Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Seniors: Foundation of their communities
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.
Seniors have influential and important roles in Aboriginal communities. As elders, Aboriginal seniors share their knowledge of traditions, culture and languages.
In 2001, 39,700 seniors aged 65 and older identified themselves as Aboriginal peoples. While Aboriginal peoples made up 3% of the total population, Aboriginal seniors made up only 1% of the total senior population.
Only 4% of Aboriginal peoples were aged 65 and older in 2001, compared with 13% of the non-Aboriginal population. Projections indicate that the number of Aboriginal seniors could climb to 7% of the total Aboriginal population by 2017, well below the 17% projected for non-Aboriginal seniors.
Aboriginal seniors have a lower median income than other seniors. In 2000, the median income of Aboriginal seniors was 83% that of non-Aboriginal seniors, or $14,259 compared with $17,123.
Seniors are especially vital in the retention of Aboriginal languages. The vast majority of Inuit seniors are able to carry on a conversation in Inuktitut; 78% of those aged 65 and older and 77% of those aged 45 to 64 can converse in Inuktitut. Among Métis seniors, 16% are able to carry on a conversation in an Aboriginal language.
First Nations seniors who live on reserve have very different characteristics from those who live off reserve. Among First Nations seniors living on reserve lands in 2001, 79% could converse in an Aboriginal language. That contrasts with 32% of First Nations seniors who lived off reserve lands.
