Dispelling Common
Myths About
Indigenous Peoples
9 Myths & Realities
By Bob Joseph of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.
1
This ebook is titled Dispelling Myths about Indigenous
Peoples so before we get going we should talk about
terminology. This ebook could have easily been about
Aboriginal peoples or Indians or First Nations but we chose
Indigenous Peoples because the federal government is now
using this term.
The constitutional correct terminology in Canada is
Aboriginal Peoples and this includes Indian, Inuit and Métis.
Indian can be synonymous with First Nation, First Nations or
even Nations. Indian can also be broken up into status
Indian and non status Indian. The Inuit are different from
Indians as are Métis. See this video on best terminology.
We will use those terms accordingly depending on the myth
we are talking about. Most of the myths (taxes, housing,
education) regarding Indigenous Peoples in Canada relate
to Indians (status) or First Nations. For the purposes of this
ebook, we use First Nation. Although the ebook is called
Dispelling Common Myths About Indigenous Peoples, you
will see a shift in terminology.
And the last word on terminology, in addition to the
Indigenous Peoples in Canada - First Nations, Inuit and
Métis - you can also have Indigenous Peoples from other
countries such as Peru, Mexico or Argentina living in
Canada. They are still Indigenous persons, but are not
covered by the Indian Act or eligible for tax exemptions for
example.
2
Definition of a Myth
The definition of “myth”,
according to the Oxford
Canadian dictionary, is “a widely
held but false notion”. Well,
there are many widely held but
false notions or myths regarding
the perceived special privileges
Indigenous Peoples in Canada
receive from the federal
government. In this ebook we
take a look at some of the
common ones and then provide
a snapshot of the reality for
Indigenous Peoples.
Myths surrounding Indigenous Peoples cover many aspects.
These myths, which have endured for generations and continue
to do so, often paint a distorted picture that does not represent
reality for many Indigenous People in Canada.
Disclaimer & Terms of Use. The materials on our website www.ictinc.ca are provided for informational and educational
purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We expect you will learn from our educational materials and obtain legal
advice as you need. If you wish to share this ebook in its entirety please respect our copyright by reading and following the
Terms of Use.
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
3
Myth #1
Indigenous Peoples are all the same
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
4
Reality:
One the popular myths is that the Indigenous community is
one homogenous group. This disregards the reality that
hundreds of individual Indigenous communities have their
own unique history, culture, traditions and economies.
“Anishinaabe, Métis, Coastal Salish, Cree, Cherokee. We
have nothing much in common. We’re all aboriginal and we
have the drum. That’s about it.” Thomas King writing about
a drum circle in “The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious
Account of Native People in North America”
Not recognizing the cultural diversity of Indigenous Peoples
in Canada is one of the most common mistakes nonIndigenous people make when working with people and
communities. See this short video on name dropping for
example.
Respect for cultural diversity is an aspect of Canadian
society that is of great appeal to people from other
countries who want to move here, and is supported by the
Multiculturalism Act of 1988. The average Canadian would
proudly say they respect cultural diversity.
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There are three distinct groups of Aboriginal Peoples - First
Nation or Indian, Métis and Inuit as defined by the
Constitution Act, 1982.
Let’s take a look at the largest group - First Nations (also
known as Indians). There are over 600 bands and over
2,000 reserves - each one with a distinct history that
shaped their particular cultural identity. They each have
distinct languages, cultures, economies, capacities,
challenges, stories, teachings and worldviews.
In BC alone there is an amazing diversity of First Nation
culture and language - there are over 200 First Nation
communities in the province - each with its own unique
culture, traditions and history. These 200 communities
represent 60% of the First Nation languages spoken in
Canada. Speaking of language, did you know that outside
of Quebec, English is becoming the common language of
Aboriginal people in Canada?
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Recognition of the uniqueness of each community is a
fundamental first step non-Indigenous Canadians can
take to respect Indigenous Peoples. If, for example,
readers believe First Nation people should all be equal
then they are not respecting and recognizing that this is
the opposite of recognition of difference.
In terms of an extractive company, an educator, a
government representative, or average Joe or Josephine
(to be respectful) time spent researching and developing
an understanding of the unique background of each
community will increase your understanding of what is
important to that community, what they are proud of, and
what they will fight to protect.
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Myth #2
Indigenous Peoples already have
ample reserve lands and resources
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Reality:
There are a number of wrongs about this myth, the first
being that not all Indigenous Peoples have reserves.
“Except for the far north (including northern Quebec),
where comprehensive land claims settlements have
improved the situation, the present land base of First
Nations is inadequate. Lands acknowledged as First Nation
south of the sixtieth parallel (mainly reserves) make up less
than one half of 1% of the Canadian land mass. Much of
this land is of marginal value. In the United States
(excluding Alaska) – where Aboriginal people are a much
smaller percentage of the total population – the
comparable figure is 3%.”[1]
Some reserves are tiny, some are vast distances from
urban centres, education facilities, and employment
opportunities. Don’t make the mistake of equating reserves
with traditional or treaty territories which can be vast. As
designated in the Indian Act:
“Reserves are held by Her Majesty for the use and
benefit of the respective bands for which they were set
apart, and subject to this Act and to the terms of any
treaty or surrender, the Governor in Council may
determine whether any purpose for which lands in a
reserve are used or are to be used is for the use and
benefit of the band.“ [2]
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Traditional lands refer to an area that a Nation has
occupied and used for many generations, long before
reserve borders were imposed by the Indian Act. When
reserves were designated, traditional usage and ceremonial
sites were not always considered. Some Nations were
relocated to reserves in areas that were completely alien to
their traditional lands.
[1] Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples,
Volume 2, page 422-423, 1996. Reproduced with the
permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government
Services, 2007, and Courtesy of the Privy Council Office.
[2] Indian Act 18. (1)
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Myth #3
Indigenous Peoples can do whatever
they want with their reserve lands
and resources.
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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Reality:
For this myth to be true, all Indigenous Peoples in Canada
would live on reserves. In reality, a reserve is a tract of land
set aside under the Indian Act and treaty agreements for the
exclusive use of an Indian band (First Nation). Métis and Inuit
have no reserves.
The ultimate title to reserve lands is vested in “Her Majesty”.
Section 28 of the Indian Act states:
“Reserve lands are not subject to seizure under legal
process.”
Section 32 (1) of the Indian Act provides:
"A transaction of any kind whereby a band or a member
thereof purports to sell, barter, exchange, give or
otherwise dispose of cattle or other animals, grain or hay,
whether wild or cultivated, or root crops or plants or their
products from a reserve in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or
Alberta, to a person other than a member of that band, is
void unless the superintendent approves the transaction
in writing."
12
Section 33 adds:
"Every person who enters into a transaction that is void
under subsection 32(1) is guilty of an offence."
The Indian Act is clear that status Indians do not own
property on reserves. The Minister of Indigenous and
Northern Affairs Canada may issue a "Certificate of
Possession" to a status Indian for a portion of reserve land,
but underlying title to the land remains vested with the
Crown. Thus, Indian reserve land cannot be sold except to
the Crown and does not appreciate in value the same way
that property held in fee simple does for other Canadians.
This makes it very difficult for a status Indian to borrow funds
to build a house on reserve. The difficulty of qualifying for
mortgages and loans previously noted in regards to housing
also makes it extremely difficult to start businesses on
reserve.
