Significant increase in Winnipeg region's aboriginal population
An interesting article from the Free Press about the changing demographics of this city.
What do the rest of you think about this trend? What does it mean for this city down the road? Discuss.. Quote:
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Aboriginal and Metis Population Rising
JAN 15 2008 01:20 PM The 2006 Aboriginal Census released Tuesday morning shows a huge increase in Manitoba's Métis population. It's up 58 percent from 1996 to 2006, to 72-thousand people. Winnipeg City Councillor Dan Vandal who is Métis tells CJOB, the aboriginal and Métis population increase represents huge opportunities on the job front: In Winnipeg, 10.2 percent or just over 68-thousand people identify themselves as aboriginal. That's the highest numbers and percentage of any urban centre in the country of comparable size. The aboriginal population of both Thompson and Portage la Prairie has now risen to 36 percent. CJOB News |
Winnipeg has most aboriginal people in Canada
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 | 11:40 AM CT CBC News More aboriginal people live in Winnipeg than in any other major city in Canada, according to new census data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. One in 10 Winnipeggers identified themselves as aboriginal in the 2006 census — the largest percentage of any major city in the country. The Manitoba capital also has the largest aboriginal population in sheer numbers, at 68,380. The growth of the city's aboriginal population — defined as those who said they were Indian, Métis or Inuit — has been dramatic in recent years, growing by 22 per cent over five years, compared with only one per cent for non-aboriginal Winnipeggers. Damon Johnson, head of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg, said the numbers are significant for the city, with implications for governments, social agencies and businesses. Too many aboriginal Winnipeggers have not integrated successfully into city life, Johnson said, and action needs to be taken to change this. In Winnipeg, almost 41,000 of the aboriginal census respondents said they were Métis, an increase of almost 10,000 in just five years. Nationally, this is the first census to show Canada's aboriginal population topping the million mark, an increase of 45 per cent from a decade earlier. Part of the reason for the increase is higher birth rates among aboriginal people compared to the non-aboriginal population, according to Statistics Canada. But it's also because more people than before are identifying themselves as aboriginal. The median age for the Canadian aboriginal population is 27, compared with 40 for the non-native population — in part due to a shorter estimated life span for aboriginal people, as well as a higher birth rate. |
Job programs aren't keeping up to aboriginal growth
Updated at 2:10 PM By Aldo Santin JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "The programs that we've designed for First Nation people over the past 20 years have not worked," Helgason said today. Manitoba's aboriginal population continues to be the fastest growing segment in the province, new data from Statistics Canada shows, but analysts this morning said that existing programs and services have not provided the jobs and education necessary for these people to play a role in Manitoba's growth. Statistics Canada's analysis of the 2006 Census revealed that while the non-aboriginal component of Manitoba's population decreased by one per cent between 1996 and 2006, the aboriginal population increased 36 per cent. Data from the 2006 Census released today shows: - Winnipeg was home to the largest Aboriginal population in Canada, 68,380. - Aboriginal people represent 10 per cent of Winnipeg metropolitan area. - The aboriginal population of Winnipeg grew 22 times faster than the non-aboriginal population between 2001 and 2006. - The number of people identifying themselves as Metis in Manitoba grew 58 per cent between 1996 and 2006, reaching 71,805 people in 2006. - Aboriginal people made up a considerable share of the population in smaller urban centres: 36 per cent of the population of Thompson; 23 per cent of the population of Portage la Prairie; 9 per cent of Brandon; 40 per cent of The Pas; and 27 per cent of population of Selkirk. Wilf Falk, the director of the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, said Metis are participating in all sectors of Manitoba's economy at much higher levels compared to First Nation people. Wayne Helgason, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said the data shows that First Nation continue to have the lowest levels of education and employment, are more likely to be in single-parent families and live in crowded housing, and more likely to live in poverty. "The programs that we've designed for First Nation people over the past 20 years have not worked," Helgason said following a news conference at the Thunder Bird House where the 2006 Census data was released. Helgason said he believes the main reason the programs aimed at raising First Nation standards have not succeeded is because First Nation community leaders have allowed government agencies and non-aboriginals to design and deliver these programs. "You don't take responsibility (for your people) by having everyone else doing everything for you," Helgason said. Helgason said the only way to have the majority of First Nation people fully share in Manitoba's economy is to ensure that their children get an education and "become self sufficient and successful. It's a long-term process." Falk said aboriginals and immigrants will soon become the major component of Manitoba's labour force, adding society has to make sure that these people have the education and skills to replace retiring workers. "They need to have the skills to take the jobs that will open up," Falk said. aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca |
This is scary. The fact that this community has no capacity and is so predominant makes things even worse. Winnipeg is becoming one big reserve.
