Canada’s Aboriginal Children Living in Below Average Conditions - Survey

Nearly half (49%) of off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years of age live in low-income families, compared with 18% of non-Aboriginal children, while about 43% of Inuit children are living in a crowded dwelling, six times the proportion of 7% among non-Aboriginal children, according to a survey by Statistics Canada. The survey also reveals that more than one-quarter (27%) of off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years old have mothers between the ages of 15 and 24, compared with 8% of non-Aboriginal children.

Higher proportions of young Aboriginal children are growing up in large families and are being raised by young parents compared with non-Aboriginal children.
Many people, including extended family and community members, are involved in raising young Aboriginal children.

Aboriginal children comprise an increasing proportion of all children in Canada, and there has been increased attention to the importance of early childhood as setting the stage for future success.

In 2006, the census enumerated about 47,000 First Nations children under 6 years of age living off reserve, as well as about 35,000 Métis and 7,000 Inuit children in the same age group.

First Nations children living off reserve

Off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years of age were being raised in larger families with younger parents than non-Aboriginal children. In 2006, 17% of off-reserve First Nations children were living in families with four or more children, compared with 8% of non-Aboriginal children.

More than one-quarter (27%) of off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years old had mothers between the ages of 15 and 24, compared with 8% of non-Aboriginal children.
In 2006, 9 in 10 off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years of age were being raised by more than one person. When asked how often the child talked or played together with different people, focusing attention on each other for five minutes or more, it was reported that mothers (93%) were most likely to give focused attention to the child at least once a day, followed by siblings (69%), and fathers (64%). At least once a week, 67% of off-reserve First Nations children received focused attention from grandparents and 26% from Elders.

Nearly half (49%) of off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years of age living in the provinces were in low-income families in 2006, compared with 18% of non-Aboriginal children.

Parents or guardians of off-reserve First Nations children were generally satisfied with many aspects of their community as a place to raise children. Just over half of off-reserve First Nations children lived in a community that their parents rated as "excellent" or "very good" in terms of "good schools, nursery schools and early childhood education programs" and "adequate facilities for children such as community centres, rinks, gyms, parks."

However, they were less satisfied with access to activities and services that promote traditional and cultural values and customs. About 17% of young off-reserve First Nations children lived in a community rated as "excellent" or "very good" in terms of being a place with Aboriginal cultural activities.

Further, 24% of off-reserve First Nations children currently receiving child care were in arrangements that promoted traditional and cultural values and customs, and 15% were in child care arrangements where Aboriginal languages were used.

Métis children

Métis children under 6 years of age were being raised by younger parents than non-Aboriginal children. More than one-fifth (22%) of Métis children under the age of 6 had mothers between the ages of 15 to 24, compared with 8% of non-Aboriginal children.
In 2006, 9 in 10 Métis children under 6 years of age were being raised by more than one person. When asked how often the child talked or played together with different people, focusing attention on each other for five minutes or more, it was reported that mothers (94%) were most likely to give focused attention to the child at least once a day, followed by fathers (71%) and siblings (70%). At least once a week, 69% of Métis children received focused attention from grandparents and 24% from Elders.

Nearly one-third (32%) of Métis children under 6 years of age living in the provinces were in low-income families in 2006, compared with 18% of non-Aboriginal children.
Parents or guardians of Métis children were generally satisfied with many aspects of their community as a place to raise children. About 6 in 10 Métis children had parents who rated their "schools, nursery schools and early childhood education programs" as "excellent" or "very good." Roughly equal proportions had "adequate facilities for children such as community centres, rinks, gyms, parks," and "safe" communities.

However, they were less satisfied with access to activities and services that promote traditional and cultural values and customs. About 16% of young Métis children lived in a community rated as "excellent" or "very good" in terms of being a place with Aboriginal cultural activities.

Of Métis children receiving child care, 14% were in an arrangement that promoted traditional and cultural values and customs. About 6% were in child care arrangements where Aboriginal languages were used.

Inuit children

In 2006, 9 in 10 Inuit children under 6 years of age were being raised by more than one person. When asked how often the child talked or played together with different people, focusing attention on each other for five minutes or more, it was reported that mothers (92%) were most likely to give focused attention to the child at least once a day, followed by fathers and siblings (73%). At least once a week, 71% of Inuit children received focused attention from grandparents and 35% from Elders.

In 2006, 28% of Inuit children were living in families with four or more children compared with 8% of non-Aboriginal children. About one-quarter (26%) of Inuit children under the age of 6 had mothers between the ages of 15 to 24, three times the proportion of 8% among non-Aboriginal children.

Compared with non-Aboriginal children, many Inuit children reside in multiple generation households. In 2006, 16% were living in households with their parents and grandparents; this was more than three times the 5% for non-Aboriginal children.
While the large share of multiple generation households among Inuit may reflect traditional cultural values, a lack of housing may also be a contributing factor. About 43% of Inuit children were living in a crowded dwelling, six times the proportion of 7% among non-Aboriginal children.

Some 30% of Inuit children had parents/guardians who reported that they were "dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with their housing conditions.

About 45% of Inuit children had parents who rated their community's "schools, nursery schools and early childhood education programs" as "excellent" or "very good." About one in three (34%) Inuit children had parents who reported "excellent" or "very good" facilities for children such as community centres, rinks, gyms, parks.

The survey provides an extensive set of data about Inuit, Métis and off-reserve First Nations children under 6 years of age living in urban, rural and northern locations across Canada. It was designed to provide a picture of the early development of Aboriginal children and the social and living conditions in which they are learning and growing.

The survey was developed by Statistics Canada and Aboriginal advisors from across the country and was conducted jointly with Human Resources and Social Development Canada. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG), consisting of specialists in Aboriginal early childhood development and other diverse specialties and Aboriginal backgrounds, provided guidance on developing and implementing the survey.

Based on recommendations from the TAG, the 2006 ACS was designed to be holistic in nature. It collected information on topics including children's health, sleep, nutrition, development, nurturing, child care, schooling, language, behaviour and activities.

The ACS is a post-censal survey. That is, the sample was selected from children living in private households whose response on their 2006 Census questionnaire indicated that they had Aboriginal origins, and/or identified as North American Indian and/or Métis and/or Inuit, and/or had treaty or registered Indian status, and/or had Indian Band membership. Both ACS and census data are included throughout this report.

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