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The Canadian government passed legislation in the late
19th and early 20th centuries allowing the government to
expropriate portions of reserve land to provide land for
public utilities rights-of-ways (railways, transmission lines
and highways) - often done without the consent of the
Nation and without compensation. It is this expropriation
that has resulted in the fragmentation and disruption of
many reserves.
In many cases, the province or Crown further retains
subsoil rights on the reserve, which means band
members do not “own” the minerals found there.
Coastal waters and tidal lands do not form part of the
reserve either in most cases. Although colonists tried to
justify the small sizes of many reserves along coastal
British Columbia by their access to waterways,
Indigenous fishing grounds and their resources have
been restricted by provincial and federal regulations.
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Myth #4
Indigenous people living on reserves
get free housing!
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Reality:
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
(CMHC) offers many programs to assist both
Indigenous and non-Indigenous people meet their
housing needs. For Indigenous people, the assistance
programs are only applicable for dwellings on reserve
lands. First Nations (or Indians, depending on their
preference) people can apply for social housing
programs offered by the CMHC.
The housing programs for Indigenous people are
mainly designed to give low-income families access
to rental housing. Bands and First Nations that meet
CMHC lending criteria apply to a bank for
conventional mortgage funds to finance the social
housing construction, usually with CMHC providing
loan insurance. The band rents the housing units to its
members and maintains the mortgage.
On many reserves, except some that have developed
self-government agreements, the house is owned but
the land is not – therefore it cannot be sold - which
makes it impossible to build up equity in your home,
as is possible for non-Indigenous people. Additionally,
the reality for most people is that they need to take
out a loan in order buy a house and loans require
collateral.
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The Indian Act limitations to seizing property on-reserve,
make it extremely difficult to secure financing for anything,
whether you intend to buy, build or renovate a house,
start a business, or what have you. To be extremely clear,
this is not an endorsement of attempts to unilaterally
impose private property regimes on reserve, I’m just
explaining things.
Reserves are of a finite size, and on some urban reserves,
there is no room for expansion - when the space available
for housing reaches its maximum capacity, that’s it, which
makes accommodating population growth a challenge. As
Indigenous people are the fastest-growing segment of
Canada's population, with more than half the population
under the age of 25, this means the additional challenge
of available building space will become an issue for some
reserves.
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The housing shortage on-reserve is in the range of
20,000 - 35,000, according to Indigenous and Northern
Affairs Canada (2011), with the shortfall growing by an
estimated 2,200 units every year. The population
growth rate coupled with the shortage of adequate
housing results in people living in unhealthy and
overcrowded conditions.
Maintenance is also a huge factor. Many reserves are
situated long distances from hardware stores or have
fly-in access only so have to bring in building supplies
by air.
The struggles of the Attawapiskat First Nation in
Ontario that hit the media in late December 2011 are a
clear example of some of the unhealthy and
overcrowded living conditions that exist on reserves in
Canada today.
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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Myth #5
Indigenous Peoples don’t pay taxes in
Canada
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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Reality:
This myth is proclaimed frequently, and is presented as a
testament that Indigenous People in Canada have a massive
tax advantage over other people in Canada.
In order for this myth to be true, it would have to be all
Indigenous people are exempt from paying taxes but the
reality is that it is only the status Indians who are exempt
from paying taxes. All other Indigenous people – Inuit, Métis
and non-status Indians - pay taxes on the same footing as
non-Indigenous people. However, in January 2015 the
Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Métis and non-status
Indians are "Indians" under the Constitution Act. This could
mean in future that Métis and non-status Indians will also be
eligible for the same tax exemptions but it is unclear yet. The
federal government is considering its options in terms of
appealing the decision. Indigenous Peoples from other
countries such as Mexico or Peru, living in Canada pay
taxes.
Federal tax exemptions for status Indians have existed at
least since the consolidation of the Indian Act in 1876, but
only apply in very specific and limited conditions. Under
sections 87 and 90 of the Indian Act, status Indians do not
pay federal or provincial taxes on their personal and real
property that is on a reserve. Personal property includes
goods, services and income as defined under the Canada
Customs and Revenue Agency policies. As income is
considered personal property, status Indians who work on a
reserve do not pay federal or provincial taxes on their
employment income.
20
Initially the purpose of the exemption was to preserve
the entitlements of status Indians to their reserve lands
and to ensure that the use of their property on their
reserve lands is not eroded by taxes.
Section 87 also exempts from the federal Goods and
Services Tax (GST) the goods and services bought by
status Indians at businesses located on-reserve. Goods
and services purchased off-reserve by status Indians but
delivered to the reserve are also tax exempt. Most
provincial sales taxes are similarly applied. In some
provinces, there are certain exemptions such as
automobiles which must be registered to an address on
a reserve in order to be tax exempt.
Most income, sales and property tax exemptions only
apply to status Indians (637,660) who live or work on a
reserve. Less than half of all registered status Indians live
on reserve so the number who are actually eligible for
tax exemptions amounts to about 314,000 people. [1] To
put it in perspective, somewhat less than half of all
registered status Indians live on reserve so less than 1%
of the total population of Canada are exempt from
paying certain taxes.
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● The Court has indicated that this tax exemption is not
intended to remedy the economically disadvantaged
position of Aboriginal people in Canada or bring
economic benefits to them.
Also, based on Supreme Court decisions, Indian
property not situated on a reserve will generally be
subject to tax just like property held by other
Canadians.” [2]
Status Indians do pay income tax
Income earned on a reserve is exempt, whether or not
the employed status Indian person lives on or off reserve.
Income earned off reserve is taxed on par with nonIndigenous taxpayers.
So, in terms of how many status Indians are receiving
income tax exemptions:
● “The employment rate for working-age Status Indians
was 55% in 2011, over 20 percentage points lower
than the rate for non-Aboriginal persons of working
age (76%).
● The unemployment rate for working-age Status
Indians was 17%. The proportion was even higher for
those living on-reserve at 22%.” [3]
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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Sorry, Justin, there’s no free gas
In 2012, Justin Bieber infamously stated in an interview
for Rolling Stone magazine "I'm actually part Indian. I
think Inuit or something? I'm enough percent that in
Canada I can get free gas." Reality check – status
Indians who present their status card when purchasing
gas on reserve are tax exempt. This does not apply to
gas purchased off reserve.
So there’s some clarification for you. Now when you
hear the statement “Indigenous Peoples don’t pay
taxes” you will know differently.
We also would like to point out that not paying taxes is
practically a national pastime - consider all the nonIndigenous Canadians and corporations who actively
look for loopholes to avoid paying taxes and are entitled
to do so..
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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So, some points to further clarify the reality of the myth that
Indigenous people don’t pay taxes in Canada:
Personal property tax exemption facts:
● "A tax exemption for Indian property situated on
reserves has existed since before Confederation.
● The Supreme Court of Canada has stated that this
exemption is linked to the protection of reserve land and
property.
● The Court has concluded that the purpose of the
exemption is to make sure tax does not erode the use of
Indian property on reserves.
[1] 2011 National Household Survey: Aboriginal Peoples in
Canada: First Nations People, Métis and Inuit
[2] Canada Revenue Agency website
[3] 2011 National Household Survey: Aboriginal Peoples in
Canada: First Nations People, Métis and Inuit
[4] Canada Revenue Agency website
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Myth #6
Indigenous Peoples receive free postsecondary education
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Reality:
To say that all Indigenous Peoples receive free postsecondary funding is misleading because it implies all
Indigenous Peoples are eligible for funding. This is not the
case. Only status Indians are eligible to receive funding for
post-secondary education through Indigenous and Northern
Affairs funding - non status Indians, Inuit and Métis are not
eligible for this funding through INAC.
