A Look into the Indigenous People of Toronto

BY ANNA LUCAS

As the famous quote goes, “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”. There is no denying that knowing your own history and origins is tremendously important both in understanding the present and in shaping the future. That is why it is so important to know more about African history – but as Caribbeane in Toronto, it is equally crucial to learn more about the history of the place we now call our home, and know about the indigenous people that were here first.

The journey of indigenous people in modern Canada
Many indigenous tribes and peoples resided in the lands that now make up Canada long before the current populations. The Inuit are among the most prominent indigenous groups, along with the multiancestral Métis populations that are scattered throughout Canada. Indigenous people who are neither Inuit nor Métis are described as First Nations. In the Ontario province, the predominant First Nations ethnicities were the Cree, the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee, while in the southern part there were settlements by Tuscarora and Mohawk tribes, as well as many others. In modern times, many of these indigenous tribes had to give up several aspects of their traditional lifestyle and adapt to a rapidly changing world and financial reality.

For most of them, claiming ancestral lands, which were granted by governmental decrees, in order to set up reserves, was the only way to be able to maintain some autonomy and protect their civilization as best as possible. Often, these land provisions were qualified through gradual concessions for the railway and other industrial and infrastructure projects, while in many cases they have also been insufficiently protected by the central government. This is why many tribes adapted to financial activities such as gambling – a practice that was also followed by several Native American tribes in the USA. As SBO.net explains regarding online betting in Canada, the Kahnawake tribe, part of the Mohawk people, have established the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This Commission contributed to the emerging Canadian online gaming market, as it was one of the first to provide licenses and regulate interactive internet gaming.

Ontario is home to 22% of Canada’s indigenous people
Today, Toronto is home to a vibrant and diverse indigenous community. As the City of Toronto reports, currently 70,000 indigenous residents are based in Toronto, which represents the largest indigenous population across Ontario and ranks fourth across all Canada. According to the 2016 Census, indigenous resident numbers went from roughly 37,000 to over 46,000, which translates to a 25% rise. Some research even suggests that the actual numbers should be much higher, as census methods – which are based on a fixed residence address – cannot accurately represent the many indigenous people who move often or do not have a permanent residence.

Despite the rise in these figures, indigenous people are still by and large struggling to access the same living standard as the average Canadian. As the City of Toronto also explains, more than 90% of the indigenous residents across Toronto live below the standard low-income cut-off. All in all, indigenous people in Toronto make up less than 1% of the total population, while the broader Ontario area is home to almost 210,000 First Nations people, 3,360 Inuit, and over 86,000 Métis. In total, 1.4 million indigenous people live in Canada – over 850,000 First Nations, almost 60,000 Inuit, and more than 450,000 Métis. This makes Ontario home to 22% of the country’s indigenous population.

Although the local government is supporting initiatives for better access to healthcare and employment for indigenous people, the reality leaves a lot to be desired. The legacy and civilization of aboriginal culture is part of our heritage as Canadians – and it is important to take a closer look at their place in modern Toronto.