Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Indigenous identity

Definition

Indigenous identity refers to whether the person identified with the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This includes those who identify as First Nations (North American Indian), Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), and/or those who report being Registered or Treaty Indians (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada), and/or those who have membership in a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada (referred to here as Indigenous peoples) are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Indigenous identity

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001 and 1996 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 24, 26 and 27

Responses

Indigenous identity is derived from data collected in three questions: Indigenous group (Question 24), Registered or Treaty Indian status (Question 26), and membership in a First Nation or Indian band (Question 27). In Question 24, respondents could respond "No, not First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)," "Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)," "Yes, Métis," or "Yes, Inuk (Inuit)" by marking the appropriate circle. In Question 26, respondents could respond "No" or "Yes, Status Indian (Registered or Treaty)." In Question 27, respondents could respond "No" or "Yes, member of a First Nation or Indian band."

Remarks

Indigenous identity is a derived variable. For more information on the input variables for the Indigenous identity variable in the 2021 Census of Population, refer to the definitions for Indigenous group, Registered or Treaty Indian status and Membership in a First Nation or Indian band.

Users should be aware that the estimates associated with this variable are more affected than most by the incomplete enumeration of certain reserves and settlements in the Census of Population.

For additional information on the collection and dissemination of Indigenous data, including incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, refer to the Indigenous Peoples Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021 and the Indigenous Peoples Technical Report, Census of Population, 2021.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population (98-404-X2021001)
• Census Program Data Viewer (CPDV) (98-507-X2021001)
• Indigenous Population Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-510-X2021001)
• Dwelling condition by Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0286-01)
• Dwelling condition by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0287-01)
• Employment income statistics by Indigenous identity and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0428-01)
• Employment income statistics by Indigenous identity and highest level of education: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0427-01)
• Employment income statistics by industry sectors, Indigenous identity, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0588-01)
• Employment income statistics by occupation minor group, Indigenous identity, highest level of education, work activity during the reference year, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts (98-10-0587-01)
• Enrollment under an Inuit land claims agreement by residence inside or outside Inuit Nunangat: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0269-01)
• High school completion by Indigenous identity and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0421-01)
• High school completion by Indigenous identity, Indigenous geography and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0420-01)
• Highest level of education by census year, Indigenous identity and Registered Indian status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0413-01)
• Highest level of education by Indigenous identity and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0424-01)
• Highest level of education by Indigenous identity, Indigenous geography and labour force status: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0423-01)
• Highest level of education by major field of study (summary) and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions with a population 5,000 or more (98-10-0415-01)
• Highest level of education by major field of study and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0414-01)
• Household and family characteristics of persons including detailed information on stepfamilies by Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0276-01)
• Household and family characteristics of persons including detailed information on stepfamilies by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0277-01)
• Income statistics by Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0281-01)
• Income statistics by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0282-01)
• Indigenous identity by highest level of education and income statistics: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0291-01)
• Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0264-01)
• Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0266-01)
• Indigenous identity by Registered or Treaty Indian status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0265-01)
• Indigenous language spoken at home by single and multiple responses of language spoken at home and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0275-01)
• Indigenous language spoken at home by single and multiple responses of language spoken at home, Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0274-01)
• Indigenous mother tongue by single and multiple mother tongue responses and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0273-01)
• Indigenous mother tongue by single and multiple mother tongue responses, Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0272-01)
• Individual low-income status by Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0283-01)
• Individual Market Basket Measure poverty status by indigenous groups and demographic characteristics: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0117-01)
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages by single and multiple knowledge of languages responses and Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0271-01)
• Knowledge of Indigenous languages by single and multiple knowledge of languages responses, Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0270-01)
• Labour force status by highest level of education, indigenous identity, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0451-01)
• Major field of study (STEM and BHASE, summary) by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0416-01)
• Membership in a Métis organization or Settlement by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0268-01)
• Military service status by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0280-01)
• Number of persons per room by Indigenous identity and housing suitability: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0285-01)
• Number of persons per room by Indigenous identity, housing suitability and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0284-01)
• Occupation (STEM and non-STEM) by industry sectors, Indigenous identity, employment income statistics, occupation (training, education, experience and responsibility category - TEER), age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0589-01)
• Presence of grandparents in household by Indigenous identity : Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0279-01)
• Presence of grandparents in household by Indigenous identity and residence by Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0278-01)
• Religion by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0288-01)
• School attendance by Indigenous identity and Indigenous geography: Canada, provinces and territories (98-10-0417-01)
• School attendance by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions with a population 5,000 or more (98-10-0419-01)
• School attendance by Indigenous identity: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0418-01)