Eligibility is just one criteria. The student has to apply to the
band office of their home community. The number of
applications for funding frequently exceeds the available.
Some communities have waiting lists and those on the lists
will probably never be funded. Some communities require
the student to be a resident in the community which
eliminates the students who live in urban centres. So, while
in some communities the rate of high school graduation is
increasing, the graduates often step off the path to higher
education at that point due to the lack of available funds.
In order to create additional opportunities for their members
some status Indians and bands set aside funding within their
budgets to assist their members in obtaining a postsecondary education. These programs are similar to
scholarship programs established by post-secondary
institutions and other organizations who want to see the
advancement of youth.
26
Myth #7
Residential schools are ancient history
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Reality:
It is a common and convenient myth that residential
schools are part of Canada’s ancient history. In reality the
last school closed in 1996 which is 166 years after the first
school, the Mohawk Indian Residential School, opened in
1830. As recently as 1979, 12 residential schools were still
operating. Over the 166 years there were 139 schools
operating across Canada except Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick and Newfoundland ( in Newfoundland the
Indigenous population, the Beothuk, became extinct 350
years after European contact).
Beginning in the late 1800s, Indigenous children (150,000)
were removed from their homes and placed in statefunded and church-run schools - they were not allowed to
attend public schools. Programs offered in the Indian
Residential Schools system emphasized "Christianizing"
Indians (at that time there was no distinction between
Indians, Inuit or Métis) and provided training for jobs in
agriculture and as domestic help - not with a goal of
obtaining a post secondary education.
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Reality:
The policy behind the schools has now been
acknowledged as “cultural genocide”.
"I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think
as a matter of fact, that the country ought to
continuously protect a class of people who are able to
stand alone... Our objective is to continue until there is
not a single Indian in Canada that has not been
absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian
question, and no Indian Department." Duncan
Campbell Scott, 1920, Deputy Minister, Indian Affairs
in Canada
The impact of the residential school system is multigenerational, current and is considered one of the primary
contributors to the social problems of many survivors,
their families and communities.
There are approximately 80,000 former students, or
survivors, alive today. According to the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission an approximate 6,000 children
died in or due to residential schools.
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Myth #8
There’s no connection between Indigenous
unemployment and Indigenous health and social
problems
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Reality:
Employment opportunities and rates on reserves vary
considerably due to general economic circumstances in a
particular region and the presence or absence of onreserve resource bases that can generate employment.
Given that in many circumstances incomes are low and
employment prospects poor, it is not surprising that a large
proportion of the Indigenous population is unemployed and
lives in poverty.
Going back to Myth#4, poor and scarce housing leads to
too many people living in housing units that are frequently
riddled with mould, not weatherproof, and insufficiently
heated - the ideal incubation setting for respiratory
conditions.
31
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
Myth #9
Missing and murdered Indigenous
women brought it upon themselves
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Reality:
Decades of government policies have wreaked havoc on
traditional Indigenous family relations and destroyed
communities, leaving many Indigenous women and girls
impoverished, demoralized and extremely vulnerable to
exploitation and attack. Prevailing antagonism and enduring
racial stereotypes that sexualize Indigenous women and
girls denigrate their dignity and self-worth and sets the
environment for some men to feel they can get away with
violent acts of hatred against them.
Stats Canada’ report Violent victimization of Aboriginal
women in the Canadian provinces, 2009 shows that “close
to 67,000 or 13% of all Aboriginal women aged 15 and older
living in the provinces stated that they had been violently
victimized. Overall, Aboriginal women reported experiencing
close to 138,000 incidents of violence and were almost
three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report
having been a victim of a violent crime. This was true
regardless if the violence occurred between strangers or
acquaintances, or within a spousal relationship.”
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In 2014 the RCMP released a report that marked the first
time that police in Canada have attempted, at the national
level, to identify how many Indigenous women and girls
have been murdered or gone missing. According to the
report, 1,017 women and girls identified as Indigenous
were murdered between 1980 and 2012—a homicide rate
roughly 4.5 times higher than that of all other women in
Canada. In addition, as of November 2013, at least 164
Indigenous women and girls remained missing under
suspicious circumstances or for undetermined reasons.
Indigenous women and girls in Canada, on and off
reserves, in major cities, in every region in the country are
at risk of experiencing violence. The perpetrators include
Indigenous and non-Indigenous men alike.
The 1,107 murdered Indigenous women and the additional
164 who are missing under suspicious circumstances did
not bring it upon themselves.
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016
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Thanks for downloading this ebook - we really hope it
has provided some insight into the many myths that
prevail. We believe that by sharing knowledge and
information through our training programs we can make
the world a better place for Indigenous and nonIndigenous people.
If you are interested in additional free resources, be sure
to grab a copy of our other very popular ebooks:
23 tips on what not to say or do when Working Effectively
with Aboriginal Peoples™
27 Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples™ Must
Do’s
Aboriginal Peoples: A Guide to Terminology
We also have a blog and free weekly newsletter.
Disclaimer & Terms of Use. The materials on our website www.ictinc.ca are provided for
informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We expect you
will learn from our educational materials and obtain legal advice as you need. If you wish to share
this ebook in its entirety please respect our copyright by reading and following the Terms of Use.
35
SPECIAL REPORT
TD Economics
June 18, 2012
DEBUNKING MYTHS SURROUNDING CANADA’S
ABORIGINAL POPULATION
We thank the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), whose research and insights were instrumental in the preparation of this report.
Highlights
•
In recognition and celebration of National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, TD Economics continues its
tradition of carrying out Aboriginal-related economic research, raising awareness about Aboriginal
peoples, businesses and communities. This report represents our third in the series of articles on
Aboriginal social and economic issues.
•
In this report we attempt to put to bed ten myths surrounding Canada’s Aboriginal population. The
myths were chosen on the basis of misconceptions we encountered while carrying out the research
on our previous reports. We also sought insight from organizations like the Canadian Council for
Aboriginal Business (CCAB) which have community and business reach.
•
The misperceptions put to rest are broad-based, including: access to free post-secondary education,
taxation exemption rules, and the prevalence and success of Aboriginal-owned small businesses
and economic development corporations.
In celebration of National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, TD Economics continues its tradition of
carrying out Aboriginal-related economic research, raising broader awareness about issues confronting
Aboriginal peoples, businesses and communities. This report represents our third in the series of articles.
The first concluded that the tide had shifted in the right direction for Aboriginal peoples and there was
a renewed spirit of entrepreneurship in the air. In our second article, we noted that Aboriginal people
and businesses were increasingly leaving their mark on the national economic scene. We attached a
$32 billion figure to the size of the Aboriginal market by 2016, higher than the level of nominal GDP of
two Atlantic provinces combined.
These two reports explored the economic footprint for Aboriginal peoples and how the future might
unfold. To carry out this work, we needed to research the existing body of literature and craft our own
stories with analysis and data in hand. In doing so, we have come across a number of myths about
Aboriginal peoples which simply do not fit reality. These beliefs could influence the way in which the
non-Aboriginal population looks at Aboriginal peoples. In order to set the record straight, we have
compiled a list of ten myths to debunk.
Myth 1: Aboriginal people do not pay taxes.
