Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Northwest Territories

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Release date: March 29, 2016

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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

Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal

Nearly six in ten Aboriginal children live with both parents

Table 1
Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Métis single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
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

First Nations people most likely to live in crowded homes and homes requiring major repairs

Table 2
Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Métis single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
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

Ability to speak an Aboriginal language highest among First Nations people

Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011

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."

Data table for Chart 1
Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue (appearing as column headers).
  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

Postsecondary qualifications vary by Aboriginal group

Table 3
Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Total Aboriginal identity population First Nations single identity Métis single identity Inuit single identity Non-Aboriginal identity population
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

Employment rates and median total income increase with education

Table 4
Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64, by highest level of educational attainment, selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity, Inuit single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using employment rate (percent) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  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

Half rated their health as excellent or very good

Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group and age group, Northwest Territories, 2012

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."

Data table for Chart 2
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
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Total, 12 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years and 45 years and over (appearing as column headers).
  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
Table 5
Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of population aged 18 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity groupTable 5, Note 1 and age group, Northwest Territories, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of population aged 18 and over Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations people, Métis , Inuit and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  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

Half of Inuit smoked daily

Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Northwest Territories, 2012

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."

Data table for Chart 3
Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group,Chart 3, Note 1 Northwest Territories, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Total Aboriginal
identity population, First Nations people, Métis, Inuit and Non-Aboriginal
identity population (appearing as column headers).
  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
Table 6
Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity groupTable 6, Note 1 and age group, Northwest Territories, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations
people, Métis and Inuit, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  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

This fact sheet was prepared by Paula Arriagada of the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division of Statistics Canada.

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