Indigenous Peoples of Canada: Citizenship Test Guide (2026)

Indigenous peoples — First Nations, Inuit, and Metis — are the original inhabitants of Canada. Understanding their history, cultures, and the ongoing process of reconciliation is both important for the citizenship test and essential for understanding Canada. This guide covers the key facts you need to know.

First Nations

First Nations are the largest group of Indigenous peoples in Canada, comprising over 600 distinct nations with unique languages, cultures, and traditions. They live in every province and territory. The term "First Nations" replaced the older term "Indian" in most contexts.

Key facts:

• Over 630 First Nation communities across Canada
• More than 50 distinct languages
• Both status (registered under the Indian Act) and non-status First Nations people
• Many live on reserves, though the majority live in urban areas

Inuit

Inuit are Indigenous peoples of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. They traditionally live in northern Canada — Nunavut, northern Quebec (Nunavik), Labrador (Nunatsiavut), and the Northwest Territories (Inuvialuit).

Key facts:

• The word "Inuit" means "the people" in Inuktitut
• Traditional lifestyle centered on hunting, fishing, and the Arctic environment
• Nunavut was created in 1999 as an Inuit-majority territory
• The current Governor General, Mary Simon, is Inuk

Metis

Metis are people of mixed Indigenous and European (primarily French) ancestry who developed a distinct culture, language (Michif), and identity. The Metis emerged as a distinct people in the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily in the Prairie provinces.

Key facts:

• Louis Riel is the most famous Metis leader — he led the Red River Resistance (1869-1870) and the North-West Resistance (1885)
• The Metis homeland centers on Manitoba and the Prairie provinces
• Metis jigging and beadwork are distinctive cultural expressions
• Metis rights are protected by Section 35 of the Constitution

Indigenous peoples have lived in what is now Canada for at least 12,000 years — and possibly much longer. Before European contact, they had:

• Complex societies with governments, laws, and trading networks
• Diverse economies based on hunting, fishing, farming, and trade
• Rich spiritual and cultural traditions
• Sophisticated knowledge of the land, plants, and animals
• Extensive trade routes spanning the continent

What Are Treaties?

Treaties are formal agreements between Indigenous peoples and the Crown (the government). They were meant to establish peaceful relationships and share the land. Key treaty facts:

• Treaties cover most of Canada's land area
• They typically involved Indigenous peoples sharing land in exchange for rights, payments, and services
• Treaty rights are constitutionally protected under Section 35
• Both historic treaties (pre-1975) and modern treaties exist

The Royal Proclamation of 1763

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 is a foundational document for Indigenous rights in Canada. It recognized Indigenous peoples' right to their lands and established that only the Crown could purchase Indigenous land. It is sometimes called the "Indian Magna Carta."

What Happened

From the 1880s to 1996, the Canadian government funded residential schools run by churches. Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in these schools. The goal was to assimilate Indigenous children into European-Canadian culture — to "kill the Indian in the child."

The Impact

• Over 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools
• Children were forbidden from speaking their languages or practicing their cultures
• Many children suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
• Thousands of children died — many were buried in unmarked graves
• The trauma has been passed down through generations (intergenerational trauma)
• The last residential school closed in 1996

Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which completed its work in 2015, documented the history and impacts of residential schools. It issued 94 Calls to Action to advance reconciliation.

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day), honoring residential school survivors and the children who never returned.

Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples. This includes:

• First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples
• Treaty rights
• Aboriginal rights (rights that existed before European contact)
• Land rights

Indigenous history and rights appear on the citizenship test regularly. CitizenPass helps you prepare:

• 600+ Practice Questions — Covering all test topics including Indigenous history
• AI Coach — Identifies your knowledge gaps
• 80+ Lessons — Including dedicated content on Indigenous peoples
• Free to start — iOS, Android, and web

For official study material, see Discover Canada — Aboriginal Peoples.