Module 1 - Cultural and Linguistic Diversity of Indigenous Peoples

Question 1

How many Indigenous people were estimated to live in Canada at the time of contact?

Answer 1

Around 500,000, though some estimates suggest over 2 million.

Question 2

What are the six major cultural groupings of Indigenous peoples in Canada identified by archaeologists?

Answer 2

Arctic
Northwest (Pacific) Coast
Plains
Plateau
Western Sub-Arctic
Eastern Woodlands/Eastern Sub-Arctic

Question 3

What factors define the cultural groupings of Indigenous peoples in Canada?

Answer 3

Shared cultural traits, related languages, similar material cultures, and social structures.

Question 4

How many Indigenous language families exist in Canada?

Answer 4

There are 12 language families, six of which are in British Columbia.

Question 5

How many individual Indigenous languages are represented in Canada?

Answer 5

More than 60 individual languages.

Question 6

Which Indigenous languages are the most commonly spoken in Canada?

Answer 6

Cree, Saulteaux, and Inuktitut (Inuit).

Question 7

What commitment has the Canadian government made regarding endangered Indigenous languages?

Answer 7

The government has pledged to invest in Indigenous language programming following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).