Some don’t, some do. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Aboriginal people pay the same
taxes and are subject to the same tax rules as non-Aboriginals.1 There are a few limited exemptions for
Status Indians which are stated in Section 87 of the Indian Act.2 A Status Indian is generally the member
Derek Burleton, VP & Deputy Chief Economist, 416-982-2514
Sonya Gulati, Senior Economist, 416-982-8063
TD Economics | www.td.com/economics
of an Indian band or community with rights under the Indian
Act to live on reserve, vote for band council and chief, share
in band monies, and have an interest in property on reserve.
Approximately half of the one million people who identify
themselves as Aboriginal are classified as Status Indian.
Those Aboriginal people who are Inuit or Métis pay the
same taxes as anyone else in Canada.
According to legislation, the personal property of an Indian or a band situated on a reserve is exempt from taxation.
In court rulings, this provision has historical roots and is
intended to preserve entitlement to the land.3 Employment
income while working on a reserve also can be tax exempt.
However, location of work and residence of employees are
two examples of criteria used to assess whether the individual must pay taxes. The federal Goods and Services Tax
(GST) is not levied for purchases by Status Indians, but in
order to qualify, the purchase must be made on reserve or
delivered to a reserve by a vendor or the vendor’s agent.
Each province has set up policies with regard to tax
exemptions for areas under their own jurisdiction. In some
provinces, like Ontario and Québec, a Status Indian with
the appropriate accreditation can receive a rebate on the
provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for
eligible purchases.4,5
Myth 2: Aboriginal people do not have to pay for postsecondary education.
Some don’t, some do. The federal government does
provide money to First Nation and Inuit governments for
students to attend a post-secondary institution. Programs
have been set up to defray tuition costs, travel costs and
living expenses associated with the pursuit of post secondNOTABLE DIFFERENCES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
ATTAINMENT RATES ACROSS ABORIGINAL AND
NON-ABORIGINAL POPULATIONS
% of 15+ Population by Highest Level of Schooling
20
Aboriginal
Population
16
Non-Aboriginal
Population
12
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES PRESENT IN EVERY
PROVINCE AND TERRITORY
Estimated Population for 2012, 000s
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
NL
PE
NS
NB
QC
ON
MB
SK
AB
BC
YK
NT
NU
Note: 2012 estimates by TD Economics as of June 2012.
Source: Population Projections by Aboriginal Identity in Canada, 2006 to 2031.
ary education.6 At present, there are no similar programs
for students who identify as Non-Status Indian and Métis.
While post-secondary education support is available to
some Aboriginal students, not everyone who is eligible receives it. With more demand than funds, some communities
have resorted to limiting applications to only those students
who are pursuing their first post-secondary certification.7 In
other cases, they limit eligibility to include those students
who live on reserve while they undertake their studies.7
Myth 3: Almost all Aboriginal people live on reserve
and in rural areas.
False. Statistics Canada is not scheduled to release updated data on Aboriginal peoples until mid-2013. However,
if we use their most recent population projections, we can
dispel this myth.
GREATER REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL
PEOPLES IN THE TERRITORIES AND THE WEST
Aboriginal Share of Total 2012 Population (%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
8
40
30
4
20
0
Apprenticeship or College, CEGEP or University Certificate University Certificate
Trades Certificate or other Non-University or Diploma Below
or Degree
Diploma
Certificate or
Bachelor Level
Diploma
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census.
June 18, 2012
10
0
NL
PE
NS
NB QC ON MB
SK
AB
BC
YK
NT
NU
CA
Note: 2012 estimates by TD Economics as of June 2012.
Source: Population Projections by Aboriginal Identity in Canada, 2006 to 2031.
2
TD Economics | www.td.com/economics
Aboriginal peoples currently reside in every province
and territory. In terms of scale, British Columbia, the Prairies, and Central Canada are home to the highest number of
Aboriginal people. This outcome is not very surprising as
these provinces have the most number of Canadians. When
the Aboriginal population is expressed as a share of total
provincial or territorial population, we see that the territories
indeed have the highest concentration of Aboriginal residents. Still, nearly one-in-five Saskatchewan and Manitoba
residents identifies as Aboriginal, which is more than four
times the national average.
In terms of the on- and off-reserve breakdown, onein-five Aboriginal Canadians lived on reserve in 2011.
In addition to most living off-reserve, the majority of all
Aboriginals (54% in 2011) live in an urban setting. Both
of these shares have been relatively constant over the past
decade, cementing the fact that most Aboriginals are urban
and off-reserve dwellers and have been for some time.
ABORIGINAL-OWNED BUSINESS REGIONAL
DISTRIBUTION MIRRORS NATIONAL PICTURE
% of SMEs/Aboriginal-Owned SMEs by Region
45
All SMEs
Aboriginal-Owned SMEs
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Atlantic
Quebec
Ontario
Prairies
British
Columbia
Note: Territories have been suppressed due to data limitations.
Source: Key Small Business Financing Statistics - December 2009
False. To debunk this myth, we must piece together
data from the Census and a new publication that reports
employment outcomes for Aboriginal people from 2008
to 2010.8 While these recent data are helpful, the Labour
Force Survey does not sample Aboriginal people living
on-reserve or in the territories. In spite of the underlying
data limitations, information leading up to, and immediately
after, the recession allows us to analyze employment trends
with the global economic downturn in mind. Unfortunately,
Statistics Canada has not yet published Aboriginal labour
force data beyond 2010.
From 2001 to 2008, a commodity price boom prevailed
and, as a result, there was a major shift in employment and
economic growth towards the natural resource sector for Aboriginal people and communities. Construction projects also
surged, as heightened activity in this sector often goes along
with natural resource development. In 2008, for example,
36% of all employed Aboriginal people worked in the goodsproducing sector and construction. The unemployment rate
made significant progress during these years – it dropped
from 17.4% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2008. Labour force participation rates also increased four percentage points over this
timeframe. As we argued in our previous report, enhanced
job opportunities allowed Aboriginal people to grow their
economic footprint and improve their income prospects.9
Some of the employment and income gains seen during
ABORIGINAL LABOUR OUTCOMES IMPROVING
AFTER BEING HARD HIT BY THE RECESSION
OUT-SIZED POPULATION GROWTH EXPECTED
FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADA*
Myth 4: Aboriginal people are falling further behind in
the job market.
%
20
18
Unemployment Rate (lhs)
Participation
Rate (rhs)
16
14
12
%
79
1,400
78
1,200
77
1,000
76
800
75
600
74
400
73
200
72
0
10
8
6
4
2
0
2001
2006
2008
2009
2010
Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2001 and 2006; The Aboriginal
Labour Force Analysis Series, Publication: 71-588-XWE.
June 18, 2012
2006
Indian
Métis
2031
Inuit
Note: * Relative to the non-Aboriginal population growth average.
Source: Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 91-552-X
3
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ABORIGINAL BUSINESSES SERVICE CLIENTS IN
NORTH AMERICA AND ABROAD
HEALTHY EXPECTATIONS FOR FUTURE GROWTH
AMONG BUSINESSES
In countries other
than Canada/United
States
% of Respondents by Expectations of Growth in Sales Revenue in 2 Years
80
71
70
In the United States
60
In other
territories/provinces
in Canada
50
40
In other parts of
province/territory
30
Within local
community
23
20
6
10
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of survey respondents by location of clients
Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity.
the early part of the decade were given back with the onset
of the global financial crisis. Aboriginal communities were
hit particularly hard given their out-sized exposure to the
primary sector: the Aboriginal jobless rate hit 11.6% in
2009 and the labour market participation rate fell by a half
percentage point. The data show that this deterioration was
temporary, with 2010 numbers bouncing back with some
vigour. If we were to forecast out these measures to the
present, both should be close to 2008 levels.
