| January 21, 2026
Press Release
2001 Census release of Aboriginal demographics: Its implications to First Nations Statistics
Though deemed a good first start, todays release of Statistics Canadas demographic profile of Aboriginal people, through its 2001 Census, demonstrates the need for and utility of a First Nations statistical institute.
This information will not be of great use to individual First Nations communities, explains Alfred Linklater, Executive Director of First Nations Statistics (FNS). Essentially it is a demographic profile of where First Nations people are in a general picture comparison to the Canadian population.
John Makson, FNS Policy Analyst, has similar concerns. This data is Canadas perspective concerning Aboriginal people on a national scale. It is a good first start. However, it does not contain wide-spread implications for the ground level. Further interpretation of the data is greatly needed.
Which is precisely where FNS comes in. The institute will have the authority to access the full amount of data that was collected, says Mr. Linklater. FNS will have the ability to analyze it thoroughly, and provide a situational profile of an individual community upon request.
Mr. Makson insists the demographic profile only touches on the enormous amount of information extracted from First Nations peoples and communities for the Census. FNS will delve further and pull out additional, more purposeful data. Statistics Canada does not have the mandate to provide this service, nor does it have an effective plan to interpret this data. FNS will take a lead role in interpreting the data, with culturally relevant methodology, and will be the preferred solution to more effective policies and procedures for Aboriginal people in the future.
Created and managed by Statistics Canada, the Census is a social demographic survey that is unique in its nature, as it attempts to cover every household across Canada.
Todays release of 2001 Census data represents the first time Aboriginal data has been released since the 1996 Census,
thus making it the first time specific information regarding Aboriginal people both on reserve and off reserve has been made available. Todays release was the fifth in the eight-part series spanning the 2001 Census.
Mr. Linklater says Statistics Canada needs to effectively marry its previous information releases with present and future releases. What remains is how other government departments will use this data for research and eventual policy making for program and service delivery affecting First Nations people.
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Bisson
Communications Officer
First Nations Statistics
Tel: (613) 565-6222 ext. 245
Email:
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