,100 86,015 3,360 2,910 8,045

Quebec 141,915 1.8% 82,435 40,960 12,570 1,550 4,410

New Brunswick 22,620 3.1% 16,120 4,850 485 145 1,020

Nova Scotia 33,845 3.7% 21,895 10,050 695 225 980

Prince Edward Island 2,230 1.6% 1,520 410 55 0 235

Newfoundland and 35,800 7.1% 19,315 7,665 6,260 250 2,300

Yukon 7,710 23.1% 6,385 845 175 30 70

Northwest Territories 21,160 51.9% 13,345 3,245 4,335 45 185

Nunavul 27,360 86.3% 130 135 27,070 15 15

Canada 1,400,685 4.3% 851,560 451,795 59,445 11,415 26,470

There are 13 Aboriginal language groups, 11 oral and 2 sign,in Canada made up of more than 65 distinct
dialects.[148] Of these, only Cree, Inuktitut and Ojibway have a large enough population of fluent
speakers to be considered viable to survive in the long term.[149] Two of Canada's territories give
official status to native languages. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun are official languages alongside
the national languages of English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in territorial
government.[150] in the NWT, the Official Languages Act declares that there are eleven different
languages: Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North
Slavey, South Slavey and Tljcho.[151] Besides English and French, these languages are not vehicular in
government; official status entitles citizens to receive services in them on request and to deal with the
government in them.[149]

Aboriginal Languages No. Of speakers ● Mother Tongue ● Home Language ●

Cree 99,950 78,855 47,190

Inuktitut 35,690 32,010 25,290

Ojibway 32,460 11,115 11,115

Montagoals-Naskapi(Innu) 11,815 10,970 9,720

Dene 11,130 9,750 7,490

Oji-Cree (Anishinini) 12,605 8,480 8,480

Mi'kmaq 8,750 7,365 3,985

Siquan languages (Dakota 6,495 5,585 3,780

Alkamekw 5,645 5,245 4,745

Blackfoot 4,915 3,085 3,085

Aboriginal cultural areas depend upon their ancestors' primary life way, or occupation, at the time of
European contact. These culture areas correspond closely with physical and ecological regions of
Canada.[143] The indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast were centred around ocean and
river fishing; in the interior of British Columbia, hunter-gatherer and river fishing. In both of these areas
the salmon was chief importance. For the people of the plains, bison hunting was the primary activity. In
the subarctic forest, other species such as the moose were more important. For peoples near Great
Lakes and Saint Lawrence River, shifting agriculture was practised, including the raising of maize, beans,
and squash.[16][143] While for the Intuit, hunting was the primary source of food with seals the primary
component of their diet.[144] The caribou, fish, other marine mammals and to a lesser extent plants,
berries and seaweed are part of the Intuit diet. One of the most noticeable symbols of Intuit culture, the
inukshuk is the emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Inuksuit are rock sculptures made by
stacking stones; in the shape of a human figure, they are called inunnguaq.[145]

Culture of Indigenous peoples

Through storytelling and other interactive learning styles, countless North American Indigenous words,
inventions and games have become an everyday part of Canadian language and use. Thanks to groups
such as the Aboriginal Language and Culture (ALC) teachers of British Columbia, these practices continue
to be passed down to each generation. The canoe, snowshoes, the toboggan, lacrosse, tug of war, maple
syrup and tobacco are just a few of the products, inventions and games.[138] Some of the words include
the barbecue, caribou, chipmunk, woodchuck, hammock, skunk, and moose.[139] Many places in
Canada, both natural features and human habitations, use indigenous names. The word "Canada" itself
derives from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word meaning "village" or "settlement".[140] The province of
Saskatchewan River, which in the Cree language is called "Kisiskatchwani Sipi", capital city Ottawa comes
from the Algonquin language term "adawe" meaning "to trade".[141] Modern youth groups such as
Scouts Canada and the Girl Guides of Canada include programs based largely on indigenous lore, arts
and crafts, character building and outdoor camp craft and living.[142]