The past decade cements the idea that Aboriginal people
are increasingly participating in the market economy. Both
the labour market participation rate and unemployment rate
are better today than where they stood in 2001. These trends
demonstrate real progress in a relatively short period of time.
Myth 5: Very few Aboriginal people start their own
business.
False. Roughly 2% of all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are operated by Aboriginal entrepreneurs,
slightly lower than the 3.8% share of Aboriginals in the
population.10 Even so, this translates into approximately
32,000 businesses, both on- and off-reserve. The data also
suggest that women play an important role in Aboriginalowned businesses – 51% of these firms belonged entirely
or partly to women, while the Canadian average was 47%.
The count of Aboriginal SMEs is conservative, as it
does not include firms who are incorporated under provincial and territorial charter. It also does not capture the
number of economic development corporations (EDCs) or
community-owned enterprises which have become a more
popular business model over the past decade.10 According
June 18, 2012
0
Yes
No
No Answer
Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity.
to the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business, there were
approximately 262 active EDCs in Canada in 2010.9 We do
not have more recent data than 2010, but we suspect that
there are roughly 275 of these firms up and running today.
Myth 6: Even if there are Aboriginal businesses,
they’re not very successful.
False. The Aboriginal Business Survey provides some
insight on the success of Aboriginal-owned businesses.11
Most have only a handful of employees and operate in an
environment which they define as highly competitive. Even
with these headwinds, the majority of firms are profitable –
six in ten reported a profit in 2010 and a third managed to
boost annual revenues in 2010 despite the global downturn.
Last but not least, roughly half of survey respondents labeled
ABORIGINAL BUSINESSES REPRESENTED WELL
ACROSS SECTORS
Other services
Arts, entertainment and
food*
Professional/Scientific**
Wholesale and retail
trade
Manufacturing and
transportation
Non-Aboriginals
Aboriginals
Construction
Primary
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
% of entrepreneurs by sector
Note: * Also includes technical services, education, health and social. ** Also
includes accommodation and cultural.
Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity.
4
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their business a success. Interestingly, the criteria used to
make this assessment were not just based on dollars and
cents, but other factors like personal satisfaction with their
line of profession and having a steady client base.
The future for Aboriginal entrepreneurs also looks bright
as seven in ten survey respondents anticipated revenue
growth over the next two years. This same proportion also
thinks they will be at the helm of their business in five years.
In addition, the growth rate of Aboriginals in self-employed
positions is exceeding that of non-Aboriginals. This trend,
combined with the rapid growth and success of the economic
development corporation business model, suggests that the
number of Aboriginal-owned SMEs should continue to
increase. While barriers to competitiveness remain for this
group of entrepreneurs, many are finding ways to overcome
these challenges. An example of an innovative solution is
the urban reserve near Saskatoon which is home to many
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses.12
Myth 7: Aboriginal businesses are simply riding the
coattails of the resource sector.
False. Roughly 13% of all Aboriginal-owned small
and medium-sized businesses in 2010 were directly linked
with the primary sector, which includes agriculture, forestry, mining, and oil and gas extraction.11 Given a period
of relatively strong commodity prices and an increase in
resource exploration, many First Nation, Inuit and Métis
communities have reaped the economic benefits.
Despite the emphasis on natural resources, Aboriginal
entrepreneurs are operating successful businesses across
all industries. In fact, the majority of Aboriginal-owned
establishments are linked to service-producing sectors like
construction and business services.
In addition to being diversified in terms of area of focus,
business owners are filling niches in the marketplace which
were victim to gaps or previously viewed as uncompetitive.
For example, Inuit Air is a regional airline company which
began in the mid-1970s shortly after the first modern land
claims’ agreement was signed.13 The company now employs roughly 500 people and services Northern Québec – a
region which lies at the heart of the Québec government’s
Plan Nord initiative.
There are many other examples of innovation in Aboriginal-owned businesses outside the resource sector. A
case in point is access to credit for businesses on reserve
which was once an issue. This is because real and personal
property on a reserve cannot be used as collateral for a loan
June 18, 2012
as stipulated by the Indian Act. Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) across the country sprung up to fill the gap
and provided access to loans where needed. The National
Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association estimates that
since the late 1980s, AFIs have provided over $1.3 billion in
financing and 30,000 loans to Aboriginal small businesses.14
Myth 8: Aboriginal communities are protected by
government Treaties – which pretty much guarantee
their economic and political rights.
Yes and no. A treaty is a negotiated, written agreement
which defines the rights and responsibilities for all parties
involved. Issues resolved in treaties include land ownership, governance structures, wildlife and environment
management, financial benefits and taxation rights.15 More
generally, agreements can sometimes capture the spiritual,
philosophical and cultural views of those Aboriginal communities involved. Eleven historical treaties were signed
from 1871-1921 covering much of Canada, except British
Columbia, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. 16
There are twenty comprehensive land claims settled since
1973, involving 96 communities and over 70,000 Aboriginal
people. These claims have involved 4,106,958 square kilometres in settlement land and $2 billion in settlement dollars.
Recent court decisions highly recommend that treaties be
negotiated with government and Aboriginal communities to
bring greater certainty to land use and to ensure a clear definition of rights and responsibilities has been agreed upon. At
present, not all Aboriginal communities have either historical or modern-day agreements in place – most are situated
in British Columbia. For instance, 60% of all First Nations
(or 116 communities) in the province are not governed by
a treaty. Negotiations with senior Aboriginal leaders and
Crown representatives are ongoing. It can often take years
for one agreement to be signed. The British Columbia
government estimates that the total benefits from signed
treaties, including increased investment, could reach $50
billion, or $1-2 billion per year for the next 20-25 years.17
Myth 9: Aboriginal people receive a huge, immediate
boost to their income when they settle a claim.
Not always. In settling a land claim, governments often
use different payment methods: cash and other considerations such as economic development initiatives.18 With
land claim settlements, many Aboriginal communities are
able to seek out opportunities for economic prosperity while
offering their community members a more stable and certain
future. It has been estimated that yet-to-be-settled compre5
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REPRESENTATION CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND
AVAILABILITY OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN
PRIVATE INDUSTRY GRADUALLY IMPROVING
% of People who Identify as Aboriginal
% of People who Identify as Aboriginal by Sector
3.5
3.5
3.0
3.0
2.5
2.5
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
Availability
1.0
Representation
0.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
hensive and specific land claims could yield $9-$13 billion.19
The financial portion of a comprehensive claim is usually handed over to the community over 12-15 years, while
specific land claims are paid as a lump sum. However, this
money is rarely a flow through transfer from the federal
government to an individual Aboriginal person. Instead,
the Aboriginal government often directs these funds be
placed in a Trust.
Although settlement funds are paid to the Aboriginal
government (and placed in a Trust), there is often a per
capita distribution payment made to all registered community members at the time of the settlement then living, both
on- and off-reserve. Adults receive their payment immediately, while payments to Minors are deferred (held in trust)
until the person reaches the age of majority. The decision
to distribute per capita payments is made throughout the
settlement process. Any per capita money must be stated
in the agreement itself and the decision must be ratified by a
community vote. The reason for these up-front payments is
that it usually takes many years to settle a claim. In addition,
given that the Trust is meant to be a long term benefit to all
current and future generations of members, the Aboriginal
government usually recommends a one time immediate
payment to share in the celebration of the settlement with
all its members.
