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Over the course of centuries, manyIndigenous Canadians have played a critical role in shaping thehistory of Canada. From art and music, to law and government, to sports and war; Indigenous customs and culture have had a strong influences on definingCanadian culture.[1][2][3] TheIndspire Awards are the annual awards presented byIndspire, formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.[4] The awards were first established in 1993 in conjunction with the United Nations declaring the 1990s "International Decade of the World'sIndigenous peoples".[5] June 21 is Canada'sNational Aboriginal Day, in recognition of the cultural contributions made byCanada's indigenous population. The day was first celebrated in 1996 followingGovernor General of CanadaRoméo LeBlanc's proclamation.[6]
1,172,790 million people reported having at least some Indigenous ancestry in 2006, representing 3.8% of the totalCanadian population.[7] From 1981 to 2001, the percentage of Indigenous people who obtainedcollege diplomas increased from 15.0 per cent to 22.0 per cent, while the percentage that obtaineduniversity degrees increased from 4.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent.[7] This compares with increases of 20.0 per cent to 25.0 per cent for non-Indigenous people obtaining college diplomas that is a narrow gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population.[7] This is partly due to organizations that focus attention on the achievements and welfare of Indigenous Canadians like,Congress of Aboriginal Peoples,Native Women's Association of Canada,Aboriginal Curatorial Collective,National Aboriginal Health Organization,Metis Child and Family Services Society andAboriginal Peoples Television Network.
First Nation people have come from a diverse background of history, economy, culture, and government. First Nations become active politicians in the Canadian government holding a sense of pride and patriotism towards the nation of Canada. First Nations also become politicians within their own well-defined First Nation government known as theAssembly of First Nations (AFN) which supported by its membership, land base and tribal councils[8]
Shanawdithit, born 1801, was the last recorded surviving member of theBeothuk people.[9][10] After Shanawdithit's death in 1829, the Beothuk people became officially extinct as a separateethnic group.[11]Aatsista-Mahkan (Running Rabbit), becamechief of theSiksika First Nation following the death of his father in 1871.[12] Aatsista-Mahkan was a signatory toTreaty 7, but he and his people continued living theplains Indian lifestyle following thebison until 1881.[12] The Siksika Nation was then forced to settle on areserve 97 kilometres (60 mi) east of today'sCalgary, Alberta.[13]Big Bear (mistahi-maskwa) was a Cree leader notable for his participation in the 1870Battle of the Belly River. Following this, in 1873, Big Bear clashed with theMétis.[13]Francis Pegahmagabow was theFirst Nation soldier most highly decorated for bravery inCanadian military history and the most effectivesniper ofWorld War I.[14]Mary Greyeyes-Reid was the first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Forces.[15]Tommy Prince was one of Canada's most decorated First Nations soldiers, serving inWorld War II and theKorean War.[16]Mary John, Sr.,CM was a leader of theDakelh (Carrier) people and a social activist.[17] A story of her life is told in the book titledStoney Creek Woman.[18]Ethel Blondin-Andrew, was a Canadian politician ofDene descent in theNorthwest Territories and the first Indigenous woman to be elected to theParliament of Canada.[19]Ovide Mercredi is a politician of Cree descent and a former national chief of theAssembly of First Nations.[20]Harold Cardinal was a Cree writer, political leader, teacher, negotiator and lawyer who demanded, on behalf of all First Nation peoples, the right to be "the red tile in theCanadian mosaic.[21] The tenthLieutenant Governor of Alberta,Ralph Steinhauer, was the first Indigenous person to become aLieutenant Governor in Canada, holding that post between 1974 and 1979.Skowkale lawyer and judge,Steven Point,OBC (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl), was theLieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 2007 to 2012.[22]
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ThePremier of Manitoba,Wab Kinew, is Canada's first Indigenousprovincial Premier, having been elected to this post in 2023.Harriet Nahanee was a civil rights activist, aCanadian residential school system survivor and environmentalist.[23] Nahanee was arrested and imprisoned in 2007 at the age of 71 for trying to protectSquamish Nation territory.[23]Theresa Spence a chief of theAttawapiskat First Nation is a prominent figure in the modernAttawapiskat housing and infrastructure crisis andIdle No More protest.[24][25]
The arts and entertainment industry has seen Indigenous peoples stand at the Oscars, an internationally prominent award ceremony such asChief Dan George.[26] Dan George OC, was chief of theTsleil-Waututh (Coast Salish) Nation,Academy Award-nominated actor and an author.[26]Adam Beach is an actor ofSaulteaux descent fromDog Creek First Nations Reserve atLake Manitoba.[27] Beach has acted in high-profile roles such as, MarinePrivate First ClassIra Hayes inFlags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yahzee inWindtalkers,Chester Lake inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit and starred in Canadian television productions such asArctic Air.[28]Lorne Cardinal of Cree descent, is noted for playing First Nations roles in many productions.[29] Cardinal's most notable Canadian role was portraying character Davis Quinton on the Canadian television seriesCorner Gas.[29]Tantoo Cardinal is a Canadian film and television actress of Métis and Cree descent.[30]Graham Greene is an Academy Award–nominated Canadian actor from theOneida tribe.[31] He was born inOhsweken on theSix Nations Reserve in Ontario.[31]D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is an Emmy-nominated CanadianOji-Cree actor known forReservation Dogs.
