Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Northwest Territories
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About the data sources
The 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) and the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) are the main data sources for this fact sheet. The 2011 NHS collected social and economic data about the Canadian population. The 2012 APS was a national survey of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit aged 6 and older. The data are for the Aboriginal identity population, which refers to people who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation. It was possible to report both single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity questions on the NHS and the APS. The NHS data in this fact sheet are based on single responses only. The APS data represent a combination of the single and multiple Aboriginal identity populations. Nearly all off-reserve First Nations, Métis, and Inuit respondents reported a single identity.
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Aboriginal people account for half of the population in the Northwest Territories
- Numbering 21,160, 2% of the Aboriginal identity population in Canada lived in the Northwest Territories in 2011. They made up 52% of the total population of the territory.
- Northwest Territories was home to 13,345 First Nations people, 3,245 Métis, and 4,340 Inuit, with the rest reporting otherNote 1 Aboriginal identities (180) or more than one Aboriginal identity (45). From 2006 to 2011, the First Nations population in the Northwest Territories increased by 6%, while the Inuit population rose by 5%, and the Métis population decreased by 8%.Note 2
- Of those who identified as First Nations people in 2011, more than nine out of ten (94% or 12,575) reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada. Only 2% (270 individuals) of the First Nations population lived on a reserve.
Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal
- Nearly half (48%) of Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories were under the age of 25, compared with 28% of the non-Aboriginal population. About half of First Nations people (49%) and Inuit (50%) were in this age group, as were 41% of Métis.
- In 2011, the median age of First Nations people was 25.8. Métis had a median age of 30.6; that of Inuit was 24.8. All three groups were younger than the non-Aboriginal population, whose median age was 36.4.
Nearly six in ten Aboriginal children live with both parents
- In the Northwest Territories, 57% of First Nations children aged 14 and younger lived in a family with both their parents in 2011, as did 62% of Métis children and 58% of Inuit children. The corresponding percentage for non-Aboriginal children was 81%. About one-quarter of First Nations children (28%), Métis children (25%) and Inuit children (24%) lived in a lone-parent family, rates that were higher than that for their non-Aboriginal peers (10%).
- In 2011, 2% of Aboriginal children aged 14 and younger were in foster care; at 6%, the percentage was highest for Inuit children. Of all children in foster care in the Northwest Territories in 2011, the majority (94%) were Aboriginal children, about half of whom were First Nations, and the other half, Inuit.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations single identity | Métis single identity | Inuit single identity | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
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percent | |||||
Children of both parentsTable 1, Note 1 | 58.1 | 57.1 | 62.4 | 58.1 | 80.5 |
Stepchildren | 9.3 | 9.3 | 8.3 | 10.3 | 8.2 |
Children of lone parent | 27.0 | 28.4 | 25.5 | 23.7 | 10.3 |
Grandchildren in skip-generation family | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 |
Foster children | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 0.3 |
Children living with other relativesTable 1, Note 2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
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First Nations people most likely to live in crowded homes and homes requiring major repairs
- In 2011, 23% of First Nations people in the Northwest Territories lived in crowded homes, that is, with more than one person per room. Among Inuit, the percentage was 15%, and among Métis, 5%. The comparable figure for the non-Aboriginal population was 3%.
- Three in ten First Nations people (29%), 26% of Inuit and 18% of Métis lived in homes in need of major repairs. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 11%.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations single identity | Métis single identity | Inuit single identity | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
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percent | |||||
CrowdingTable 2, Note 1 | 18.3 | 22.5 | 5.4 | 15.3 | 3.2 |
Home in need of majorTable 2, Note 2 repairs | 26.5 | 29.0 | 17.7 | 26.1 | 11.1 |
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Ability to speak an Aboriginal language highest among First Nations people
- In the Northwest Territories, 42% of First Nations people reported the ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language, a rate higher than among Inuit (21%) and Métis (9%). The Aboriginal languages most commonly spoken by First Nations people were Tlicho (Dogrib) and Slavey languages.Note 3 Métis spoke mostly Cree languages, Dene, and Slavey languages. The Aboriginal languages most commonly spoken by Inuit were Inuvialuktun, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun.
- The number who reported being able to converse in an Aboriginal language exceeded the number who reported an Aboriginal mother tongue, which suggests acquisition of an Aboriginal language as a second language.
- Based on results of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey,Note 4 77% of off-reserve First Nations people, 51% of Métis and 80% of Inuit aged 6 and older reported that speaking and understanding an Aboriginal language was important to them.
Description for Chart 1
The title of the graph is "Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 4 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 50 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 2 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Aboriginal identity groups."
