Defining people as "status Indian", Metis, Inuit, Aboriginal creates new challenges for First Nations
As the Abriginal population grows and the same level of funding (or even less) continues to be made available by governments, this means that the already underfunded First Nations will be receiving less of these resources as the cities and their institutions, organizations and agencies demand more and more financial support and facilities to take care of themselves.
Definition of 'status Indians' questioned
BILL CURRY - January 15, 2008
OTTAWA — Ottawa's definition of status Indians is facing increased strain in light of new census data showing an exploding number of Canadians identifying themselves as aboriginal.
New census data shows the aboriginal population in Canada has grown 45 per cent in the past decade. As a percentage of Canada's total population, aboriginals have grown from 2.8 per cent in 1996 to 3.8 per cent in 2006.
The expanding numbers raise new challenges for provincial and federal governments over the definition of aboriginals and “status Indians,” which ultimately determine which level of government is directly responsible for meeting the needs of this growing population.
The federal government may soon have no choice but to re-visit this highly sensitive issue as the B.C. Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Indian Act defining Indians in a ruling last June. Ottawa has appealed the decision, but internal documents show government officials are scrambling to address the possibility of defeat.
“The definition of aboriginal is a problem,” said Angus Toulouse, the Ontario regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations. “What many people don't know is aboriginal is a term used to encompass First Nations [Indians], Métis and Inuit. Three very distinct indigenous groupings. Who is a First Nations' person is unilaterally defined by the federal government and this is a big problem. First Nations really want to decide who their citizens are, not the federal government – they define who is status and not status.”
While the term aboriginal is a very broad one, “status Indian” is clearly defined in the federal Indian Act based on lineage. The vast majority of federal spending on aboriginals is targeted toward Canada's roughly 767,000 status Indians. That policy essentially leaves out the roughly 400,000 Métis and non-status Indians living in the country.
Further, as status Indians have children with non-natives, the number of status Indians is projected to decline so significantly that some native communities will no longer have any children that meet Ottawa's definition. A report done for the department of Indian and Northern Affairs projects that within five generations, there will be no aboriginal children who will meet the definition.
In recent years, particularly since the 2005 first ministers meeting in Kelowna on aboriginal issues, provincial governments are becoming more involved in tackling issues facing their aboriginal citizens.
When premiers emerged from 24 Sussex Friday following their meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, several told reporters that they had agreed to work together on matching their growing aboriginal populations with the expanding shortage of skilled labour across the country.
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer touched on the issue during a press conference in Ottawa on Monday.
“I would argue, with the skill gap in this country that is projected by every analyst over the next 10 years, and with the growing demographic of aboriginal peoples, it just makes good sense to have strategies to get people who are under-employed and under-educated [access to] the proper programs,” said Mr. Doer.
Mr. Toulouse agreed, saying there is a need for both Ottawa and the provinces to fund specific apprenticeship programs for young aboriginal adults who may not have completed high school or university.
“These investments make sense given the Canadian population is aging, retirement rates are rising and First Nations population represents a large pool of untapped potential to fill this gap,” said the regional chief.
The National Association of Friendship Centres, which provides social services and job training in urban centres to all aboriginals, said the new data shows governments need to pay more attention to aboriginals living in cities.
“The majority of Aboriginal peoples live in urban areas and federal spending should reflect this reality,” said Peter Dinsdale, the association's executive director, in a statement.