Surveys about Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples Survey 2022

Overview

The 2022 survey focuses on children and families. It continues to provide other essential socioeconomic, demographic, cultural and health-related information. The data collection period is May 11, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Subjects covered by the survey:

• access to services
• child care
• family stability
• trauma and discrimination
• economic well-being
• physical and mental health
• education
• sense of belonging and Indigenous languages and culture

Resources

• IPS 2022 Questionnaire: Questionnaires in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and Labrador Inuttitut were also developed for collection in the North.
• Indigenous Peoples Survey Supporter Toolkit: Tools and resources, including social media content, web banners, hashtags and other promotional materials designed to promote and provide general information about the survey

Results and research

Preliminary results and research are expected to be released by Statistics Canada in July 2024.

Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2017

Overview

In 2017, the Aboriginal Peoples Survey focused on participation in the economy by Indigenous people aged 15 and over, while continuing to collect information about health, language, housing and mobility. Data collection for this survey began in mid-January and ended in August 2017.

Factors affecting economic participation:

• labour mobility
• entrepreneurship
• post-secondary education
• targeted skills training
• sources of income
• financial well-being
• physical and mental health
• sense of belonging

Resources

• Questionnaire
• Public Use Microdata File (PUMF)
• Concepts and Methods Guide

Results and research

• Interactive map
• Indigenous people with disabilities in Canada: First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit aged 15 years and older
• Harvesting activities among First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit: Time trends, barriers and associated factors
• Upgrading and high school equivalency among the Indigenous population living off reserve
• Labour market experiences of First Nations people living off reserve
• Labour market experiences of Inuit
• Labour market experiences of Métis
• Archived - Off-reserve First Nations people entering the labour force
• Archived - Self-employment among Métis
• Employment of First Nations men and women living off reserve
• Employment characteristics of Métis women and men aged 25 to 54 in Canada
• Inuit participation in the wage and land-based economies in Inuit Nunangat
• Labour market impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous people living off reserve in the provinces: March 2020 to August 2021 (study also based on the 2021 Census)
• The achievements, experiences and labour market outcomes of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women with bachelor's degrees or higher
• Portrait of youth in Canada: Indigenous peoples
• Portrait of youth in Canada: data report (Chapter 4: Indigenous youth in Canada)
• Involvement in Indigenous Traditional Activities Findings of the 2012 and 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey^{Footnote 1}
• Health Status of Indigenous Peoples Living Off Reserve^{Footnote 1}
• Educational Attainment and Skills Training amongst Non-Status Indians Living Off Reserve^{Footnote 1}
• Educational Attainment and Skills Training amongst Inuit^{Footnote 1}
• Educational Attainment and Skills Training amongst Métis^{Footnote 1}
• Employment and Income of Non-Status First Nations^{Footnote 1}
• Employment and Income of Inuit^{Footnote 1}
• Employment and Income of Métis^{Footnote 1}
• Data

In 2021, the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN), in collaboration with ISC and Statistics Canada, issued a call for proposals for research projects by early-career researchers that would use data from the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. A list of project recipients and related topics of research is available on the CRDCN website.

Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012

Overview

In 2012, the Aboriginal Peoples Survey focused on education and employment characteristics of off-reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis people aged 6 years and older. It collected information on:

• Aboriginal society and community
• health and well-being
• Indigenous Peoples, formerly Aboriginal peoples
• work, income and spending

The survey collected unique and detailed data on education, employment and health, which is not available from any other data source. For example, although the Census of Population collects data on level of education and on major field of study, the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey addressed additional topics such as number of schools attended, exposure to Aboriginal languages, school climate and support, frequency of reading, participation in extra-curricular activities, peer influences and plans for further schooling.

