History
Indigenous peoples of Canada
The Aboriginal peoples of Canada were the first inhabitants of the land. The Constitution recognises three distinct groups of Aboriginal peoples.
Key facts
- ◆ The three Aboriginal groups are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
- ◆ First Nations peoples mostly live on lands called reserves.
- ◆ The Inuit live in the Arctic, and "Inuit" means "the people" in the Inuktitut language.
- ◆ The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, many of whom speak Michif.
The government has apologised for the residential school system; the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) honours its survivors.