Myth 10: There is a quota system for how many
Aboriginal people must be hired by Canadian
employers.
False. At the end of 2010, the employment rate of
Aboriginal people (the per cent of the adult population
June 18, 2012
1997
2008
Note: Captures federally-regulated employers.
Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Banking
Communications
Transportation
Other
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission - Impact of the Employment
Equity Act & of the CHRC Employment Equity Program over the Years.
employed) was 66%. This share is fifteen percentage points
lower than the comparable statistic posted by non-Aboriginal
people. Noticeable differences between the two groups of
individuals is also seen when we review the unemployment
rate measure: for Aboriginals it stood at 12.3%, almost
double the number recorded for non-Aboriginals.8
The different labour outcomes among Aboriginals and
non-Aboriginals suggest that the former are under-represented in the labour market. To achieve better equality in
the workplace, the Employment Equity Act was enacted in
the late 1980s to help increase the representation of four
designated groups: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with
disabilities, and members of a visible minority. Federallyregulated private sector firms,20 Crown corporations, and
much of the federal public service are just some of the
employers governed by this legislation.21 Each firm must
PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATION EXCEEDS
THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ABORIGINALS
% of People who Identify as Aboriginal by Sector
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Public Sector
0.5
Private Sector
0.0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission.
6
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adhere to reporting requirements and is responsible for
showing “reasonable progress” on increasing representation
of these groups.22
Since the implementation of the legislation, progress has
indeed been made – representation of Aboriginal people in
the federally-regulated workforce has increased steadily
from 1.5% in 1996 and 2.5% in 2008.23 In the public sector,
Aboriginal peoples were well represented overall in 2008
compared to the private sector.23 Certain industries like
transportation and communication have made important
strides over the past decade. It is important to stress that
takeaways from these statistics should be made with caution as the definition surrounding Aboriginal ancestry and
identity changed in different Census iterations.
Representation and availability of Aboriginal workers
should converge so that their full employment potential
can be secured. However, federally-regulated employers
adhere to the equal opportunity principle, such that candidates for a position must be judged without discrimination
and/or bias. This means for a certain hire, managers must
choose the best candidate for the position, based on the job
description, regardless of race, gender, sexuality and many
other criteria. With this in mind, and even with employment equity legislation in place, there is no quota system for
employers on how many Aboriginal people must be hired.
June 18, 2012
Myths equal misperceptions
There are many myths surrounding Canada’s Aboriginal
population and they encompass a wide range of areas. In this
report, we have assembled the necessary facts and figures
to debunk just ten – many more exist. Misperceptions like
these can lead to a lack of understanding about Aboriginal
communities or underlying Aboriginal socio-economic
conditions. In addition, non-Aboriginals may think of the
Aboriginal community as one homogenous group, forgetting that many have their own unique history, culture and
traditions. Myths could also distort non-Aboriginal thinking
about the effectiveness of government programs targeted
to the Aboriginal community or the appropriate policy to
improve certain indicators such as labour market participation. This is unfortunate as there are more than a million
people who identify as Aboriginal in Canada. In addition,
Aboriginal people are important contributors to our history,
culture and values, and the national economic picture.
Derek Burleton,
Vice President &
Deputy Chief Economist
416-982-2514
Sonya Gulati,
Senior Economist
416-982-8063
7
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Notes and References
1. “Aboriginal Peoples”, Canada Revenue Agency. < http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/brgnls/menu-eng.html >
2. Status Indians have their names on the Indian Register (maintained by the federal government) and as such, are recognized as Indians under the
Indian Act and entitled to certain rights and benefits under the law. Roughly half of the people who identify as Aboriginal are Status Indians and
included on the Indian Register.
3. Christmas, Bernd. (2010) “Aboriginal Taxation Exemption”, Atlantic Business Magazine, January 6, 2010. < http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.
ca/blogs/aboriginal-taxation-exemption/ >
4. “Ontario Point-Of-Sale Exemption For Ontario Status Indians”, Ontario Ministry of Revenue, June 23, 2010. < http://news.ontario.ca/rev/en/2010/06/
ontario-point-of-sale-exemption-for-ontario-status-indians.html >
5. “Consumption Taxes”, Revenu Québec. < http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citoyen/clientele/indien/taxes.aspx >
6. “Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)”, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. < http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/
eng/1100100033682#elc >
7. “In-Depth: Aboriginal Canadians, FAQs”, CBC News Online. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aboriginals/faqs.html >
8. Usalcas, Jeannine (2011). “The Aboriginal Labour Force Analysis Series”, Statistics Canada, November 23, 2011. Publication: 71 588-XWE. <
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=71-588-XWE&lang=eng >
9. Gulati, Sonya and Burleton, Derek. (2011). “Estimating the Size of the Aboriginal Market in Canada: $32 billion in combined income across households,
businesses and governments by 2016”, June 17,2011, TD Economics. < http://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/special/sg0611_aboriginal.pdf >
10. “Key Small Business Financing Statistics — December 2009: SME Business Owner Characteristics”, SME Financing Data Initiative, Government
of Canada. < http://www.sme-fdi.gc.ca/eic/site/sme_fdi-prf_pme.nsf/eng/02178.html#pointf >
11. “Promise and Prosperity: The Aboriginal Business Survey”, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business in partnership with Environics Research
Group. < http://www.ccab.com/ >
12. “Urban Reserves in Saskatchewan”, Western Economic Diversification. < http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/home.asp >
13. “Air Inuit History” < http://www.airinuit.com/en/History.aspx >
14. National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association < http://www.nacca.net/eng-about.html >
15. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Government of British Columbia, < http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/treaty/faq.html >
16. “Timelines and Maps”, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, < http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100032297 >
17. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Government of British Columbia, < http://www.treaties.gov.bc.ca/overview_accomplish.html >
18. Aboriginal Land Claim Settlements, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Ontario Government, < www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/20000/278014.
pdf >
19. Burleton, Derek and Drummond, Don (2009). “Aboriginal People in Canada: Growing Mutual Economic Interests Offer Significant Promise for
Improving the Well-Being of the Aboriginal Population.” TD Economics. June 11, 2009. < http://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/special/
td-economics-special-db0609-aboriginal.pdf >
20. A list of these employers can be found here: < http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/employment_standards/regulated.shtml >
21. “Federally Regulated Private Sector and Crown Corporations”, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. < http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/
labour/equality/employment_equity/private_crown/index.shtml >
22. “Employment Equity Act”, < http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-5.401/FullText.html >
23. “Impact of the Employment Equity Act and of the CHRC Employment Equity Program over the Years”, Prepared by the Statistical Analysis Unit,
Employment Equity Compliance Division, March 2010. Canadian Human Rights Commission.
This report is provided by TD Economics. It is for information purposes only and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The report
does not provide material information about the business and affairs of TD Bank Group and the members of TD Economics are not
spokespersons for TD Bank Group with respect to its business and affairs. The information contained in this report has been drawn from
sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. The report contains economic analysis and views,
including about future economic and financial markets performance. These are based on certain assumptions and other factors, and are
subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may be materially different. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates
and related entities that comprise TD Bank Group are not liable for any errors or omissions in the information, analysis or views contained
in this report, or for any loss or damage suffered.
