Metis Statistics Look Good for Us

I am so excited to be able to confidently say the Métis are truly reflected within the statistical analysis of the Aboriginal peoples survey. It has taken many committed individuals working with the statisticians to come up with data that is more reflective of the true mosaic of Canada including its Aboriginal people. The report released today has the Métis making up better then 1/3 of the Aboriginal population of Canada.

The Edmonton Journal is responding to the release of the new Aboriginal Census results and reporting that, “At 1,172,790, the 2006 census marked the first time people identifying themselves as aboriginal passed the million mark. This group is growing almost six times faster than the non-aboriginal population, surging 45 per cent in the previous decade compared to an eight per cent increase in the rest of the population.”

They also reported that, “The Metis population in Canada nearly doubled between 1996 and 2006, up 91 per cent to 389,785 people. That's more than 11 times the growth rate of the non-aboriginal Canadian population and over three times that of First Nations and Inuit.
As with the surging aboriginal population in general, Statistics Canada attributes the Metis boom to high fertility rates and to more people choosing to self-identify with that group. “

Another interesting statistic that was contained in the report was “Close to 9 out of 10 people, about 87%, who identified themselves as Métis, lived in either the western provinces or Ontario. The census enumerated 85,500, or 22%, in Alberta; 73,605, or 19%, in Ontario; 71,805, or 18%, in Manitoba; 59,445, or 15%, in British Columbia; and 48,115, or 12%, in Saskatchewan.”

Now there are a great deal of things that we can demise from the statistics and there is always arguments as to the nature of the collection of the data especially politically when leaders see that they are challenged by the results but this is my view on some of the preliminary review that I did:

1. The statistics are derived from individuals who self identify and the truth is the Métis National Council may argue that the definition of “Métis” is not widely enough understood for some of the individuals that are identifying to be able to discern between the MNC definition and the ideology that Métis are the mixed bloods.
2. Whether they try to discredit the statistics the Métis have doubled in numbers over the past decade. Our children are now feeling a better sense of pride in who they are. The words of Louis Riel telling the Canadian Government that his people would rise again is coming into reality. Our children and grandchildren will stand to be proud Métis if the leaders of our nation are held accountable to the people they represent.
3. The myth that the Métis of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba need a larger number of voting seats at the Métis National Council table because they represent the majority of the Métis in Canada. Obviously, much like our grandfathers we are a transient people who go to where the opportunities are to be self sustaining hard working people. If that meant Ontario, British Columbia or some other location – we moved and increased in numbers. Ontario now represents the second largest provincial group of Métis people. How can we continue to punish the Métis who live outside of the Métis homeland from their rightful place within our organization?
4. With the numbers that came forward – the founding provincial governing members will be more threatened then ever to move us into true democracy and nationhood by letting the Métis from across Canada have one vote per Métis citizen in a vote for the National leader.
   

The report can be accessed at the following link:

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/analysis/aboriginal/index.cfm