Shania Twain is acountry pop artist of partial Cree ancestry.[32] Shania Twain along withAlanis Morissette are the only Canadian musicians to have sold over 2 million units in Canada, receiving thedouble diamond award.[33]Kashtin was a Canadianfolk rock duo composed ofInnuClaude McKenzie andFlorent Vollant.[34]Robbie Robertson,Mohawk, musician, singer–songwriter, and guitarist is best known for his membership inThe Band.[35]Norval Morrisseau, CM, or Copper Thunderbird, was anAnishinaabe artist known as the "Picasso of the North".[36]Bill Reid, OBC, was an artist who renewed interest in his heritageHaida art, with his sculpture andtotem poles.[37]
In sports there are number of accomplished First Nations peoples, such asTom Longboat, anOnondaga distancerunner.[38] Longboat was inducted into bothCanada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Indian Hall of Fame.[38]George "Chief" Armstrong was noted as an Irish-Algonquin, professional hockey player.[39]Ted Nolan, Ojibwe,Jack Adams Award winner, is a retired professionalhockeyleft winger of theNational Hockey League (NHL).[40] Nolan was the former head coach and vice president of hockey operations for anAmerican Hockey League (AHL) team.[40]Jonathan Cheechoo was the first member of theMoose Factory Cree Nation to play hockey for theOttawa Senators of the NHL.[41][42] Of Cree heritage,Jon Mirasty, "Nasty Mirasty", is a popularenforcer in the AHL.[43]
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Inuit serving in political roles have actively advocated in support of the Inuit community. Some Inuit serve within a national political organisation known as theInuit Tapiriit Kanatami.[8]Abe Okpik CM, was instrumental in helping Inuit obtainsurnames rather thandisc numbers.[44]Simonie Michael, the first Inuk to be elected to what is now theLegislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, was among the early Inuit leaders to call for an end to the disc numbers.[44]Kiviaq (David Ward) was the first Inuk to become a lawyer, and is responsible for several important advances in establishing the legal rights of the Inuit.[45] In 2001, Kiviaq won the legal right to use his single-wordInuktitut name.[46]Peter Irniq a formerCommissioner of Nunavut set up the offices of "the Official Languages, Access to Information and Conflict of Interest Commissioners".[47] Irniq also has encouraged the use of theInuit languages and theculture, referred to asInuit Qaujimajatuqangit or IQ.[47]Sheila Watt-Cloutier, OC, is an Inuk political representative and activist at the regional, national and international levels.[48] Sheila has most recently worked as International Chair of theInuit Circumpolar Council (formerly the Inuit Circumpolar Conference).[48]Nellie Cournoyea, OC, ofInupiat heritage, served as the first femalePremier of the Northwest Territories and the second female leader of an elected legislature in Canada.[49]Helen Maksagak, CM, aCopper Inuk, was the lastCommissioner of the undivided NWT and first Commissioner of Nunavut.[50]Paul Okalik was the firstPremier of Nunavut whose "dream was to help his people in their dealings with the Canadian justice system."[51]Ann Meekitjuk Hanson is the Commissioner of Nunavut as well as civil servant, broadcaster, journalist, and author.[52]
Historically among the Inuit,Stephen Angulalik was an internationally knownAhiarmiut Inuk from northern Canada.[53] Angulalik was recognized as aKitikmeotfur trader andtrading post operator at Kuugjuaq (Perry River), NWT.[53] According toRoyal Canadian Mounted Police SergeantHenry Larsen by 1941, Angulalik and his third wife had raised 11 children.[54][55]Ebierbing, also known as "Eskimo Joe", was a guide andexplorer.[56] Ebierbing was one of the most widely travelled Inuit in the 1860s and 1870s, he assistedArctic explorers.[56]Peter Pitseolak was an Inuk photographer, artist and historian.[57] Pitseolak lived most of his life in traditional Inuit camps nearCape Dorset, on the southwest coast ofBaffin Island, now in the Canadian territory ofNunavut.[57]
Kenojuak Ashevak, CC, is a noteworthy pioneer of modernInuit art.[58] Born in anigloo in an Inuit camp in 1927, by the late 1950s Kenojuak became one of the first Inuit women in Cape Dorset to begin drawing.[58] She has since created many carvings from soapstone and thousands of drawings, etchings, stone-cuts, and prints – all sought after by museums and collectors.[58]Zacharias Kunuk, is a producer and director distinguished for his filmAtanarjuat: The Fast Runner.[59] Atanarjuat was the first Canadian dramatic feature film produced completely in Inuktitut.[59] Atanarjuat is co-founder and president ofIgloolik Isuma Productions, Canada's first independent Inuitproduction company.[59]Annabella Piugattuk is a throat singer, and actress memorable for her role inThe Snow Walker.