June 18, 2012
8
May 2002
TOP MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 1 : HIS TO RY
The history of North America began with the arrival of Europeans to the shores of this continent.
FACTS
Long before the first explorers landed on the shores of the "New World", there were many different Indigenous
nations living in various regions of what we now know as "Canada". Each nation had its own tribal customs,
political organization, language, and spiritual beliefs, and had developed vast trade and economic systems. In
fact, the advanced medical knowledge of the Iroquois people helped save the lives of many newcomers to North
America.
There is a long history of this country prior to European arrival, and First Nations recorded it orally. The
newcomers, however, set down their version of history in writing. It is only in recent years that mainstream
Canadians are learning of the true history of First Nations and their contributions in building this country.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 2 : TERMINO LO G Y
The terms "Aboriginal" and "Native" are used to define one homogenous group of people in Canada.
FACTS
The terms "Aboriginal", "Native" and "Indigenous" are used as general terms to collectively describe three
distinct cultural groups known as the "Inuit", the "Metis" and "First Nations".
Each of the three groups has its own unique historical background, culture and political goals.
Within the group known as "First Nations" or "Indians", there are 633 First Nations bands, representing
52 nations or cultural groups and more than 50 languages. Each nation has its own spirituality, traditional
political structure, and history. As a general rule, most individuals prefer to be referred to by the specific nation to
which they belong (Blackfoot, Cree, Dene, etc.).
The term "Aboriginal" should be used only as an adjective to describe individuals or mixed groups of First
Nations or Indians, Metis or Inuit people. It has been wrongly used by the news media as a noun, as in: “The
Aboriginals are…” The proper usage is: “the Aboriginal peoples are...”
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 3 : RIGHTS AND B ENEF ITS
First Nations are the only peoples to have special rights and benefits above other Canadians.
FACTS
First Nations people enjoy the same fundamental benefits as all other Canadians, including Child Tax Benefit,
Old Age Security and Employment Insurance.
Where Constitutionally-protected Aboriginal rights exist, First Nations people do have priority over others (for
example, the right to hunt and fish for subsistence), but even these rights are subject to regulation.
1
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
Some registered Treaty Indians and Aboriginal people enrolled under comprehensive claim settlements also
enjoy certain rights or benefits, including reserve lands, hunting and fishing rights, and payment of annuities
(depending on the terms and conditions of their treaty agreement).
The government provides housing and post-secondary assistance to First Nations so that they may achieve the
same standard of living as other Canadians.
Because of the division of powers in the Constitution, many services provided by provinces to other Canadians
are provided to Indians living on-reserve by the federal government. Provincial standards are generally adopted,
but there may be some local differences.
In Canada, the government also provides assistance to those people who cannot afford housing, medical aid and
social assistance. As well, a tax rebate is given to low income families.
Foreign diplomats to Canada are able to take advantage of the provincial sales tax exemption, and other benefits
as a special group of people living within Canada's borders.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 4 : CONDITIO NS IN ABO RIG INAL CO MMUN ITIES
First Nations peoples are better off than most Canadians.
FACTS
Although each year the United Nations ranks Canada among the best places in the world to live, the fact
remains that many First Nations people in Canada still live in conditions that fall far short of the basic standards
most Canadians have come to expect.
Statistics from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples final report revealed:
§
participation rate by Aboriginal peoples in labour force (57%) was below that of all Canadians (68%).
§
earned income per employed Aboriginal person in 1991 was $14,561 compared to $24,001 for all
Canadians, and declined by 1,000 over the decade 1981 to 1991.
§
19% of inmates in federal penal institutions are Aboriginal people (rising to 49% in Manitoba and 72% in
Saskatchewan provincial institutions).
§
tuberculosis and diabetes are respectively 17 times and 3 times higher among Aboriginal peoples.
While no database dealing specifically with suicide rates among Aboriginal people and First Nations is
currently available in Canada, according to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, suicide rate within
First Nations and Inuit communities is much higher than in the Canadian population. It could be from two to
seven times more frequent1 .
In 1996, the general infant mortality rate was 6,1 deaths for 1000 births within the Canadian population,
compared to 11,6 for First Nations2 .
That same year, 1,7% of all housing units in Canada were occupied by more than one person per room,
compared to 18,6% in First Nations communities 3 .
According to a study conducted by Health Canada in 1997 on drinking water safety in First Nations
communities, at least 171 water systems out of 863, that is 20%, could be a threat to human health4 .
1
FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON POPULATION HEALTH. Towards a Health Future:
Second Report on the Health of Canadians, p. 24, online at http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hppb/phdd/report/toward/pdf/english/toward_a_healthy_english.PDF.
2
STATISTIQUE CANADA. 1996 Census.
3
Ibidem.
4
HEALTH CANADA. Health and Environment - Partners for Life, 1997.
2
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 5 : TAXATIO N
All Aboriginal peoples are tax exempt.
FACTS
Inuit, Metis, and non-status Indians are required to pay tax.
The origin of tax exemption for registered Indians is found under sections 87 and 90 of the Indian Act.
Income earned by registered Indians working on-reserve for a company which is located on-reserve are
exempted from federal and provincial income taxes.
Generally, First Nation individuals must pay income tax if they work off-reserve or for a company located off
reserve whose business is not specifically geared toward Aboriginal people.
Depending on the province, some registered Indians do not pay provincial sales tax. Even within a province,
there is often uneven application of this right.
Registered Indians do not have to pay the GST on goods delivered to the reserve. If the goods are purchased
off-reserve and not delivered to the reserve, the GST must be paid.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 6 : FINANCIAL ACCO UNTABILIT Y
First Nations are incapable of administering their own finances.
FACTS
Every First Nation in Canada is required to submit an annual audit to the federal government before receiving
next year’s funding. Significant improvements in financial management systems have been made:
§
83% of First Nations have fully met federal audit requirements (61% submit their audits within 120 days).
§
15% of First Nations with federally approved audits require remedial management in some problem areas.
§
2% of First Nations who have received qualified audits are considered to be experiencing severe financial
problems.
First Nations are improving their financial administration capabilities through a number of local and national
initiatives. Some of the national initiatives include:
§
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding on March 30, 1998 between the Assembly of First Nations and
the Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada (CGA -Canada).
§
The development of the First Nation Financial Management Board (FMB). One of four fiscal institutions
being developed by First Nations, the FMB is a First Nation led response to concerns about First Nation
financial management systems and accountability. It is intended to be a long term solution to First Nation
capacity development and not a quick legislative fix.
§
The FMB will act as a financial management service institution for First Nation governments and
institutions. It will work with First Nations to develop a financial management policy framework, develop
best practices and certify First Nation financial management systems as requested.
3
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 7 : ECONO MIC DEVELO PM ENT
Because of the remote location of many First Nations communities, economic development is non-existent on
reserves and there are few Aboriginal businesses.
FACTS
Recent statistics from Industry Canada revealed that there are over 20,000 Aboriginal businesses in Canada
active in every sector of the economy.
The Aboriginal Business Survey of 723 Aboriginal businesses conducted by Aboriginal Business Canada and
Statistics Canada in 1996, found that:
§
Over 20,000 Aboriginal people have been identified as owning a business.
§
The majority of Aboriginal businesses are owned solely; are owned by North American Indians; and are
twice as likely to be owned by men than women.
