Literacy profile of off-reserve First Nations and Métis people living in urban Manitoba and Saskatchewan: Results from the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey 2003 - ARCHIVED

Until very recently, reliable data on the literacy of Aboriginal people in Canada have been scarce. The 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS) collected data from large enough samples of Aboriginal people living in urban areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as Aboriginal people living in selected communities in the territories, to answer key questions about the literacy proficiency of these populations. The off-reserve Aboriginal population in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is comprised of significant proportions of individuals who self-identify as First Nations and Métis. The IALSS background questionnaire allows researchers to make distinctions on the basis of self-reported Aboriginal identity group.

This report uses data from the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey to provide a profile of the level and distribution of adult literacy among the off-reserve First Nations and Métis populations residing in urban areas in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Literacy profiles are provided for males and females, for different age groups and by educational attainment. Finally, the article examines the literacy profiles of the employed and unemployed sub-groups within these populations.