The research made it possible to establish the fact that English-language Canadian
literature uses the terms Aboriginal peoples and Aboriginal population. These terms
entered the official language with the adoption of the Canadian Constitution in 1982.
They are ethically correct and commonly used to refer to all Indigenous peoples living
on the territory of Canada and originating from the first settlers of North America. The
term Native Peoples is similar to these terms, but less common among Canadian
scholars and authorities.
It should be noted that although in Australia native population is also called
“Aboriginal people” , in Canadian English this term is used only to refer to Indigenous
peoples in Canada. And, interestingly, the term "Aboriginal", "Aboriginal people" is
not widely used in the United States, instead the terms Native American or American
Indian are used. In Canada, the term "Native American" did not spread, because
according to most scholars, it is associated with a resident / citizen of America, that is,
the United States. Nevertheless, the leaders of certain Indigenous groups in Canada
have stressed the admissibility of using this term in Canadian English. The
interpretation is based on the thesis that, regardless of their nationality, they were the
first settlers of America as a continent. In this regard, in order to specify, Canada also
uses the term "Indigenous people of North America", which covers the Indigenous
population in the United States and Canada (National Aboriginal Health Organization
Terminology Guidelines, 2017).
According to the latest 2011 Census, Aboriginal population represents 4.3% of
the total Canadian population (Canada Census,2011). The largest number of
Indigenous peoples living on the territory of Nunavut and in the Northwest Territories,
respectively constitute 86.3% and 51.9% of the total Aboriginal population of Canada.
The aboriginal population of Canada, and, consequently, the conceptual
framework of research on this issue, are diversified according to anthropological and
legal characteristics.
The analysis of the scientific-pedagogical and normative-legal basis of the
research, revealed that according to anthropological characteristics, native population
in Canada consists of three main groups: First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. These
three groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada are recognized in the Constitution Act
of 1982.
Indians form the largest part of the population which constitutes 65% of all
Indigenous peoples in the country. The term "Indians" began to be used in the
European settlers’ language after the discovery of America by H. Columbus in 1492.
As the sailor believed that he had reached the shores of India, he began to call the local
population "Indians." According to Friesen (Friesen & Friesen, 2002), the word
"Indian" is still widely used in American English both at federal level and in research
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