§
Only 3.9% of all Aboriginal adults (over 15 years) own a business versus the Canadian average of 7.9%.
§
70% of Aboriginal businesses surveyed were full-time operations, while the remainder were seasonal.
§
57% of Aboriginal businesses are located on-reserve.
Many are located in First Nations communities and have brought increased employment as a result of joint
business ventures with non-Aboriginal companies.
The Assembly of First Nations, through its Economic Development Secretariat is working in partnership with
the federal government to increase economic development opportunities in all First Nations communities.
Economic development on remote reserves is not based on location – as many First Nations communities have
witnessed large non-Native companies removing the natural resources from their areas for many years.
Businesses are needed to create economies, and start-up capital is needed in order to create a business.
Under ordinary circumstances a businessperson could go to a local bank and get a loan to purchase the
necessary equipment and assets. Not so for First Nations people living on-reserve.
Section 89 of the Indian Act, which was supposed to protect First Nations land from seizure, paradoxically
prohibits First Nations land from being mortgaged. It prevents First Nations people living on-reserve from using
their land as collateral.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 8 : LIVING CO NDITIO NS
All First Nations communities face living conditions similar to those of third world countries.
FACTS
No two communities are the same. There are many factors that determine the standard of living and level of
economic development in First Nations communities.
Work with First Nations leaders to improve living conditions on-reserve continues to bring the standard of
living up to par with the rest of Canadians. First Nations are working to increase their land-base and are seeking
fair and equitable access to resources. The total accumulated size of all Indian reserve land south of 60 in
Canada (2,676,469.9 hectares) would fit into the great Navajo reservation (6,477,732.8 hectares) in the United
States.
4
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 9 : SELF- GO VERNM ENT
First Nations are not ready for self-government.
FACTS
The Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Confederacy) existed since the beginning of time as distinct people with their
own laws and customs, territories, political organization and economy. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson, the fathers of the US confederation, were so impressed with the Great Law of Peace which the Six
Nations Confederacy followed that they used it as a model for the United States Constitution
Some First Nations were operating under various systems of self-government before the Inherent Right of SelfGovernment policy was announced in 1995 (including, the Sechelt Band’s Self-Government Act in BC, CreeNaskapi [of Quebec] and the Yukon Self-Government Act).
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 10 : HO US ING AND EDUCATIO N
All Aboriginal people receive free housing and post-secondary education.
FACTS
Métis and non-Status Indians do not receive free housing or education assistance.
Housing and education are important legal benefits of some treaties for Treaty First Nations.
Under DIAND’s on-reserve housing policy, Status Indians living on-reserve obtain funds through their band
councils to build or renovate their homes. In many cases they repay these loans over a number of years.
Low income non-Aboriginal families in various regions of Canada seeking housing assistance from
governments may also receive assistance through various programs offered by the federal and provincial
governments.
DIAND provides elementary education assistance for on-reserve status Indians, and post-secondary education
assistance to Inuit and Status Indians to help improve their standard of living.
While Status Indian students receive post-secondary assistance through their band councils, they can also
receive provincial financial assistance in the form of grants or loans that must be repaid.
Federal funding for post-secondary education has remained the same since 1987, except for the 2 to 3% increase
per year approved by the Treasury Board. At the same time, the number of Inuit and Status Indians applying is up
and tuition fees keep rising, so fewer and fewer students access education funding.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 11 : LAND CLAIMS
Aboriginal land claims are settled by government based on political guilt over past injustices committed against the
original inhabitants in Canada.
FACTS
Land claims are based on outstanding legal obligations to the original inhabitants of this land, and on the basic
principle of British common law that there can be no confiscation of land without compensation.
In some areas of Canada, the question of Aboriginal land title has not been addressed.
Land claims are well researched and subject to validation by the federal government and Department of Justice
before any negotiations towards settlement can begin.
Treaties and other agreements provided that land would be set aside for First Nations communities. Over the
years, land was improperly confis cated from First Nations. First Nations were forcibly relocated from their
original location to other areas, and were subject to various other improper and illegal treatment by the Crown.
5
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
The settlement agreement of each land claim is based on existing outstanding legal obligations of the federal
and/or provincial or territorial governments. Compensation and other settlement issues are based on individual
land claims.
These longstanding debts to First Nations must be paid if Canada hopes to clear its obligations to the original
landowners of this country and render a debt-free country for future generations.
The rights of non-Aboriginal landowners are always considered in the negotiation of any resolution to First
Nations communities outstanding land claims.
M IS CO NCEPTIO N 12 : DEPENDENCY
First Nations are living at Canada’s expense.
FACTS
The country was built on lands and resources that belong to the First Nations and, in theory, one could argue
that Canada is living at First Nations’ expense. Canada's economic production would not have reached its
present-day scale if the Government had not seized the resources and ancestral lands of the First Nations.
In recent years, First Nations have been urging the government to implement the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal Peoples’ recommendation for the redistribution of land and resources between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people, therefore allowing First Nations to become self-sufficient again.
The ancestors of First Nations citizens agreed to share part of their territory and resources with the nonAboriginal arrivals. To that end, they reached nation-to-nation agreements.
Over the years, First Nations citizens have also made valuable contributions to Canada. Although military
service for First Nations is voluntary, many of them willingly enlisted in the Canadian Armed forces and
participated in various conflicts to fight racism and discrimination.
6
This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit,
10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789.
It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca.
Resources
Weeks4-6:
Week4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHefD-cdTxU&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfITZOIaO4&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC9fRBk7rZk&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxoooxGzoi8&feature=emb_title
week5
http://legacyofhope.ca/wherearethechildren/#0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdR9HcmiXLA&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=peLd_jtMdrc&feature=e
mb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpvMwbWSTBw&feature=emb_title
week6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlqx8EYvRbQ&feature=emb_title
https://vimeo.com/57193686
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLCd7yle8g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9iTBSPSE3U&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNvOp6sZDg&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOuLsGhMRh4&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKjtujtEYI&feature=emb_title
Weeks7-10:
Week7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tq7Mnlavqs&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKKLgwlosaw&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTeOFjYiFsI&feature=emb_title
week8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHdW_LVfn28&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUd4ddlbHc&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzYzz3rEZU&feature=emb_title
week9
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_treaties/fp_treaties_two_views.htm
l
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-treaties
https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/lost-in-translation-thedouglas-treaties-1.10099656
https://www.nfb.ca/film/trick_or_treaty/
week10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCpn1erz1y8&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzXI7aznBtc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyuUU4VohDM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksESR2BVlqY
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/global-citizen-of-canadatakaiyablaney/?fbclid=IwAR0Og_poZqIlsOdbuF2awqVXaI2REdJu_CgCumfBloJ_neS7Fk9X
cBXrRrQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFDh4n1lzE&feature=emb_title
Weeks11-14:
Week11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGK0L_3_XKE&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLshGdJV7-U&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dg86g-QlM0&feature=emb_title
week12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjSj9tDq1E&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9EwcFbVfg&feature=emb_title
week13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgaYz8YWsO8&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkFGFr4KZCk&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wSEXyoRbw&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSnvtj0G3cA&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxJr7yw1j2A&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlAZjca2YMo&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z9QKRsiql8&feature=emb_title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4zI6NadpG4&feature=emb_title
https://bcaafc.com/
http://www.csets.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niRs_VIqzYU&feature=emb_title
week14 (professor has not update)
Purchase answer to see full
attachment