Canada three indigenous groups, the residential school system, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the creation of Nunavut.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-25
Canada recognises three groups of indigenous (or Aboriginal) peoples: the First Nations, the Inuit and the Métis. First Nations live across much of the country; the Inuit live mainly in the Arctic north; and the Métis are peoples of mixed indigenous and European ancestry with their own distinct culture.
Colonisation and the Indian Act
European settlement pushed indigenous peoples off their land and placed them under laws such as the Indian Act, which controlled many parts of their lives. Communities were moved onto reserves and their traditions were suppressed.
Residential schools
From the 19th century until 1996, around 150,000 indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in residential schools, where they were forbidden to speak their languages and many suffered abuse. The system aimed to erase indigenous identity and is now widely described as cultural genocide. The later discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites shocked the country.
Truth and reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008–2015) documented these abuses and issued 94 Calls to Action. Reconciliation – repairing the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians – is now a major national issue.
The situation today
In 1999 the territory of Nunavut was created, giving the Inuit greater self-government over a vast Arctic homeland. Land claims, language revival and indigenous rights continue to shape Canadian politics, alongside ongoing challenges in housing, water and health. …