Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon

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Release date: March 29, 2016

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About the data sources

The 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) and the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) are the main data sources for this fact sheet. The 2011 NHS collected social and economic data about the Canadian population. The 2012 APS was a national survey of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit aged 6 and older. The data are for the Aboriginal identity population, which refers to people who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation. It was possible to report both single and multiple responses to the Aboriginal identity questions on the NHS and the APS. The NHS data in this fact sheet are based on single responses only. The APS data represent a combination of the single and multiple Aboriginal identity populations. Nearly all off-reserve First Nations, Métis, and Inuit respondents reported a single identity.

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Aboriginal people account for one-quarter of the population of Yukon

Numbering 7,705, 1% of the Aboriginal identity population in Canada lived in Yukon in 2011. They made up 23% of the total population of the territory.
More than half (53%) of Aboriginal people in Yukon resided in Whitehorse and they represented 16% of the total population living there.
Yukon was home to 6,590 First Nations people, 840 Métis, and 175 Inuit,^Note 1 with the rest reporting other^Note 2 Aboriginal identities (70) or more than one Aboriginal identity (30). From 2006 to 2011, the First Nations population in Yukon increased by 5%, while the Métis population rose by 6%, and the Inuit population decreased by 28%.^Note 3
Of those who identified as First Nations people in 2011, almost nine in ten (87% or 5,715) reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada.

Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal

Four in ten (43%) Aboriginal people in Yukon were under the age of 25, compared with 27% of the non-Aboriginal population. Among both First Nations people and Métis, 42% were in this age group.
In 2011, the median age of First Nations people was 31.3; that of Métis was 30.7. Both groups were younger than the non-Aboriginal population, whose median age was 40.8.

Four in ten Aboriginal children live with both parents

In Yukon, 38% of First Nations children aged 14 and younger lived in a family with both their parents in 2011, as did 48% of Métis children. The corresponding percentage for non-Aboriginal children was 74%. Just over four in ten First Nations children (43%) as well as 36% of Métis children lived in a lone-parent family, rates that were higher than that for their non-Aboriginal peers (18%).
In 2011, 4% of Aboriginal children aged 14 and younger in Yukon were in foster care.

Table 1
Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement, by selected Aboriginal identity group,^{Table 1 Note 1} Yukon, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentage distribution of children aged 14 and under by living arrangement Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Total Aboriginal identity population	First Nations single identity	Métis single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population
Children of both parents^{Table 1 Note 2}	39.0	37.7	47.6	74.3
Stepchildren	8.8	8.9	9.5	7.8
Children of lone parent	42.9	42.9	35.7	17.7
Grandchildren in skip-generation family	3.6	4.3	0.0	0.0
Foster children	4.2	4.6	0.0	0.0
Children living with other relatives^{Table 1 Note 3}	1.3	1.5	0.0	0.0
Table 1 Note 1. Data for Inuit are included in the total Aboriginal identity population but are not shown separately because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory. Return to Table 1 note 1 referrer Table 1 Note 2. Includes children in a two-parent family where there may also be stepsiblings or half-siblings present. Also includes children in a two-parent family for whom it cannot be determined if they are stepchildren. Return to Table 1 note 2 referrer Table 1 Note 3. Non-relatives may be present. Excludes foster children. Return to Table 1 note 3 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Almost three in ten live in homes requiring major repairs

In 2011, 7% of First Nations people in Yukon lived in crowded homes, that is, with more than one person per room. Among Métis, the percentage was 8% while the comparable figure for the non-Aboriginal population was 4%.
In Yukon, 29% of First Nations people and 20% of Métis lived in homes in need of major repairs. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 12%.

