« First Peoples » refers to Inuit, First Nations and Métis.
In English, the word Inuit means “the people” (plural), while Inuk is used for an individual (singular). So, it is not necessary or grammatically correct to add an “s” to Inuit!
According to UNESCO, Indigenous populations worldwide number approximately
476 million
people across more than 90 countries. They represent about 6% of the global population and possess vast linguistic and cultural diversity, with around 40% of the world’s spoken languages being Indigenous.
In 2021, the Indigenous population in Canada was
1 807 250
people, representing 5.0% of the Canadian population.
According to Statistics Canada, if the proportion of the Indigenous population remains stable at 5.0%, this would correspond to approximately 2,006,336 people in 2025.
“Pow-wow” comes from an Anishinabe word meaning “medicine man” or “he who dreams.” A pow-wow is a gathering where people celebrate life with songs, dances, ceremonies, rites and demonstrations of hospitality and harmony.
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It has been inscribed in the Constitution of Canadian since 1996. The date was chosen because June 21 is the summer solstice, which has important symbolism in Indigenous cultures. There is also an International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which is celebrated on August 9.
Map of First Nations in Quebec
