‘Aborigines’ is the term used for the native people of Canada and their descendants. The 1982 Constitution Act of Canada recognized the First Nations, Inuit and Métis together as the Canadian Aboriginals. These three different groups have their unique histories, cultures, languages and beliefs. They make up to 4.5 % of the total Canadian population and have influenced the Canadian history and culture in many ways. Canada also celebrates National Aboriginal Day on 21st June every year to recognize the contribution and culture of the Aboriginals to the country.
Looking back at the history of Canada, it is known be a relatively new country. In a way it is true, as the first European settlers arrived here 300 years back. But according to archeological studies, evidence of human presence has been found in present day Canada. The studies state that during the Wisconsin glaciation which took place 50,000-17,000 years back, people migrated to North America (Alaska) from Siberia using the Bering land bridge. Canada was covered by the Laurentide ice sheet, confining the nomadics to Alaska for many centuries.
As the Aborigines evolved, they started settling down and forming their communities. Along with settlements came the need of languages. Canada has a rich heritage of Aboriginal languages spoken by the different communities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. These languages have connected and bound the people together since many centuries. The Aboriginal languages have also contributed a lot to the English language. Many words used in today’s English are derived from these Aboriginal languages.
Over the span of many centuries, the Aboriginals and their way of living have changed to adopt with the circumstances. Today the Aboriginals have developed both in social and economical ways. They constitute of nearly 4.5% of the total Canadian population and the government, time and again, takes measures for their upliftment. The Aboriginals have also slowly and steadily moved to urban habitats, with around 50% of them living in urban areas.