Social Locations – Indigenous Communities
Equity Framework > Social Locations > Indigenous Communities
It is estimated that approximately 88,000 Indigenous people live in what is now known as Toronto. This is two to four times higher than what Statistics Canada estimates [1]. Toronto is home to the original Indigenous inhabitants of this area including the Wendat, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee [2]. It also home to many Indigenous Peoples from other parts of Turtle Island including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Indigenous peoples hold unique rights and history in Canada [3].
The well-being of Indigenous peoples is impacted by the complex legacy of colonialism. This legacy includes unequal power relations and the extension of political, economic, and social control over Indigenous lands and lives.
Despite improvements in education and employment levels for urban Indigenous people in Toronto, a significant number of community members continue to experience poverty, and the related challenges of:
- inadequate housing
- lack of secure access to food
- and negative health outcomes,
often at rates that are much higher than the general population [4,5].
Working to advance the well-being of Indigenous children and families in Toronto relies on strong, reciprocal partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. These partnerships require an understanding of the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples, and the historic nation-to-nation relationship that continues to guide us in living together on the territory where Toronto now sits [4].
To learn more about to child and family well-being disaggregated by Indigenous identity, please visit the Equity Analysis Toolkit page on Raising the Village.
Please also see the following Indigenous Outcomes pages on Raising the Village:
References
- Smylie, J., McConkey, S, Blais, G., C. Bourgeois, M. Rotondi. (2022) 2021 Indigenous Population Estimates for the City of Toronto. Available from: http://www.welllivinghouse.com/what-we-do/projects/our-health-counts/our-health-counts-toronto/
- Brant-Birioukov, K., Brant-Terry, G., Birioukov-Brant, A., Maracle, K., and Currie,M. (2023). Indigenous Peoples in Toronto: An Introduction for Newcomers. Available from: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/9869-IG-TNO-Online-Compressed.pdf
- Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council, Understanding Indigenous Children’s Gifts of Toronto Final Report May 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2023 from https://indigenousto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TASSC_ICGTReport_May282019.pdf
- Toronto Child & Family Network (2016). Raising the village: Measuring the Well-being of children and Families in Toronto – Part 2 Indigenous Outcomes. Retrieved September 1, 2023 from: https://raisingthevillage.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Raising-the-Village-Part-2-Indigenous-Outcomes-April-2016-AODA.pdf
- The McCaskill, D., K. FitzMaurice, K. & Cidro, J. (2011). Toronto Aboriginal Research Project. Final Report. Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/8f73-tarp-final-report2011.pdf