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2006 Census: Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census: Aboriginal population
First Nations people: Four in 10 adults had a postsecondary qualification
More than four in ten (42%) adults aged 25 to 64 who identified as North American Indians, or First Nations people,1 had a postsecondary qualification in 2006. A slightly smaller proportion (38%) had less than high school and the remaining 20% had a high school diploma as their highest level of educational attainment.
The most common postsecondary credential held by First Nations people was a college diploma. In 2006, 17% had a college diploma, 13% had a trades certificate and 7% had a university degree. In 2001, 6% of the First Nations people had a university degree.
The most common trades certificate acquired by First Nations people was in Construction Trades (17%). Nearly one in four (24%) First Nations college graduates had a diploma in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services, while the most common university degree earned by First Nations people was in Education (27%).
Table 10 Proportion of the top five fields of study of First Nations people aged 25 to 64 by selected levels of educational attainment, Canada, 2006
Note:
- Although single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity question are possible, only the population reporting a single response of 'North American Indian' is included. Less than 1% of the Aboriginal identity population reported more than one Aboriginal identity in 2006. Respondents identified as 'North American Indians'; however the term 'First Nations people' is used throughout this report.