The title of series 1 is "Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language."
The minimum value is 9.1 and it corresponds to "Métis single identity."
The maximum value is 41.6 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."
The title of series 2 is "Aboriginal language as mother tongue."
The minimum value is 6.2 and it corresponds to "Métis single identity."
The maximum value is 34.1 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."
Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language | Aboriginal language as mother tongue | |
---|---|---|
Total Aboriginal identity population | 32.1 | 26.5 |
First Nations single identity | 41.6 | 34.1 |
Métis single identity | 9.1 | 6.2 |
Inuit single identity | 20.8 | 19.5 |
Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011. |
Postsecondary qualifications vary by Aboriginal group
- In 2011, 43% of Aboriginal people aged 25 to 64 in the Northwest Territories had a certificate, diploma or degree from a trade school, college or university: 41% of First Nations people, 56% of Métis and 35% of Inuit. The comparable percentage for their non-Aboriginal counterparts was 72%.
- Among those with postsecondary credentials, First Nations people, Métis and Inuit were more likely than non-Aboriginal graduates to have completed programs below the bachelor’s level (trades or college programs).
- There was also a difference in the proportion of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with “no certificate, diploma or degree”. In 2011, 43% of First Nations people aged 25 to 64, 23% of Métis and 47% of Inuit did not have a certificate, diploma or degree. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 8%.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations single identity | Métis single identity | Inuit single identity | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
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percent | |||||
No certificate, diploma or degree | 40.3 | 43.5 | 22.9 | 47.0 | 7.9 |
High school diploma or equivalent | 17.2 | 15.7 | 21.4 | 18.1 | 20.5 |
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 42.5 | 40.7 | 56.0 | 34.9 | 71.6 |
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma | 12.1 | 12.4 | 13.4 | 10.1 | 11.0 |
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma | 22.4 | 21.2 | 29.2 | 19.4 | 22.6 |
University certificate or diploma below bachelor levelTable 3, Note 1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.2 |
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above | 6.1 | 5.4 | 11.9 | 2.8 | 34.7 |
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Employment rates and median total income increase with education
- In 2011, the employment rates of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit aged 25 to 64 in the Northwest Territories who did not have a certificate, diploma or degree were 41.7%, 64.5% and 42.3% respectively. Employment rates were higher for those with further education. For example, among those with postsecondary credentials, the employment rate of First Nations people was 72.4%, while that of Métis was 83.1% and that of Inuit, 70.9%.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations single identity | Métis single identity | Inuit single identity | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
employment rate (percent) | |||||
Total | 61.2 | 57.2 | 78.6 | 57.0 | 88.7 |
No certificate, diploma or degree | 44.1 | 41.7 | 64.5 | 42.3 | 75.8 |
High school diploma or equivalent | 67.0 | 61.0 | 81.9 | 67.1 | 88.6 |
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree | 74.8 | 72.4 | 83.1 | 70.9 | 90.2 |
Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011. |
- Median total incomeNote 5 was also higher for those with higher education levels. Among First Nations people aged 25 to 64, median total income (rounded to the nearest $1,000) ranged from $20,000 for those with no certificate, diploma or degree to $55,000 for those with postsecondary credentials. The range for Métis was from $33,000 to $78,000, and for Inuit, from $19,000 to $49,000.
Half rated their health as excellent or very good
- Based on results of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey, just over half (54%) of the Aboriginal population aged 12 and older in the Northwest Territories rated their health as excellent or very good in 2012: 51% of First Nations people living off reserve, 61% of Métis, and 54% of Inuit.
- Self-reported health varied much more by age group among Aboriginal people than among the non-Aboriginal population.Note 6 The range for the Aboriginal population was from 39% to 70% while that for non-Aboriginal people was from 56% to 75%.
Description for Chart 2
The title of the graph is "Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity groupChart 2, Note 1 and age group, Northwest Territories, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 5 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 90 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 4 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Aboriginal identity groups."
The title of series 1 is "Total."
The minimum value is 50.6 and it corresponds to "First Nations people."
The maximum value is 66.4 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The title of series 2 is "12 to 24 years."
The minimum value is 66.7 and it corresponds to "First Nations people."
The maximum value is 78.2 and it corresponds to "Métis."
The title of series 3 is "25 to 44 years."
The minimum value is 51.2 and it corresponds to "First Nations people."
The maximum value is 75.1 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The title of series 4 is "45 years and over."
The minimum value is 33.6 and it corresponds to "First Nations people."
