National Indigenous History Month... By the numbers: Children and youth

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It’s a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to affect an evolving Canada.

Throughout this month, follow along with this series of quick facts on various topics on Indigenous populations across Canada, starting with an overview of children and youth.

• According to the Census of Population, there were 433,485 Indigenous children aged 1 to 14 living in Canada in 2021, making up 24% of the total Indigenous population. More specifically, children of this age group represented 26% of First Nations people (25% with registered Indian status and 29% without), 21% of Métis and 31% of Inuit. By comparison, 15% of the non-Indigenous population was aged 1 to 14 years.
• In 2022, 70% of Indigenous children aged 1 to 5 years (excluding those living on reserve) had participated in at least one harvesting or cultural activity in the previous 12 months.
• In 2022, four in five (80%) Indigenous children aged 1 to 14 years (excluding those living on reserve) were reported by their parent to have excellent or very good health (79% of First Nations children living off reserve, 82% of Métis children and 77% of Inuit children).