[60]Susan Aglukark is a three-timeJuno winning musician,in 1995 forNew Artist of the Year andBest Music of Aboriginal Canada.[61]In 2004 Susan won for Aboriginal Recording of the Year, with a blend offolkInuit music, traditions withcountry and pop sounds.[61]Tanya Tagaq Gillis is an Inukthroat singer, who performs as a solo artist rather than part of a traditional duo.[62]Charlie Panigoniak is a country singer-songwriter and guitarist whose albums reflect on northern life.[63]Lucie Idlout is a rock singer who writes songs that called attention to the issue ofdomestic violence in Canada.[64]Jessie Oonark was an internationally renowned artist who was elected a Member of theRoyal Canadian Academy of Arts and made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[65]Alootook Ipellie was an illustrator and writer who told the stories of the Inuit in print.[66]Natar Ungalaaq is an actor, filmmaker, and sculptor whose artwork is in many major Inuit art collections worldwide.[67] In sports,Jordin Tootoo is the first Inuk athlete to become a professional ice hockey player playing with the NHL.[68]
The life and times of celebratedMétis people include military figures, entrepreneurs, and sports professionals. Historically,William Kennedy was anArctic explorer and, in 1851, commander of the second of four expeditions sponsored byLady Franklin to find her husband, SirJohn Franklin.[69]Gabriel Dumont broughtLouis Riel back to Canada, in order to pressure the Canadian authorities to pay attention to the troubles of the Métis people.Louis Riel was a founder of the province ofManitoba, and leader of the Métis people of theCanadian Prairies.[70] He led two rebellions against theCanadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister,Sir John A. Macdonald; theRed River Rebellion of 1869–1870[71] and theNorth-West Rebellion of 1885 which ended in histrial.[72] Dumont would serve under Riel as adjutant general in the provisional Métis government declared in Saskatchewan in 1885. Dumont then commanded the Métis forces in the North-West Rebellion.Elzéar Goulet was a Métis leader in theRed River Settlement, supporter ofLouis Riel's provisional government and namesake ofWinnipeg's Elzéar Goulet Memorial Park.[73]Charles Nolin was a Métis farmer and active political organiser who equivocated between religion and political support of the North-West Rebellion and his first cousin Louis Riel.[74][75]John Bruce was the first president of the Métisprovisional government and fought at the Red River Settlement during the Red River Rebellion of 1869.[76]
TheMétis National Council is a national political organisation supported with provincial associations and local communities.[8]Activists for the Métis community includePearl Calahasen who was the first Métis woman elected to public office in Alberta and Associate Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.[77]SenatorThelma Chalifoux was the first female Métis to receive the National Aboriginal Achievement Award.[78][79]
Blanche Brillon Macdonald was an entrepreneur and activist who developed the "Blanche Macdonald Centre".[80]Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, CM,O.Ont was a businesswoman and a founder of theMétis Nation of Ontario.[81]
Métis traditional culture is portrayed in arts and entertainment by artists such asChristi Belcourt.[82] Belcourt, a painter, craftsperson, and writer, is preeminently known for her acrylic paintings that depict floral patterns.[82] These patterns are inspired by Métis and First Nations historical beadwork art.[82]Laura de Jonge is a family advocate, corporate social responsibility practitioner, filmmaker, and magazine founder.[83]George R. D. Goulet is a best-selling author whose works include several titles about the Métis.[84]Tom Jackson has starred in TV shows such asNorth of 60 andShining Time Station.[85] Jackson has also released several albums of country and folk music.[85]Douglas Cardinal, OC, from Calgary is a renowned architect.[86] Born of Métis andBlackfoot heritage, Cardinal is famous for flowing architecture marked with smooth lines, influenced by his Indigenous heritage as well as EuropeanExpressionist architecture.[86]
Well known Métis sports figures includeBryan Trottier, a retiredCanadian American professional ice hockeycentreHall of Fame award recipient who played 18 seasons in the NHL.[87]Wade Redden is a professional ice hockey NHLdefenceman and analternate captain.[88] Redden has won two Canadian gold medals in theWorld Junior Championships and once in theWorld Cup of Hockey.[88]Rene Bourque is a professional ice hockey player in the NHL and first cousin of North American Native Boxing ChampionWayne Bourque.[89]Wayne Bourque has been the North American Native boxing champion three times.[90]
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