The maximum value is 55.8 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
Total | 12 to 24 years | 25 to 44 years | 45 years and over | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total Aboriginal identity population | 54.3 | 69.6 | 54.7 | 38.5 |
First Nations people | 50.6 | 66.7 | 51.2 | 33.6 |
Métis | 61.4 | 78.2 | 62.9 | 45.6 |
Inuit | 53.9 | 68.5 | 54.4 | 37.9 |
Non-Aboriginal identity population | 66.4 | 67.5 | 75.1 | 55.8 |
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- The majority of off-reserve First Nations people (63%), Métis (67%) and Inuit (59%) aged 18 and older reported excellent or very good mental health.Note 7
- Just over half of Métis (53%), 46% of Inuit and 42% of off-reserve First Nations people 12 and older reported that they had been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 49%.
- Among off-reserve First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, commonly reported conditions included arthritis excluding fibromyalgia (13%, 14%Note E: Use with caution and 12%, respectively) and high blood pressure (10%, 15% and 11%). In addition, 10% of off-reserve First Nations people, 7%Note E: Use with caution of Métis and 5% of Inuit reported being diagnosed with a learning disability.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations people | Métis | Inuit | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
percent | |||||
Total | 62.7 | 63.4 | 66.9 | 59.1 | 75.5 |
18 to 24 | 62.0 | 64.7 | 65.4 | 59.3 | 72.5 |
25 to 44 | 64.6 | 67.8 | 62.3 | 61.5 | 86.2 |
45 and over | 60.6 | 56.7 | 71.6 | 55.4 | 63.8 |
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Half of Inuit smoked daily
- In 2012, 52% of Inuit aged 12 and older in the Northwest Territories reported that they smoked daily, as did 32% of Métis and 30% of off-reserve First Nations people. The comparable percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 20%.
- Aboriginal people in the 12 to 24 age group were less likely to smoke daily than those in the older age groups. Among Inuit, for example, 38% of those aged 12 to 24 were daily smokers compared to 57% of 25- to 44-year-olds and 61% of those aged 45 and older.
Description for Chart 3
The title of the graph is "Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Chart 3, Note 1 Northwest Territories, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 3 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 60 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 5 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Health behaviours."
The title of series 1 is "Total Aboriginal
identity population."
The minimum value is 31.0 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 50.4 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2."
The title of series 2 is "First Nations people."
The minimum value is 30.1 and it corresponds to "Daily smoking."
The maximum value is 51.2 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2."
The title of series 3 is "Métis."
The minimum value is 24.4 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 42.5 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2."
The title of series 4 is "Inuit."
The minimum value is 32.6 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 54.8 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2."
The title of series 5 is "Non-Aboriginal
identity population."
The minimum value is 20.2 and it corresponds to "Daily smoking."
The maximum value is 30.5 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2."
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations people | Métis | Inuit | Non-Aboriginal identity population | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daily smoking | 38.7 | 30.1 | 31.7 | 51.7 | 20.2 |
Heavy drinkingChart 3, Note 2 | 50.4 | 51.2 | 42.5 | 54.8 | 30.5 |
Non-drinking | 31.0 | 33.2 | 24.4 | 32.6 | 21.6 |
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- For those 12 and older, the rate of heavy drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the 12 months preceding the survey) was 51% for off-reserve First Nations people, 43% for Métis and 55% for Inuit compared with 31% for non-Aboriginal people.
- At the same time, 33% of both off-reserve First Nations people and Inuit were non-drinkers (consumed no alcohol in the 12 months preceding the survey), compared with 22% of the non-Aboriginal population. The percentage for Métis was 24%.
Total Aboriginal identity population | First Nations people |
Métis | Inuit | |
---|---|---|---|---|
percent | ||||
12 to 24 | ||||
Daily smoking | 28.0 | 22.2 | 20.4Note E: Use with caution | 37.8 |
Heavy drinkingTable 6, Note 2 | 53.3 | 57.6 | 51.5 | 51.6 |
Non-drinking | 41.0 | 43.5 | 37.7 | 40.9 |
25 to 44 | ||||
Daily smoking | 44.8 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 57.3 |
Heavy drinking | 56.2 | 59.6 | 47.2 | 58.5 |
Non-drinking | 16.2 | 16.1Note E: Use with caution | 10.2Note E: Use with caution | 19.4 |
45 and over | ||||
Daily smoking | 42.9 | 30.2Note E: Use with caution | 34.3 | 61.2 |
Heavy drinking | 39.8 | 32.2Note E: Use with caution | 31.3Note E: Use with caution | 54.7 |
Non-drinking | 36.7 | 42.5 | 26.9Note E: Use with caution | 37.9 |
E use with caution
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This fact sheet was prepared by Paula Arriagada of the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division of Statistics Canada.
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