Its clear now. How this community goes, goes our city. Failure of this community means failure of our City. Do nothing and social issues will take over our city. People's attitudes will eventually result in an exodus of the mobile class. Do something great and our city is re-born like the Phoenix. We are at a crossroads my friends. |
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If ever you think the Province and the City lack vision, Manitoba's Chief's have even less. Winnipeg will be up shits creek in 20 years if we don't take radical steps now to address the problems in the Aboriginal community. |
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A 35% bump in population is a pretty big increase. Aboriginals in Winnipeg may be one of the fastest growing visible minorities of any Canadian City.
I doubt that even the Asian communities in Vancouver and Toronto are growing as fast. Even as we speak i'm trying to figure out what the racial make-up of this city will be in 2020 or 2032. By the time most of us are middle aged Winnipeg could be a very different place. |
These statistics, like many are probably quite misleading.
Statistics Canada has probably broadened the definition of "aboriginal" and "metis". For example, I can think of plenty of people I know who look slightly less aboriginal than Jeff Foxworthy or Morgan Freeman. Nevertheless they insist that they are indeed aboriginal. That's fine , I really don't care but the statistic itself is probably not nearly as accurate as it might first seem since it almost certainly relied on the census of 2006. That makes it a self-reporting issue. Think you're aboriginal ? Okay, check that off on the census. Voila ! You're now an aboriginal. Whether this was a conclusion drawn for 2006 census figures or some other survey the inherent flaw is the same : nobody is going to argue the matter with you in this case. If I decide to state that I'm black because my grandfather was black, I guess from SC's viewpoint, I'm an African-Canadian. The truth is that nothing is all that much different today from a year or two ago. As a segment of the population it's no surprise that Natives and Metis make up a greater percentage but the article itself even says the same thing that I just did. It's less of a shift in demographics and more of a shift in definition. The true figure has undoubtedly risen but I seriously doubt it's been nearly so dramatic as the statistics would suggest. |
I've been seeing a bunch of articles from different Canadian cities talking about the same issue. It seems as though part of the "increase" is simply due to the fact that StatsCan missed fewer people this time around.
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No, it would be better for everyone involved if they did nothing and continued to live on welfare. :koko: |
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As a point of interest, could Natives sell alcohol privately on reserve land? If so, that's the best argument I could think of for allowing an urban reserve--sticking it to the Liquor Commies. |
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^Cross Lake! I know because I bought beer there last year.
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They increased almost 20% in Thunder Bay. I didn't read the articles above so I'm probably repeating something, but most of them are coming in for jobs and education opportunities which they lack on reserves. Ontario's first nations communities are among the most impoverished places in the western hemisphere.
Of the 5,000 people in my census tract, about 1300 are aboriginal, though it seems like more as I live along the main street which is dominated by aboriginal families. (The inner neighbourhood is still very white) |
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I know of a few reserves like this, where both communities will utilize the same name for the most part. Since they are the same community anyways. More notable communities not doing this would be The Pas and OCN (Opaskwayak Cree nation). |
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EDIT: It was on James Street, no exact address though. But he does have a pic so perhaps I can upload it later. But Fort William area?? |
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