Table 2
Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs, by selected Aboriginal identity group,^{Table 2 Note 1} Yukon, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Percentages living in crowded homes and homes in need of major repairs Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Total Aboriginal identity population	First Nations single identity	Métis single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population
Crowding^{Table 2 Note 2}	7.2	7.1	8.3	4.2
Home in need of major^{Table 2 Note 3} repairs	28.2	28.6	20.1	12.2
Table 2 Note 1. Data for Inuit are included in the total Aboriginal identity population but are not shown separately because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory. Return to Table 2 note 1 referrer Table 2 Note 2. More than one person per room. Return to Table 2 note 2 referrer Table 2 Note 3. For example, dwellings with defective plumbing or electrical wiring and dwellings needing structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings. Return to Table 2 note 3 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Ability to speak an Aboriginal language highest among First Nations people

In Yukon, 16% of First Nations people reported the ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language, a rate higher than among Métis (2%).^Note 4 The Aboriginal languages most commonly spoken by First Nations people were Kaska (Nahani), Northern Tutchone and Tlingit.
In 2011, 14% of First Nations people reported an Aboriginal mother tongue. The percentage for Métis was 2%.

Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Yukon, 2011

Description for Chart 1

The title of the graph is "Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue, by selected Aboriginal identity group,^{Chart 1 Note 1} Yukon, 2011."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 3 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 20 with ticks every 5 points.
There are 2 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Aboriginal identity groups."
The title of series 1 is "Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language."
The minimum value is 1.8 and it corresponds to "Métis single identity."
The maximum value is 16.1 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."
The title of series 2 is "Aboriginal language as mother tongue."
The minimum value is 1.8 and it corresponds to "Métis single identity."
The maximum value is 14.2 and it corresponds to "First Nations single identity."

Data table for Chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 1 Ability to converse in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal language as mother tongue (appearing as column headers).
	Ability to conduct a conversation in an Aboriginal language	Aboriginal language as mother tongue
Total Aboriginal identity population	14.2	12.8
First Nations single identity	16.1	14.2
Métis single identity	1.8	1.8
Chart 1 Note 1. Data for Inuit are included in the total Aboriginal identity population but are not shown separately because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory. Return to Chart 1 note 1 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Postsecondary qualifications vary by Aboriginal group

In 2011, 51% of Aboriginal people aged 25 to 64 in Yukon had a certificate, diploma or degree from a trade school, college or university, with rates of 49% for First Nations people and 68% for Métis. The comparable percentage for their non-Aboriginal counterparts was 71%.
Among those with postsecondary credentials, First Nations people and Métis were more likely than non-Aboriginal graduates to have completed programs below the bachelor’s level (trades or college programs).
There was also a difference in the proportion of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with “no certificate, diploma or degree”. In 2011, 29% of Aboriginal people did not have a certificate, diploma or degree. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 9%.

Table 3
Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64, by selected Aboriginal identity group,^{Table 3 Note 1} Yukon, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Highest level of educational attainment of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Total Aboriginal identity population	First Nations single identity	Métis single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population
No certificate, diploma or degree	28.7	31.1	13.2	8.5
High school diploma or equivalent	20.1	19.9	18.7	20.7
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	51.2	48.9	68.1	70.8
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma	15.6	15.8	16.5	12.6
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	21.5	21.3	23.1	23.9
University certificate or diploma below bachelor level^{Table 3 Note 2}	4.5	4.3	4.4	4.6
University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above	9.4	7.5	23.1	29.6
Table 3 Note 1. Data for Inuit are included in the total Aboriginal identity population but are not shown separately because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory. Return to Table 3 note 1 referrer Table 3 Note 2. Comparisons with other data sources suggest that the category “University certificate or diploma below bachelor level” was overreported in the National Household Survey (NHS). The results for this category should be interpreted with caution. For more information on concepts and data quality, refer to the NHS reference guides and Education Reference Guide on the Statistics Canada website. Return to Table 3 note 2 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Employment rate of Aboriginal people is over 60%

In 2011, the employment rate of Aboriginal people aged 25 to 64 in Yukon was 63.3%, with rates of 61.5% for First Nations people and 74.7% for Métis. The rate for the non-Aboriginal population was 82.7%.

