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The ] was an important commission undertaken by the ] in the ]. It assessed past government policies towards Aboriginal peoples, such as ], and provided many policy recommendations to the government. The ] was an important commission undertaken by the ] in the ]. It assessed past government policies towards Aboriginal peoples, such as ], and provided many policy recommendations to the government.


==Aboriginal languages== ==Native languages==
Today, there are more than 50 different languages spoken by Aboriginal peoples, most of which are spoken only in Canada and are in decline. A number of Native languages are still spoken, among those with the most speakers include ] and ], together totalling up to 150,000 speakers; ], with about 29,000 speakers in the ], ], ] (Northern Quebec), and ] (Northern Labrador); and ], with around 8500 speakers, mostly in Eastern Canada. Today, there are more than 50 different languages spoken by Native peoples, most of which are spoken only in Canada and are in decline. A number of Native languages are still spoken, among those with the most speakers include ] and ], together totalling up to 150,000 speakers; ], with about 29,000 speakers in the ], ], ] (Northern Quebec), and ] (Northern Labrador); and ], with around 8500 speakers, mostly in Eastern Canada.


Two of Canada's territories give official status to Aboriginal languages. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and ] are official languages alongside English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in government. In the Northwest Territories, the '''' specifies no fewer than eleven official languages: ], ], English, French, ], Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, ], ] and ]. However, besides English and French, these languages are not vehicular in government; official status entitles citizens to receive services in them on request and to deal with the government in them. Two of Canada's territories give official status to Native languages. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and ] are official languages alongside English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in government. In the Northwest Territories, the '''' specifies no fewer than eleven official languages: ], ], English, French, ], Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, ], ] and ]. However, besides English and French, these languages are not vehicular in government; official status entitles citizens to receive services in them on request and to deal with the government in them.


==Capitalization== ==Capitalization==

Revision as of 17:21, 4 February 2006

Aboriginal peoples in Canada are indigenous peoples recognized in the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982 as Indians (First Nations), Métis, and Inuit. The term "First Peoples" has also been used synonymously. As of the 2001 Canadian Census there are over 900,000 Aboriginal people in Canada. This includes approximately 600,000 people of First Nations descent, 290,000 Métis, and 45,000 Inuit. National representative bodies of Aboriginal peoples in Canada include the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis National Council, and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was an important commission undertaken by the Government of Canada in the 1990s. It assessed past government policies towards Aboriginal peoples, such as residential schools, and provided many policy recommendations to the government.

Native languages

Today, there are more than 50 different languages spoken by Native peoples, most of which are spoken only in Canada and are in decline. A number of Native languages are still spoken, among those with the most speakers include Ojibwe and Cree, together totalling up to 150,000 speakers; Inuktitut, with about 29,000 speakers in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Quebec), and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador); and Mi'kmaq, with around 8500 speakers, mostly in Eastern Canada.

Two of Canada's territories give official status to Native languages. In Nunavut, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun are official languages alongside English and French, and Inuktitut is a common vehicular language in government. In the Northwest Territories, the Official Languages Act specifies no fewer than eleven official languages: Dene Suline, Cree, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tåîchô. However, besides English and French, these languages are not vehicular in government; official status entitles citizens to receive services in them on request and to deal with the government in them.

Capitalization

Policies regarding the capitalization of "Aboriginal" differ from organization to organization. The Government of Canada's Department of Indian and Northern Affairs advises that the term should always be capitalized . However, the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Official Dictionary of the Canadian Press (ISBN 0195418166), instructs that the term should not be capitalized when used as an adjective. Some proponents of capitalization argue that "Aboriginal" should always be capitalized just as other ethnic terms are, such as "Japanese", "Irish", or "German".

See also

External links

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