The term “community”, sometimes confused with that of “First Nation”, refers to the geographic residential space previously designated as “Indian reserve”. The expression “First Nations territorial communities” is also starting to be used to make the distinction with urban Indigenous communities being established in the cities.
Exclusion of data related to the Métis population in Québec
Calculations exclude the statistics on self-declaration of Métis population within the province.
First Nation
The expression “First Nation” refers to population groups previously designated by the appellation “Indian bands”; it corresponds to the total affiliated population to the same First Nation, whether this population resides on reserve lands or not for that First Nation.
FN-IP Population
To facilitate reading, the abbreviation FN-IP is used when discussing, without distinction and generally speaking, the four population groups as a whole, as defined by Statistics Canada, that is, First Nations (FN), the Inuit People (IP), the multiple identity (MI) group, and the group whose identity is not included elsewhere (INE).
Identity not included elsewhere (INE)
People whose Indigenous identity does not fit with one of the three groups defined by Statistics Canada, but nevertheless compatible with a recognized Indigenous identity.
Indigenous Identity
According to Statistics Canada, the expression 'Indigenous/Aboriginal Identity', correspond to people who are members of three groups: First Nations, Inuit People and Metis.
Indigenous Nation
An Indigenous Nation is made up of a First Nation or a regional grouping of several First Nations whose members share a territory and a historical, cultural, juridical, legal and linguistic relationship.
Multiple Identity (MI)
Persons reporting belonging to more than one of the three groups recognized by Statistics Canada.
Participation in the Income Security Program
The Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Program grants a daily allowance for days spent in the bush while pursuing traditional activities of hunting, fishing or trapping or related activities. For a beneficiary unit to be eligible for the Program, the name of the head must appear on the list of the Local Committee, in accordance with harvesting traditions and the rules of the community. The Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Program is intended exclusively for the James Bay Crees who are beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement, reside in Québec and are members of one of the ten Cree communities.
Registration to the Indian Register
To be recognized as a member of a First Nation, an Aboriginal person must be registered with the Indian Register of the federal government, according to their membership to an "Indian band". Under the Indian Act, the Indian Register "only contains the names of those who have applied for registration and whose rights have been certified."