Resources

• Questionnaire
• Public Use Microdata File (PUMF)
• Archived - Concepts and Methods Guide

Results and research

• Archived - The Education and Employment Experiences of First Nations People Living Off Reserve, Inuit, and Métis
• Archived - Inuit health
• Archived - Labour force characteristics of the Métis
• Archived - School mobility and educational outcomes of off-reserve First Nations students
• Archived - Aboriginal seniors in population centres in Canada
• Archived - The Social Determinants of Higher Mental Distress among Inuit
• Archived - Lifetime and past-year suicidal thoughts among off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults, aged 18 years and over, Canada
• Archived - Lifetime suicidal thoughts among First Nations living off reserve, Métis and Inuit aged 26 to 59: Prevalence and associated characteristics
• Archived - Past-year suicidal thoughts among off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults aged 18 to 25: Prevalence and associated characteristics
• Archived - Assessing the social determinants of self-reported Inuit health in Inuit Nunangat
• Archived - Social determinants of health for the off-reserve First Nations population, 15 years of age and older
• Archived - Participation in extracurricular activities and high school completion among off-reserve First Nations people
• Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012: Gender Difference in Off-reserve First Nations Education and Employment
• Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012: Gender Differences in Inuit Education and Employment
• Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012: Gender Differences in Métis Education and Employment
• Describing Aboriginal children and youth in foster care (study also based on NHS 2011)^{Footnote 1}
• Income Assistance among Indigenous Peoples: Findings from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey^{Footnote 1}
• Data

First Nations Social Regional Survey on the Socioeconomic Determinants of Well-Being with a Focus on Children and Families

Overview

The survey is currently being prepared and developed, with the aim to start collecting data in 2024 and to conclude collection in 2025.

This new national survey will focus on children and families, aim to provide relevant and valuable data to support policy and program development and inform decision-making to reflect the current needs of First Nations communities. It will provide an opportunity to examine trends in social and economic well-being in First Nations communities over time.

Results from this survey will provide evidence to central agencies and support sustainable program and community development in federal budget procurement cycles. By providing information on socioeconomic determinants as they relate to individual and collective well-being outcomes, strategic investments can then target needs.

Resources

The First Nations Regional Social Survey questionnaire is currently being developed by the FNIGC and its regional partners.

Results and research

Preliminary results and research are expected to be released by the FNIGC in 2026.

First Nations Labour and Economic Development Survey

Overview

The First Nations Labour and Employment Development Survey is a cross-sectional survey of First Nations youth (15 to 17 years) and adults (18 to 64 years) living on First Nations reserves and in Northern communities. This survey began in 2019 and focuses on First Nations participation in the economy, including :

• employment
• traditional activities
• education
• skills and training
• workplace well-being
• knowledge of First Nations languages
• household composition

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the First Nations Labour and Employment Development Survey were significant. While efforts were made to collect data using modified strategies, not enough was collected to create a nationally representative dataset. As a result, inferences could not be drawn about the labour- and employment-related information of First Nations on reserves across Canada. However, a number of regions were able to collect sufficient data to support regional analysis and reporting. These regions included Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Resources

The First Nations Labour and Employment Development Survey questionnaire will soon be available on the FNIGC website.

Results and research

Results have not been published by the FNIGC.

First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey

Overview

The First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey marked the first time data had ever been collected for First Nations populations on reserves and in Northern communities. As such, the baseline data collected through the survey provides valuable information and identifies key indicators of demographic and socio-economic well-being.

The survey was created to address a long-standing data gap that existed around early childhood (0 to 11 years old) education and development, youth (12 to 17 years old) employment and education, adult (18 years and older) employment and education, and labour-market conditions in First Nations communities. Data collection for the survey began in fall 2013 and the full report was released in July 2016.

The survey included information on:

• child care
• nurturing
• food security
• education
• school attendance, support and climate
• occupation
• job skills
• well-being

Resources

FNIGC Data Online is an easy-to-use tool that offers access to published data from the FNIGC. FNIGC Data Online gives users the ability to generate charts, tables and graphs based on the FNIGC’s robust datasets about First Nations people living on reserves and in Northern communities, at no cost.

The First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey questionnaire will soon be available on the FNIGC website.

Results and research

• The National Report of the First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey (2016) (PDF)
• Quick Facts from the First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey (PDF)
• Did You Know? #1: First Nations Employment Experiences (PDF)
• Did You Know? #2: First Nations Employment Readiness (PDF)
• Did You Know? #3: The Role of Family and Community (PDF)
• Did You Know? #4: First Nations Youth Education Experiences (PDF)
• Did You Know? #5: First Nations Early Childhood Education (PDF)
• Did You Know? #6: The State of First Nations Languages (PDF)