Table 4
Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64, by highest level of educational attainment, selected Aboriginal identity group,^{Table 4 Note 1} Yukon, 2011
Table summary
This table displays the results of Employment rate of population aged 25 to 64 Total Aboriginal identity population, First Nations single identity, Métis single identity and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using employment rate (percent) units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	employment rate (percent)
	Total Aboriginal identity population	First Nations single identity	Métis single identity	Non-Aboriginal identity population
Total	63.3	61.5	74.7	82.7
No certificate, diploma or degree	50.2	49.3	53.8	70.0
High school diploma or equivalent	71.2	72.1	76.5	81.4
Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree	67.4	65.2	77.4	84.6
Table 4 Note 1. Data for Inuit are included in the total Aboriginal identity population but are not shown separately because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory. Return to Table 4 note 1 referrer Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Median total income^Note 5 was higher for those with higher education levels. Among First Nations people aged 25 to 64, median total income (rounded to the nearest $1,000) ranged from $21,000 for those with no certificate, diploma or degree to $43,000 for those with postsecondary credentials. The range for Métis was from $28,000 to $53,000.

Nearly half rate their health as excellent or very good

Based on results of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey,^Note 6 nearly half (45%) of the Aboriginal population aged 12 and older in Yukon rated their health as excellent or very good in 2012.

Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group and age group, Yukon, 2012

Description for Chart 2

The title of the graph is "Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group and age group, Yukon, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 2 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 80 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 4 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Aboriginal identity groups."
The title of series 1 is "Total."
The minimum value is 45.1 and it corresponds to "Total Aboriginal identity population."
The maximum value is 60.5 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The title of series 2 is "12 to 24 years."
The minimum value is 58.1 and it corresponds to "Total Aboriginal identity population."
The maximum value is 67.7 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The title of series 3 is "25 to 44 years."
The minimum value is 40.6 and it corresponds to "Total Aboriginal identity population."
The maximum value is 72.0 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The title of series 4 is "45 years and over."
The minimum value is 37.6^{Note E: Use with caution} and it corresponds to "Total Aboriginal identity population."
The maximum value is 49.6 and it corresponds to "Non-Aboriginal identity population."

Data table for Chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 2 Excellent or very good self-rated overall health of population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by % (appearing as row headers), Total, 12 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years and 45 years and over (appearing as column headers).
%	Total	12 to 24 years	25 to 44 years	45 years and over
Total Aboriginal identity population	45.1	58.1	40.6	37.6^{Note E: Use with caution}
Non-Aboriginal identity population	60.5	67.7	72.0	49.6
^E use with caution Sources: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012; and Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012.

More than half of Aboriginal people (54%) aged 18 and older reported excellent or very good mental health.^Note 7
An estimated 59% of Aboriginal people 12 and older reported that they had been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. The corresponding percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 56%.^Note 8

Table 5
Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of population aged 18 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group and age group, Yukon, 2012
Table summary
This table displays the results of Excellent or very good self-rated mental health of population aged 18 and over Total Aboriginal identity population and Non-Aboriginal identity population, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	percent
	Total Aboriginal identity population	Non-Aboriginal identity population
Total	53.6	76.8
18 to 24	50.9	88.1
25 to 44	51.6	78.2
45 and over	56.5	74.2
Sources: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012; and Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012.

Three in ten Aboriginal people smoke daily

In 2012, three in ten Aboriginal people aged 12 and older in Yukon reported that they smoked daily. The comparable percentage for the non-Aboriginal population was 21%.

Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Yukon, 2012

Description for Chart 3

The title of the graph is "Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over, by selected Aboriginal identity group, Yukon, 2012."
This is a column clustered chart.
There are in total 3 categories in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis starts at 0 and ends at 60 with ticks every 10 points.
There are 2 series in this graph.
The vertical axis is "percent."
The horizontal axis is "Health behaviours."
The title of series 1 is "Total Aboriginal identity population."
The minimum value is 28.9 and it corresponds to "Daily smoking."
The maximum value is 46.5 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinking^{Chart 3 Note 1}."
The title of series 2 is "Non-Aboriginal identity population."
The minimum value is 20.4 and it corresponds to "Non-drinking."
The maximum value is 27.7 and it corresponds to "Heavy drinking^{Chart 3 Note 1}."

