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Canada First Nations:Celebrate 1 Million Mark
by Barry Artiste | January 15, 2008 at 11:02 am | 1425 views | 7 comments
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Certainly a bittersweet celebration of a Proud Peoples whose population 500 years ago in North America was estimated to be 10 million aboriginals, with a possible Canadian population of 3 million First Nations.
European Settlement decimated the First Nations population through attrition, disease, (deadly diseases in which Europeans over a millenia were resistant to) and wars reducing the First Nations to the present day population of 1 million in Canada. One saving grace in a way were many European settlers and explorers intermarrying into First Nations communities and culture may have quelled the genocide somewhat, providing future First Nations generations with disease resistant antibodies in which Pure First Nations communities did not have a fighting chance.
Certainly if Canada can provide Quebec City close to a half billion dollars for their 400 year celebrations an equal amount should be given to First Nations to celebrate their Ancestry and longevity, that despite the present day odds based on the last 500 years will take a 1,000 years before First Nations reach their original pre 1500's (year) population of 3 million peoples. Let us hope it will be a Millenium party like no other.
My Final Thought
Canadians Embracing other Cultures and Customs, always seemingly in vogue amongst the Trendy Set should give thought and thanks to First Nations and perhaps embrace some First Nations Cultures, visiting First Nations Museums, visiting First Nations communities and businesses, attending PowWows and other First Nations Celebrations where all are welcome will go a long way in understanding First Nations peoples, (much to their demise) who in part if it were not for their First Nations forefathers/mothers, your european ancestors who came here may not have stood a chance of survival in the Wilds of Canada if First Nations communities had not first open their arms in assisting your forefathers to establish their own european communities here in the first place, thus you as a Canadian may not even have existed to read this story.
Something to think about.
Canada's aboriginal population has topped the million mark for the first time, according to the latest census, an increase of 45 per cent from a decade earlier.
Statistics Canada, which released new data Tuesday from the 2006 census on Canada's aboriginal population, counted 1,172,790 Indian, Métis and Inuit people.
Part of the reason for the increase is higher birth rates among aboriginals compared to the non-aboriginal population, according to Statistics Canada.
But it's also because more people than before are identifying themselves as aboriginal.
In the past, many more First Nations, Métis or Inuit people would refuse to participate in the government's enumeration surveys.
Fewer than 800,000 people called themselves aboriginal in the 1996 census.
As well, about 1.7 million Canadians reported having at least some aboriginal ancestry. Statistics Canada defines "aboriginal ancestry" as the ethnic or cultural origin of a person's ancestors, usually more distant than a grandparent.
The census also found that more than half the country's 1.2 million aboriginal people are living off reserve. More than half of those who identify as aboriginal — 54 per cent — now call urban areas home, up from 50 per cent in 1996.
Among other highlights:
* The reported Métis population — those of mixed Indian and European ancestry — has almost doubled since the 1996 census.
* About four per cent of Canada's total population is aboriginal. That's the second highest total in the world, second only to New Zealand, where the Maori make up 15 per cent of that country's population.
* Fifty-one per cent of the status Indian population lives off reserve, up from 50 per cent in 1996.
* Some of Canada's largest cities have significant aboriginal populations, including Winnipeg (10 per cent), Regina and Saskatoon (both nine per cent).
* The aboriginal population in Canada is considerably younger than the non-native citizenry, with a median age of 27 compared to 40. Almost half (48 per cent) of the aboriginal population is under the age of 25.
Additional information on First Nations people and Settlers
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005641
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-NatvsNA.html
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January 15, 2008 at 11:02 am by Barry Artiste, 1425 views, 7 comments
Author
Crowd Power
Barry Artiste
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Comments (7)
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Brian A Kennedyat 11:11 on January 15th, 2008
Good news -- and the data on the relative youth of the population is especially good!
at 11:32 on January 15th, 2008
It truly is bittersweet, Barry Artiste.
at 11:48 on January 15th, 2008
Thanks to you both, having First Nation Ancestry in my family and embracing First Nations culture since a child in (Huron Community) North of Quebec City, certainly gives one reflection since my Irish ancestry came to Canada in winter over 300 years ago as trappers and woodsmen for France, intermarried,and one would like to think out of love versus survival in an otherwise inhospitable land called New France (Quebec, Canada).
at 12:19 on January 15th, 2008
Thanks for sharing this Barry. I have to agree with Karen that it is somewhat bittersweet, but as a proud Cree/Chippewa Canadian, I'm pleased to see that the First Nations population in Canada is growing - rather than being further decimated. Now if only we, as a country, could improve the living conditions and treatment of our First Peoples.
at 15:22 on January 15th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Thanks for drawing attention to this story, particularly the shocking statistics of numbers 500 years ago compared to now. To call the European invasion a decimation is an understatement. Cultural awareness, as you say, is a great starting point for this century.
at 17:16 on January 15th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff! What a great story...thats amazing, a super interesting read!
at 03:01 on January 16th, 2008
Thanks everyone for your comments, that goes a long way in understanding a peoples who need more understanding and a foothold in getting established as true Canadians by way of self determination in handling their own education, preserving their language and culture and skills training in order to be self sufficient in both worklife, business ownership, and self worth. First Nations are portrayed as wanting handouts for their land, yet many do not realise that for every man, woman and child federal monies amount to less than $7,000.00 for each of them for infrastructure with a bulk of the money given stays within Indian and Northern Affairs and other agencies who use it to pay bureaucrats salaries. Though important for administrators, First Nations communities sorely need better education, housing and simple things like drinking water which every other Canadian take for granted. Some European Nations (Germany, Russians and Swiss) hold First Nations in high regards and collect modern First Nations artwork and sculptures and the Swiss in some communities even dress up in First Nations dress and Cowboy outfits in bizarre Western Festivals.
Canadians visiting First Nations Communities and frequenting First Nations Businesses will be much appreciated, instead of heading off to other Non Canadian destinations. Quebec city will also feature First Nations Communities exhibits as part of the Quebec Cities 400 year anniversary.
Below are links to First Nations Galleries who display and sell First Nations artwork, though visiting a First Nation owned art shop or communities will get you better bargains in addition to actually meeting the artist.
http://www.bcpassport.com/vancouver-activities/first-nation-art-galleries.aspx
http://www.firstnations.com/