| While Canadian aboriginal seniors make up a very | | | | percent of the total Canadian Aboriginal population. |
| tiny percentage of the overall senior population in | | | | However as life expectancy rates improve with |
| Canada they are a key link to culture and | | | | improvements in healthcare and health |
| language in their communities. This trend will | | | | infrastructure development as well as training |
| continue as Canadian Aboriginal Seniors increase in | | | | these numbers are expected to rise while falling |
| both numbers and percentages of the Canadian | | | | birth rates will tend to concentrate the existing |
| Aboriginal community with improvements in health | | | | group of Aboriginal Seniors as a percentage |
| care and life expectancy. | | | | among the Canadian "First Nations". |
| "Seniors are revered in many aboriginal communal | | | | In total there are approximately 40,000 Aboriginal |
| cultures for their knowledge and experiences, and | | | | Seniors in Canada. The largest number live in the |
| the integral rile that they place in the vitality and | | | | province of Ontario, followed by British Columbia, |
| well being of their families , communities and | | | | and Manitoba. |
| nations ", says a Statistics Canada Government | | | | In terms of the percentage of Aboriginal Seniors |
| Report titled " A Portrait of Seniors in Canada". | | | | in the total senior population, the provinces of |
| "Aboriginal people turn to their elders as key | | | | Manitoba and Saskatchewan led the way among |
| sources of traditional knowledge, wisdom and | | | | the Canadian provinces with four percent and |
| community continuity". | | | | three percent respectively. |
| "The Portrait of Seniors " Statistics Canada report | | | | "Aboriginal seniors made up a far greater |
| used data in part gathered from the official | | | | percentage of the total senior population in the |
| Government of Canada 2001 census. | | | | North of Canada in the Northwest Territories and |
| The government Stats Canada Report which | | | | the Yukon." |
| used data from the official Canadian Government | | | | But Aboriginal Seniors face lower life expectancies |
| Census looked at the wellness of people aged 65 | | | | rates than non-Aboriginal seniors with aboriginal |
| and over across Canada. The report included a | | | | women outliving aboriginal men, |
| section which specifically focused on Canadian | | | | Although low in percentages and total numbers |
| Aboriginal Seniors. | | | | Canadian Aboriginal seniors will increase in both |
| What was found was that aboriginal languages are | | | | numbers and percentages over the coming years |
| much more prevalent among Canadian Aboriginal | | | | as life expectancy increases. This group has and |
| Seniors and that is in part why they are a direct | | | | will continue to expert an ever increasing |
| link and linkage to Canadian Aboriginal culture and | | | | important role in the cultural preservation of |
| heritage. | | | | Aboriginal culture in Canada. |
| Though Canadian Aboriginals make up only one | | | | |