Data table for Chart 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Chart 3 Selected health behaviours of population aged 12 and over. The information is grouped by (appearing as row headers), Total Aboriginal identity population and Non-Aboriginal identity population (appearing as column headers).
	Total Aboriginal identity population	Non-Aboriginal identity population
Daily smoking	28.9	20.7
Heavy drinking^{Chart 3 Note 1}	46.5	27.7
Non-drinking	32.8	20.4
Chart 3 Note 1. Heavy drinking refers to the consumption of five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the 12 months preceding the survey. Return to Chart 3 note 1 referrer Sources: Statistics Canada, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012; and Canadian Community Health Survey, 2012.

For those 12 and older, the rate of heavy drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion at least once a month in the 12 months preceding the survey) was 47% for Aboriginal people compared with 28% for the non-Aboriginal population.
At the same time, 33% of Aboriginal people were non-drinkers (consumed no alcohol in the 12 months preceding the survey), compared with 20% of the non-Aboriginal population.

This fact sheet was prepared by Paula Arriagada of the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division of Statistics Canada.

Notes

Footnote E.

use with caution

Return to note ^E referrer

Footnote 1.

While the National Household Survey (NHS) count for the Inuit population in Yukon is provided here, data for other characteristics are not included because of the small number of Inuit living in the territory.

Return to note 1 referrer

Footnote 2.

This includes people who reported having Registered Indian status and/or being members of an Indian band or First Nation without reporting an Aboriginal identity.

Return to note 2 referrer

Footnote 3.

A number of factors should be taken into account when comparing data on Aboriginal people over time. Please refer to the Aboriginal Peoples Reference Guide, National Household Survey, 2011, Catalogue no. 99-011-X2011006 and the Aboriginal Peoples Technical Report, Catalogue no. 99-011-X.

Return to note 3 referrer

Footnote 4.

Some characteristics for Métis are not included because of the small number of Métis living in the territory.

Return to note 4 referrer

Footnote 5.

Total income includes income from all sources, including employment income, income from government programs, pension income, investment income and any other money income. The calculation includes population with income and without income (with an income of zero).

Return to note 5 referrer

Footnote 6.

The target population of the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) excluded people living in selected First Nations communities in the territory.

Return to note 6 referrer

Footnote 7.

Questions on self-rated mental health were only asked of respondents who were providing answers to the survey directly, on their own behalf (i.e., data are not available when questionnaires were completed by proxy interview).

Return to note 7 referrer

Footnote 8.

Health data for the non-Aboriginal population were drawn from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Return to note 8 referrer

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Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon

Archived Content

About the data sources

Aboriginal people account for one-quarter of the population of Yukon

Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal

Four in ten Aboriginal children live with both parents

Almost three in ten live in homes requiring major repairs

Ability to speak an Aboriginal language highest among First Nations people

Postsecondary qualifications vary by Aboriginal group

Employment rate of Aboriginal people is over 60%

Nearly half rate their health as excellent or very good

Three in ten Aboriginal people smoke daily

Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon Aboriginal Peoples: Fact Sheet for Yukon

Archived Content

Aboriginal people account for one-quarter of the population of Yukon

Aboriginal population younger than non-Aboriginal

Four in ten Aboriginal children live with both parents

Almost three in ten live in homes requiring major repairs

Ability to speak an Aboriginal language highest among First Nations people

Postsecondary qualifications vary by Aboriginal group

Employment rate of Aboriginal people is over 60%

Nearly half rate their health as excellent or very good

Three in ten Aboriginal people smoke daily

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