Indigenous Communities
“Indigenous communities know that the ventures they endorse, host, and own today can build wealth and knowledge for future generations”
— Nation Group
More than 1.67 million people in Canada identify as Indigenous, according to the 2016 Census. Indigenous peoples are the fastest growing population in Canada, growing by 42.5% between 2006 and 2016. Aboriginal peoples are also the youngest population in Canada – about 44% were under the age of 25 in 2016. The need to increase infrastructure and housing stock to meet demand creates a unique opportunity. Indigenous communities are an emerging market within a first-world economy!
First Nations
Before the arrival of Europeans, First Nations, in what is now Canada, were able to satisfy all of their material and spiritual needs through the resources of the natural world around them.
For the purposes of studying traditional First Nations cultures, historians have grouped First Nations in Canada according to the six main geographic areas of the country as it exists today. Within each of these six areas, First Nations had very similar cultures, largely shaped by a common environment. There are over 634 First Nations in Canada with an incredible diversity of languages and cultures.
Metis Settlements/Locals
The Métis are the descendants of European fur traders and Aboriginal peoples who emerged as a distinct group on the Prairies towards the early part of the 19th century.
Following the NorthwestRebellion of 1885, many Métis moved to the north and west. After a period of political activism among landless Métis in Alberta during the Great Depression, the provincial government passed the Métis Population Betterment Act in 1938. Lands were set aside for Métis Settlement Associations, though four of the settlements (Touchwood, Marlboro, Cold Lake and Wolf Lake) were later rescinded by order of the Alberta government. A distinct Métis culture combining Aboriginal and Euro-Canadian values and modes of expression is practised in the Métis settlements. For example, jigging, a favourite form of dance, mixes the reels of Scotland and France with the chicken dance of the Cree. A distinct Métis language called Michif (combining Cree, French and English words) is still spoken. Most residents of Métis settlements retain some Indigenous spiritual beliefs and customs.
Inuit Villages
Inuit are an Indigenous people living primarily in Inuit Nunangat.
The majority of their population lives in 51 communities spread across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland, which encompasses 35 percent of Canada’s landmass and 50 percent of its coastline. They have lived in their homeland since time immemorial. These communities are among the most culturally resilient in North America. Roughly 60 percent of Inuit report an ability to conduct a conversation in Inuktut (the Inuit language), and harvest country foods such as seal, narwhal and caribou to feed their families and communities.
Tribal Councils
A Tribal Council is an organization established by a number of First Nations with common interests who voluntarily join together to provide capacity development and/or program services to Member First Nations.
A Tribal Council may be formed within cultural, language or geographic commonality, though some exceptions exist. First Nations may choose to join or leave a Tribal Council as it suits them.
Indigenous Economic Development Corporations
Economic Development Corporations (also known as “EDCs”) are corporations formed under the laws of governmental regulation to manage the economic arm of an Indigenous community.
They are becoming more commonly used in Canada and, most importantly, are becoming more influential in the Canadian corporate environment. For Indigenous groups contemplating setting up an EDC, there are many successful EDCs already “up and running” from which to follow best practices. Hindsight is 20/20 and we can learn from those who already have walked the path. In addition, reputable professional service firms, including lawyers and accountants, are very familiar with the setup of these corporate structures and the cost of forming such EDCs have been reduced from the early years.